Culinary Operations Manager, Robotics

Wonder Group, INC; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 128,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

401K

Medical plans

Job summary

Wonder Group, INC in Boston is seeking a Culinary Operations Manager, Robotics to lead the Infinite Kitchen Center's daily operations, bridge engineering and field teams, and design SOPs that translate automation into scalable restaurant practices.

You will oversee lab operations, inventory, and demos, coordinate with engineering on UI/UX feedback, and mentor staff through pre‑shift huddles while ensuring high‑volume throughput and food safety.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of restaurant/kitchen management.
• Experience scaling multi‑unit operations and leading training.
• Ability to develop and implement SOPs for new tech.
• Strong communication and cross‑functional leadership.
• Familiarity with high‑volume kitchen systems and food safety.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily lab operations and readiness for demos.
• Manage ingredient purchasing and inventory for tests.
• Lead pre‑shift huddles aligning engineers, culinary teams and visitors.
• Translate engineering functions into user‑friendly SOPs for field use.
• Collaborate with software teams on recipe routing and workflow.

Skills

Restaurant mgmt

High‑volume ops

Cross‑functional leadership

SOP writing

Kitchen tech literacy

Excel advanced

Communication

Tools

KDS

Job description

About The OpportunityWe’re looking for a Culinary Operations Manager, Robotics, who will manage the daily operations for Wonder’s prototype Infinite Kitchen Center (Boston) and serve as the vital link between our engineering innovators and field operators. Reporting to the Sr. Director of Culinary Platform Strategy, you will maintain a world-class testing and demo environment, act as the Operations Subject Matter Expert (SME) on our robotic systems (specifically our Infinite Sauce and Infinite Mise machines), and design the SOPs that turn automation into scalable restaurant realities.You are a rare hybrid: part organized restaurant GM/Chef, part technical systems thinker. You love the fast pace of food service but are fascinated by automation. You know how to command a kitchen line during a rush, but you can also sit down with a mechanical engineer or software developer and articulately explain why a button placement or physical workflow won't work for a line cook.This role requires a minimum of 4 days a week in the office, with additional days as needed based on project demands.The Impact You Will MakePrototype Center & Demo ManagementDaily Lab Operations: Own the day-to-day operations of the Infinite Kitchen Center (Boston), including station setup, organization, and equipment readinessSupply Chain & Prep: Manage ingredient ordering, inventory, and culinary prep required for high-profile demos, engineering tests, and operator training sessionsCulture & Leadership: Lead daily stand-up meetings (pre-shift huddles) to align engineers, culinary tech teams, and visitors on the day's objectivesTech-to-Ops Translation & SOP DevelopmentThe Operational Bridge: Translate complex engineering functionalities into user-friendly, "human-proof" Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the fieldSystem Integration: Deeply understand current Wonder restaurant operations to successfully map out how new robotic tech will integrate into existing workflows without disrupting throughputSoftware & KDS Coordination: Partner with the KDS (Kitchen Display System) and software teams to map out recipe execution routing and digital workflow logic based on the new hardwareData & Analytics: Utilize Excel to track operational metrics, ingredient yields, throughput data, and testing feedback loopsEngineering Support & Subject Matter ExpertiseSystem SME: Become the ultimate power-user and internal expert on Infinite Kitchen robotic systems; initially focused on Infinite Sauce and Infinite MiseTesting Support: Actively participate in and support the engineering testing process, providing real-time operational feedback on UI/UX, ergonomics, and reliabilityRollout Support: Assist in the deployment phase, ensuring field teams are trained and equipped to adopt the new technology seamlesslyWhat You Bring to the Table7+ years of restaurant and/or kitchen management experiencePractical knowledge of Fast Casual and Quick Service Restaurant operations, with an eye toward speed and high-volume consistencyExperience scaling a mulit-unit operation, as a leader or training managerTraining program development experience, focus on positional training, new store openings and hourly team member job aidsFamiliar with the culinary R&D process, with experience leading menu roll outs and new product launchesStrong understanding of high-volume kitchen systems, line flows, and food safetySolid culinary skills and familiarity with a wide variety of standard kitchen equipmentComfortable working alongside engineers; ability to quickly master and troubleshoot tech/software interfacesExceptional verbal and written communication skills; confident leading cross-functional huddles and writing technical SOPsAdvanced proficiency in Excel (data tracking, inventory modeling, matrix building)Massachusetts: $128,000 - $135,000 per year.BenefitsWe offer a competitive salary package including equity and 401K. Additionally, we provide multiple medical, dental, and vision plans to meet all of our employees' needs as well as many benefits and perks that are not listed.A Final NoteAt Wonder, we build the best teams by hiring with an objective lens — evaluating people for their potential while championing diversity, equity, and inclusion. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, marital status, disability, or any other protected class. As part of our commitment to fair and compliant hiring practices, Wonder participates in the federal government's E-Verify program to confirm employment eligibility. If you need an accommodation during the interview process, please let your recruiter know.We look forward to hearing from you! We'll contact you via email or text to schedule interviews and share information about your candidacy.