In 2002, AKIRA opened the doors to its first women's 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 (shopAKIRA.com). AKIRA is extremely well-poised for sustained growth as we continue to build a nationally recognized brand. AKIRA's culture has one very large, distinct difference from other high fashion competitors: Other-Worldly Customer Service and Fanatical, Obsessive Attention to the consumer's 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 Warehouse Automation & Systems Engineer Location: Bolingbrook, IL, with time at Chicago HQ (200 N Fairfield Ave) as needed. Reports to: Director of IT Position Type: Temp-to-Hire. This role starts as a temporary position with the intent to convert to full-time employment. The temporary term is typically 6 months, and conversion may happen sooner based on performance. Position Overview As the Senior Warehouse Automation & Systems Engineer, you will own robot uptime, warehouse automation, and warehouse IT at our Bolingbrook warehouse. This is a senior engineering role that also covers day-to-day helpdesk support for the warehouse. You will keep our Geekplus robots, warehouse systems, and floor technology running at a high level. You will find the root cause of failures and fix them for good. You will also build the maintenance plans, documentation, and automated workflows that prevent downtime before it happens. You will work closely with warehouse leadership, operations staff, the Director of IT, and Geekplus to keep operations efficient and productive. Our Bolingbrook warehouse supports production, packing, and retail operations. It runs Geekplus goods-to-person robots, TSC and Zebra label printers, RF scanners, and our warehouse management system (WMS). You will be the site owner for this equipment. You will diagnose and repair robot hardware, and manage the vendor relationship with Geekplus. Essential Functions
- Solution-Oriented Mindset: Focus not just on the problems but on the most efficient ways to solve. Embrace challenges as opportunities to innovate and improve.
- Hands-On Problem Solving: Approach technical challenges with practical, efficient solutions tailored to the warehouse environment.
- Proactiveness: Instead of merely reacting to issues, foresee potential challenges and strategize to mitigate them. This forward-thinking approach will significantly reduce escalations and improve overall system stability.
- Clear Communication: Effectively explain technical solutions to non-technical staff.
- Integrity & Transparency: Being open about challenges, mistakes, and victories creates a culture of trust. Uphold ethical standards and communicate transparently with all stakeholders.
- Calm Under Pressure: When unexpected issues arise, maintaining a calm demeanor, and leading the team effectively through the crisis will be a key determinant of success.
- Safety First: Follow all vendor and site safety procedures when working on or near robots and automated equipment. Put safety ahead of speed.
- Creative Problem Solving: Think outside the box. Find practical, low-cost fixes with what is on hand, build smart workarounds when parts or vendors are delayed, and question how things are done today.
- Independent Ownership: Work with a high degree of autonomy. Use sound judgment, set priorities, and be the go-to person for warehouse technology.
Key Responsibilities
- Internal Customer Support: Provide hands-on helpdesk support for warehouse staff and leadership, including computers, accounts, printers, scanners, and Wi-Fi. Deliver unsurpassed support. Take ownership of complex and high-impact issues from start to finish.
- Expert Technical Troubleshooting: Own system stability for warehouse technology. Troubleshoot advanced hardware, software, and network problems. Find the root cause and put lasting fixes in place.
- Warehouse IT Ownership: Own the warehouse IT environment, including the WMS, network, end-user devices, and floor hardware. Set priorities for site support work based on impact to operations.
- Process & Best Practices: Maintain and improve IT and equipment documentation so it stays accurate and useful.
- Ticketing and ITSM: Manage warehouse tickets in Freshservice. Follow SLAs and prioritize by impact on operations. Make sure each resolution is documented clearly so it can be reused.
- Label Printers and Scanners: Own support and configuration for TSC and Zebra label printers, handheld barcode and RF scanners, and similar warehouse hardware. Keep these devices running so production, packing, and shipping are not delayed.
- Runbooks: Write and maintain clear runbooks for robot repair and part replacement, so others can follow proven steps.
- Root-Cause Reviews: Lead root-cause reviews after downtime events. Share what happened, why it happened, and what will prevent it next time.
- Cloud and Hybrid Infrastructure: Understand and support the cloud and on-site infrastructure behind the warehouse, including Microsoft Azure, the robot management system, WMS integrations, networking, VPN, and identity. Work with the Director of IT on architecture, resilience, backups, and security for warehouse systems.
- Continuous Improvement: Track downtime, ticket trends, and recurring failures. Turn the data into lasting fixes. Lean or Kaizen experience is a plus.
- Security: Protect robot and warehouse networks. Keep devices patched and managed. Make sure vendor remote access is controlled and secure.
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery: Plan for internet, power, and robot outages. Maintain backup procedures so the warehouse keeps shipping.
- Projects and Change Management: Lead site technology projects such as new devices, cameras, and floor layout changes. Coordinate with operations so work does not disrupt shifts.
