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The Hangout

Lead IT Technician

The Hangout

Location
Onsite (Gulf Shores, Alabama)
Employment
Full-time
Level
Senior Level
Posted 1 week ago

About the Role

The Hangout is seeking a Lead IT Technician to serve as the senior on-site technologist for its restaurant estate. This hands-on leadership role involves managing technical operations, mentoring junior staff, and ensuring system uptime across multiple locations.

Skills

IT Support Systems Administration Technical Leadership Network Troubleshooting Microsoft 365 Entra ID Apple Business Manager Microsoft Intune UniFi Networking POS Systems Kitchen Display Systems Vendor Management Hardware Maintenance Project Management Troubleshooting Mentoring

Full job details

Lead IT Technician


Position Summary:
 The Lead IT Technician is HHG's senior on-site technologist and the most experienced set of technical hands across the estate. This is a hands-on leadership role: you fix the hard problems yourself; you are the first escalation point for everything technical, and you own the day-to-day running of HHG's technology while building the in-house function over time. You will work closely with, and through, HHG's managed services provider (MSP), holding them accountable for their commitments while bringing routine support and project execution in-house. As the team grows, you will lead and mentor junior technicians. A core principle guides the work: HHG owns its assets and the accounts that control them, and we manage them directly, with vendors granted access we can review and revoke. This role suits an experienced technician who is ready to lead, is comfortable in a fast, loud hospitality environment, and takes ownership of uptime, standards, and getting things genuinely fixed rather than patched.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical leadership and escalation

  • Be the escalation point. Own the hardest technical problems across all sites and resolve issues that stop service, payments, or the kitchen, fast and permanently.
  • Set the standard. Define and maintain HHG's technical standards, naming, configurations, and documentation so every site is set up and supported consistently.
  • Lead the team as it grows. Mentor and direct junior technicians and help-desk staff, set priorities, and review work quality.

Service uptime and front-line support

  • Keep service running. Ensure POS terminals, kitchen displays, receipt printers, payment devices, and Wi-Fi stay up during operating hours, and lead the response when they do not.
  • Support staff and managers. Provide patient, service-minded help with accounts, devices, and everyday technology, and make sure managers know who to call and trust it gets handled.

Systems, identity, and device management

  • Run identity and device management. Administer Microsoft 365 / Entra ID and lead device management through Apple Business Manager and Microsoft Intune, including onboarding and offboarding of restaurant staff.
  • Own the device fleet. Standardize the setup, deployment, maintenance, and retirement of computers, tablets, and peripherals, and bring devices consistently under HHG-managed identity.

Network, power, and infrastructure

  • Lead network operations. Own the UniFi network estate (gateways, switches, access points): connectivity, Wi-Fi coverage, segmentation, and consolidation toward a single HHG-controlled account across all sites.
  • Protect uptime with power. Maintain the standardized battery-backup (UPS) fleet, monitor health, and replace units proactively.
  • Own infrastructure hygiene. Keep server and network closets clean, labeled, and documented, and oversee cabling and hardware installs to standard.

Restaurant systems and projects

  • Lead restaurant-systems support. Serve as HHG's senior hands-on point-of-sale and kitchen display systems, and a key owner during the upcoming POS platform rollout and go-live.
  • Drive modernization projects. Plan and execute IT initiatives on-site (device-management rollout, network migration, power standardization, camera and POS projects), with clear milestones and follow-through.

Vendor accountability and asset control

  • Manage vendors. Act as HHG's technical point of contact for the MSP, internet providers, and equipment vendors, hold them to committed dates, and confirm work is completed correctly.
  • Protect HHG ownership. Maintain a living inventory of HHG-owned hardware, accounts, licenses, and warranties, and ensure HHG retains ownership and administrative control of its systems.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

  • 5 or more years in IT support, field/desktop support, or systems administration, including experience taking the lead on issues and projects.
  • Strong, hands-on troubleshooting across Windows and Apple (macOS / iOS / iPadOS) devices, printers, and peripherals.
  • Solid networking knowledge: switches, access points, Wi-Fi, VLANs, IP addressing, and methodical network troubleshooting.
  • Confident administering Microsoft 365 / Entra ID (accounts, licensing, security basics).
  • Proven ability to stay calm, organized, and decisive under pressure during live service.
  • Clear communication with non-technical staff and the ability to coordinate vendors firmly and professionally.
  • Reliable transportation, a valid driver's license, and willingness to travel between sites, including occasional out-of-state travel.
  • Availability for nights, weekends, holidays, and on-call leadership.
  • Authorized to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • IT experience in restaurants, hospitality, retail, or another multi-location environment.
  • Hands-on experience with point-of-sale and kitchen display systems, ideally through an implementation or rollout.
  • Experience with UniFi / Ubiquiti networking and with device management (Intune and Apple Business Manager).
  • Experience in managing or holding MSPs and vendors accountable.
  • Certifications such as CompTIA Security+ or Network+, or Microsoft and Apple credentials.
  • Experience mentoring or leading other technicians.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

  • Work in active restaurant and kitchen environments that can be hot, loud, and busy.
  • Stand, walk, kneel, and work for extended periods during installs and repairs.
  • Lift and carry equipment up to approximately 50 pounds (for example battery-backup units and network gear).
  • Use ladders and work at heights to service access points, cameras, and cabling.

Travel between locations by vehicle, with occasional out-of-state travel.