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, Pay Pal, 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.

• 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 life cycles
• Report / travel to offices when required for tasks (hybrid / majority remote)
• Participate in on-call rotation
• Other duties as assigned

• 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

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 Identity IQ, Shibboleth IdP

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
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