Senior IT Field Technician

AKIRA Senior IT Field Technician

In 2002 AKIRA opened the doors to its first womens clothing boutique in Chicago. Since then the company has extended its reach to 40 stores across the United States as well as a thriving eCommerce business (). AKIRA is extremely well-poised for sustained growth as we continue to build a nationally recognized brand.

AKIRAs culture has one very large distinct difference from other fast-fashion competitors: Other-Worldly Customer Service and Fanatical Obsessive Attention to the consumers needs and desires. The core principle for all employees at AKIRA is to Act and Think Like an Owner and this belief can be reflected across all areas of the company.

The Position: Senior IT Field Technician
Location: HQ - Chicago IL (On-Site)
Reports To: Store IT Manager

Position Overview:
AKIRA is seeking a seasoned Senior IT Field Technician to lead the hands-on installation deployment and infrastructure support of technology across our 40 retail stores. This is a field-first travel-heavy role (approximately 50%) for someone who is at their best on the floor of a store racking network gear standing up POS lanes running and certifying connectivity and getting a new or remodeled location live and stable.

This is a senior individual-contributor role not a management position. The ideal candidate is the most experienced technical hand in the field: they own complex installs end-to-end set the standard for how store technology is deployed and mentor Level 1 and Level 2 technicians by example but they do not have direct reports. They work independently across multiple markets coordinate vendors and ISPs on site and partner with the IT Manager on deployment planning and standards.

Essential Responsibilities

Field Installations & Store Deployments (Primary Focus)

Serve as the lead on-site technician for new store openings remodels relocations and pop-ups from pre-build planning through go-live and post-launch stabilization.

Install configure and test complete store technology stacks including:

POS registers payment terminals and lane peripherals

Network hardware firewalls switches and wireless access points

iPads tablets scanners receipt/label/Zebra printers and security towers

Back-office workstations and supporting devices

Coordinate low-voltage cabling ISP circuit installs/turn-ups and structured wiring with landlords GCs and third-party vendors on site.

Conduct wireless site surveys and validate coverage throughput and failover before handing a store to operations.

Own the deployment checklist for each project and confirm every system is functional documented and standardized before sign-off.

Network & WiFi Infrastructure

Act as the senior hands-on resource for store networking Meraki firewalls switches and access points (configuration troubleshooting replacement).

Diagnose and resolve connectivity WiFi coverage VLAN and ISP/circuit issues escalating to carriers and managing the ticket to resolution.

Maintain network standards across the fleet and remediate stores that deviate from the standard build.

Store Technology Support & Escalations

Resolve complex high-impact POS hardware and connectivity issues that Level 1/Level 2 cannot in person or remotely.

Provide direct calm support to store teams to minimize downtime and protect sales operations.

Manage device lifecycle in the field: staging deployment swaps RMAs and decommissioning; keep hardware and loaner inventories accurate.

Technical Leadership (Individual Contributor)

Set the standard for how installs and store technology are deployed; build and maintain deployment playbooks runbooks and SOPs.

Mentor and upskill Level 1 and Level 2 technicians in the field by guidance and example without direct management responsibility.

Partner with the IT Manager on deployment scheduling hardware standards vendor selection and project planning.

Identify recurring field and infrastructure issues and drive permanent root-cause fixes.

Documentation & Continuous Improvement

Create and maintain accurate technical documentation store network diagrams and knowledge-base articles.

Track project work and field activity in the Service Desk (Freshservice) with thorough notes.

Recommend improvements that reduce install time ticket volume and downtime.

Qualifications Required

5 years of hands-on IT support experience with significant time spent on field installations and deployments (retail or multi-location strongly preferred).

Demonstrated installation experience standing up POS network and peripheral hardware at physical sites not just remote/help-desk support.

Strong networking skills: firewalls switches access points VLANs WiFi and ISP/circuit troubleshooting (Meraki experience strongly preferred).

Ability to travel approximately 50% of the time including occasional overnight and multi-day trips for store projects.

Valid drivers license clean driving record and reliable transportation.

Able to perform the physical demands of installs lift/move equipment (up to 50 lbs) use ladders and work in active construction/retail environments.

Experience owning a ticket queue and working independently across multiple locations.

Excellent communication and the ability to explain technical steps clearly to non-technical store teams.

Willingness to provide after-hours and weekend support around openings launches and emergencies.

Preferred

Cisco Meraki certification (CMNA) or equivalent networking certification (CompTIA Network Security).

Hands-on experience supporting Shopify POS environments and payment peripherals.

Low-voltage cabling experience and familiarity with structured wiring standards.

Experience with Apple device management (iPads iOS macOS) and MDM.

Prior experience leading new-store technology buildouts at scale.

Benefits and Perks:

AKIRA offers competitive benefits for full-time employees including Medical Dental Vision Pet Insurance Life LTD FSA/HSA/Dependent Care FSA Flex Transit (CTA) 401(k) and a generous employee discount. Were committed to internal growth providing meaningful development and career advancement opportunities.

Compensation:

At AKIRA we are committed to fair and transparent compensation practices. Compensation for this position will be determined based on experience qualifications and other job-related factors. Additional compensation and benefits may also apply and will be discussed during the hiring process.

Job Type: Full-Time