Manager of IT Operations

Applause • Framingham, MA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Applause is hiring a Manager of IT Operations to lead a team responsible for the reliability, security, and scalability of its core infrastructure. Reporting to the Senior Director of IT, this role leads three experienced engineers in a mixed Linux, Mac, and Windows environment and works with the Senior Director to advance infrastructure automation and delivery. The position focuses on hybrid on-premises and cloud environments, with Linux administration as a central area of expertise. The role is hybrid and majority remote, with travel to offices when required, and includes participation in an on-call rotation.

The manager serves as the escalation point for complex Linux issues and works with other IT team members to keep the organization's infrastructure operating smoothly. The role also oversees networking and perimeter security, manages vendor relationships and hardware and software lifecycles, and maintains system documentation.

Applause describes its culture as collaborative, inclusive, and supportive of employee growth. Employees have access to collaboration and learning tools, career advancement opportunities, structured onboarding, knowledge sessions, and on-demand virtual courses. The stated salary range is $120,000–$140,000.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in an IT Operations management role.
• Expert-level Linux administration proficiency, including kernel tuning, LVM, SSH, and Systemd.
• Proficiency in Python or Bash for task automation and system integration.
• Proven experience using 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 such as AWS and GCE.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of 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, or Shibboleth IdP.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and advocate for a team of three engineers working in a Linux, Mac, and Windows environment.
• Facilitate technical decisions and remove blockers to support consistent project delivery.
• Work with the Senior Director of IT to drive the roadmap for automating server provisioning, configuration management, and deployment pipelines using tools such as Ansible, Terraform, and Jenkins.
• Serve as the final escalation point for complex Ubuntu/Debian Linux issues, supporting high availability and performance for mission-critical services.
• Oversee the health of Cisco-based networking and the Fortinet security perimeter.
• Create and maintain documentation for system configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting.
• Work with and serve as an escalation point for other IT team members to support smooth operation of the organization's IT infrastructure.
• Manage vendor relationships and hardware and software lifecycles.
• Travel to offices when required for tasks.
• Participate in an on-call rotation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Flexible work environment.
• Opportunities for career advancement.
• Structured onboarding, in-house knowledge sessions, and access to thousands of virtual courses on demand.
• Employee-centric benefits intended to support physical and mental well-being, work-life balance, and professional growth.
• Competitive compensation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed