Manager, Infrastructure Operations

KAYAK, part of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG), is the world’s leading travel search engine. With billions of queries across our platforms, we help people find their perfect flight, stay, rental car and vacation package. We’re also transforming business travel with a new corporate travel solution, KAYAK for Business.

As an employee of KAYAK, you will be part of a travel company that operates a portfolio of global metasearch brands including momondo, Cheapflights and HotelsCombined, among others. From start-up to industry leader, innovation is in our DNA and every employee has an opportunity to make their mark. Our focus is on building the best travel search engine to make it easier for everyone to experience the world.

As the Manager of Operations at KAYAK, you will be a pivotal part of our team, responsible for overseeing and optimizing the daily operations of our travel search engines and related services. This role demands a keen eye for detail, strong leadership capabilities, and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth, efficient, and high-quality operational processes. The team is skilled in many different engineering departments and works with a DevOps mindset. If the tools don’t exist that meet our needs, we write or script them ourselves. The team has a high impact and works closely with all of the engineering organizations at KAYAK. We strive for efficiency, reliability, and velocity while also exploring new technologies that can bring business value and help us achieve company goals.

You will supervise the team that builds and maintains VM and container platforms, manages configuration infrastructure, and oversees CDN and message bus services. They operate data centers, cloud services in AWS, and various SQL and big data solutions while also supporting security efforts.

This role is required to work from our Concord, MA office at least 3 days per week.

In this role, you will:

• Oversee and ensure efficient day-to-day operations for KAYAK’s services. This includes managing infrastructure, deployment, monitoring security issues and accessibility
• Data Center management including, but not limited to, project management of larger, more long-term and daily projects, maintaining the center and vendor relationships, and purchasing of hardware and software
• Manage and mentor a team of operations engineers, fostering an innovative and collaborative working environment.
• Identify areas for operational improvement, implement standard processes, and streamline operational workflows to enhance productivity and efficiency.
• Lead critical operations projects from conception through to execution, including process optimization initiatives and adherence to project timelines.
• Work closely with cross-functional departments such as IT, Engineering, and Security to ensure efficient operations and integration.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for operational queries and issues, ensuring timely resolution and maintaining high standards of service.
• Oversee the budgeting for operations-related activities, ensuring resource allocation is effective and within budget.

Please apply if you have:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in operations management within technology or a related field, with a proven track record of managing successful operational projects.
• Experience with direct oversight of Data Center management and operations.
• Proficiency with relevant tools and technologies used in operational management, such as network management systems, data analytics, and security protocols.
• Strong leadership and team management abilities, capable of mentoring and guiding team members.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to collaborate across diverse teams and collaborators.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to solve complex operational issues and drive effective solutions.

Are you passionate about traveling and operational development excellence? Then join us at KAYAK and help shape the future of travel!

Benefits and Perks

• Work from (almost) anywhere for up to 20 days per year
• Focus on mental health and well-being:
  • Company-paid therapy sessions through SpringHealth
  • Company-paid subscription to HeadSpace
  • Company-wide week off a year - the whole team fully recharges (and returns without a pile-up of work!)
  • No meeting Fridays
• Paid parental leave
• Generous paid vacation + time off for your birthday
• Paid volunteer time
• Focus on your career growth:
  • Development Dollars
  • Leadership development
  • Access to thousand of on-demand e-learnings
• Travel Discounts
• Employee Resource Groups
• Competitive retirement and health plans
• Free lunch 2 days per week
• Fun quarterly events such as boat trips, arcades, ski trips, Thursday happy hours, and more

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At KAYAK, we aspire to be a workplace that fosters inclusion and reflects the diverse communities we serve. Hiring people with different backgrounds and perspectives is critical to innovation and to how we deliver great experiences for our users, partners, and teams. We strive to be an open and welcoming environment so that no matter who you are, you can be yourself.

We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform job responsibilities, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request an accommodation(s).