Manager of IT Operations

Applause; Framingham (MA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work environment

Global team collaboration

Hands-on projects with top brands

Structured onboarding and learning

Job summary

Applause is seeking a Manager of IT Operations to lead a team of engineers responsible for reliability, security, and scalability of our core infrastructure in a hybrid on-prem/cloud environment. The role reports to the Senior Director of IT and requires strong Linux, automation, and networking skills.

You will drive automation with Ansible and Terraform, supervise Linux systems (Ubuntu/Debian), manage Cisco and Fortinet networks, and collaborate on IT roadmaps and incident response.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in an IT Operations management role.
• Expert-level Linux Administration (Kernel tuning, LVM, SSH, Systemd).
• Proficiency in Python or Bash for automation and integration.
• Experience with Terraform and/or Ansible at scale.
• Git as the source of truth for infrastructure configurations.
• Working knowledge of Cisco (switching) and Fortinet (firewall/VPN).
• Working knowledge of cloud environments (AWS, GCE).

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and advocate for a team of 3 engineers in a mixed OS environment.
• Drive the roadmap for automating server provisioning, configuration management, and deployment pipelines (Ansible, Terraform, Jenkins).
• Serve as the final escalation point for complex Linux issues (Ubuntu/Debian).
• Oversee health of Cisco-based networking and Fortinet security perimeter.
• Create and maintain documentation for system configurations and procedures.
• Coordinate with IT teammates to ensure smooth operation of IT infrastructure.

Skills

Linux Administration

Python scripting

Terraform

Ansible

Git

Cisco networking

Fortinet firewall

AWS

GCE

Tools

Ansible

Terraform

Jenkins

Job description

Manager of IT Operations

Applause is raising the bar for digital quality and employee experience. Recognized as a Top Workplace, Applause provides award-winning software testing and UX research solutions to top brands. Our fully managed services leverage a global team and the world's largest independent testing community. We improve digital experiences for global innovators like Google, Microsoft, PayPal, Starbucks, Vodafone, and BMW.

Reporting to the Senior Director of IT, the Manager of IT Operations is responsible for leading a high-performing team of mid-level engineers responsible for the reliability, security, and scalability of our core infrastructure. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of Linux, including hybrid on-prem / cloud environments.

What You’ll Do

• Lead, mentor, and advocate for a team of 3 seasoned engineers in a mixed OS environment (Linux, Mac, Windows). Facilitate technical decision-making and remove blockers to ensure consistent project delivery
• Working with the Senior Director, drive the roadmap for automating server provisioning, configuration management, and deployment pipelines (utilizing tools such as Ansible, Terraform, and Jenkins)
• Serve as the final escalation point for complex Linux environment issues (Ubuntu/Debian), ensuring high availability and performance for mission-critical services
• Oversee the health of our Cisco-based networking and Fortinet security perimeter
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for system configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting
• Work with, and serve as an escalation point for, other IT team members to ensure the smooth operation of the organization's IT infrastructure
• Manage vendor relationships as well as hardware and software lifecycles
• Report / travel to offices when required for tasks (hybrid / majority remote)
• Participate in on-call rotation
• Other duties as assigned

Who You Are

• Experience:
  • 5+ years in an IT Operations management role
  • Expert-level proficiency in Linux Administration (Kernel tuning, LVM, SSH, Systemd)
  • Proficiency in Python or Bash for task automation and system integration
  • Proven experience with Terraform and/or Ansible to manage infrastructure at scale
  • Mastery of Git as the source of truth for infrastructure configurations
  • Working knowledge of Cisco (switching) and Fortinet (firewall/VPN)
  • Working knowledge of cloud environments (AWS, GCE)
• Skills:
  • Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Strong attention to detail and organizational skills

Knowledge of the following is a plus:

AWS, VMWare ESXi, MySQL / MariaDB, IPSec VPN, SSL VPN, IDS, IPS, RADIUS, 802.1x, Cisco IOS, Cisco ASA, G Suite, Asterisk, SIP / RTP, BIND, ISC-DHCPd, SailPoint IdentityIQ, Shibboleth IdP

Why Applause?

We’re proud to cultivate an inspiring, engaging employee culture that’s consistently reflected in high employee retention rates and satisfaction. Our talented team – known as Applause Nation – is set up for success with the latest collaboration and learning tools, opportunities for career advancement, and more.

• We have a flexible work environment with top talent from across the globe
• Collaborate with an international team of 450+ passionate, talented co-workers
• Expand your portfolio with exciting, hands-on projects providing exposure to well-known, global brands
• Learn and grow through structured onboarding, in-house knowledge sessions and access to thousands of virtual courses available on demand
• Incorporate AI and other exciting technologies into your work, to help you prioritize and boost productivity
• Experience a supportive culture that emphasizes teamwork, innovation and transparency
• Share your voice! Contribute and integrate creative and innovative ideas across roles and departments

Applause Core Values:

As a global employee community, we strive to uphold the following core values, which are critical to business success and how we measure individual and team performance. Do you share our core values?

• Be Accountable: You love to take ownership, and hold yourself and others accountable to increase empowerment and success.
• Celebrate Authenticity: You love bringing your true self to work and creating genuine and trustful relationships within a diverse environment.
• In It Together: You have a team-first mindset and love collaborating with your peers.
• Create Value for Our Customers: You love delivering meaningful business impact and being a release partner for all aspects of digital quality.
• Crush Your Goals: You always strive for excellence and constantly seek ways to be better, more effective and more efficient.

Compensation:

Beyond Applause’s award-winning culture, our employee-centric benefits and competitive compensation strategy are designed to support your physical and mental well‑being, promote work-life balance, and fuel your professional growth.

The salary range for this position is $120,000 - $140,000

Accommodations:

Applause is a place where everyone belongs and where we believe everyone deserves the exceptional.

We continue to celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive, equitable environment for our employees.

Please note, Applause will only review requests for applications that have been submitted. We will review your qualifications and follow up with you regarding your request if your qualifications meet our current needs.