- Vendor and Cost Management: Manage quotes, warranties, service contracts, and spare parts spend.
- Communication and Training: Give clear status updates to leadership. Train warehouse staff on devices and basic robot recovery steps.
Warehouse Automation & Geekplus
- Mechanical Diagnosis and Repair: Diagnose, repair, and replace mechanical parts and assemblies on Geekplus robots, charging stations, and workstations.
- Root-Cause Analysis: Investigate repeat faults and failures to find the true cause. Put fixes in place that stop the problem from coming back.
- Preventive Maintenance Program: Own the preventive maintenance program for robots and related equipment. Set schedules, track completion, and adjust based on failure data.
- Spare Parts Plan: Own the spare parts plan. Keep the right parts on site, track usage, and plan reorders so repairs are not delayed.
- Geekplus Vendor Relationship: Own the relationship with Geekplus. Geekplus remains the escalation path for warranty work. Coordinate warranty claims, escalations, and follow-up.
- Network and Systems: Keep robots connected and working with the warehouse network, the robot management system, and the WMS.
- Safety: Follow vendor and site safety procedures when working on or around robotic equipment, including lockout and lithium battery safety rules.
AI & Automation
- Fault-to-Ticket Workflows: Build n8n and AI workflows that turn robot fault codes and alerts into Freshservice tickets automatically.
- Failure Pattern Analysis: Use Geekplus and WMS data to spot failure patterns and plan preventive repairs before they cause downtime.
- AI-Assisted Knowledge Base: Maintain AI-assisted runbooks and knowledge base articles so warehouse teams can find answers fast.
- Responsible Use: Follow the AKIRA AI acceptable use policy in all AI and automation work.
- Practical Focus: Keep this work practical and in service of uptime. This is hands-on operations automation, not data science.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of combined experience in IT systems and mechanical or industrial maintenance, including 2+ years working on AMRs, robotics, or automated warehouse equipment. A minimum of a High School diploma or equivalent.
- Hands-on experience working with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).
- Experience with ITSM and ticketing processes, such as working tickets in Freshservice or a similar tool, following SLAs, prioritizing, and documenting resolutions.
- Hands-on experience with TSC and Zebra label printers and handheld barcode or RF scanners in a warehouse environment.
- Experience with Geekplus or similar warehouse robotics, such as autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) or goods-to-person systems.
- Proven mechanical troubleshooting and repair skills.
- Working knowledge of Wi-Fi networks and wireless access points.
- Ability to follow safety procedures step by step, including PPE, lockout, and lithium battery safety rules.
- Willingness to complete Geekplus training on the robots and related equipment, including service and repair training.
- Ability to provide on-call support for the Bolingbrook location as needed.
- Organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple tasks and tickets with a calm, proactive mindset.
- Problem-solver who can research and recommend solutions independently and knows when to escalate to the Director of IT or Geekplus.
- Self-motivated, eager to learn, and always looking for ways to improve systems, processes, or documentation.
Preferred Qualifications
- Mechanical or electromechanical background, such as industrial maintenance, mechatronics, or a robotics technician program.
- Hands-on replacement of motors, wheels, drive units, sensors, belts, or batteries on AMRs, conveyors, or similar equipment.
- Ability to read mechanical and electrical diagrams and vendor service manuals.
- Hands-on use of AI tools and LLMs in an operations setting.
- Experience with workflow automation tools, such as n8n or Power Automate.
- Basic scripting in Python or PowerShell.
- Working knowledge of cloud architecture, such as Microsoft Azure virtual machines, virtual networks, DNS, identity, and backups, and how cloud services connect to on-site warehouse systems.
- Experience working with APIs and robot management system data.
Physical Demands
- Lift and carry robot components and IT equipment.
- Stand and walk on the warehouse floor for extended periods.
- Bend, kneel, and reach to service robots and charging stations.
- Work safely around moving robots and automated equipment.
- Follow warehouse safety rules and wear required PPE, such as safety shoes, gloves, and goggles.
Employment Terms
- This is a temp-to-hire position. The role starts as a temporary position with the intent to convert to full-time employment.
- The temporary term is typically 6 months.
- Conversion to full-time employment may happen before the 6 months are complete, based on performance and business needs.
- The role is based at the Bolingbrook warehouse. It includes travel between Bolingbrook and Chicago HQ as needed.
- This role may include on-call support for the Bolingbrook location, including evenings or weekends as needed.
- Eligibility for the full-time benefits listed below begins on conversion to full-time employment.
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. We’re committed to internal growth, providing meaningful development and career advancement opportunities.
Job Type: Temp-to-Hire / Full-time (typically 6 months, early conversion into the company is possible)
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.
We may utilize AI-assisted and automated tools as part of the recruiting and hiring process. All employment decisions are made in compliance with applicable laws and without discrimination.