IT Support Specialist

Description

Lightology is the largest contemporary lighting showroom in North America. Our goal is to educate our customers on the intricacies of lighting design. With this knowledge, our customers come to appreciate the significant impact that great lighting design can have on their home, office, store, or restaurant. This knowledge, accompanied by a partnership with our staff and our exceptional product line gives our customers all the tools necessary to create an atmosphere uniquely suited to their needs.

Find us at www.lightology.com

Position: IT Support Specialist

Position reports to: IT Manager

Job Location: Home location at 1718 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago IL, 60614, 60654, and 60076

Job Type: Full-Time

Pay Rate: $25.00 - $30.00 hourly

Job Description

On-site IT Support Specialist providing front-line technical support and endpoint management for approximately 200 users (predominantly remote) and around 300 systems - including workstations, servers, and virtual machines - across three Chicago-area locations. This is a 100% on-site, hands-on role (not remote) that requires a dependable, self-directed professional who takes full ownership of assigned projects and tasks. The successful candidate will independently gather necessary information by asking clarifying questions, provide regular status updates, and deliver projects on time with minimal supervision. The role calls for composure and resilience in a fast-paced environment with frequent interaction with, and direct feedback from, senior leadership.

Technical Skills

Experience & Approach

• Minimum of 2-3 years of hands-on IT support experience supporting both remote and on-site users.
• Demonstrated ability to diagnose and resolve technical problems through methodical troubleshooting rather than trial-and-error.
• Strong willingness to learn how unfamiliar systems and technologies work; comfortable researching, experimenting, and building understanding when encountering new or difficult issues rather than avoiding them.

Required

• Windows is our primary operating system. Strong, demonstrable expertise supporting, configuring, and troubleshooting Windows 10/11 desktops and laptops is required.
• Solid ability to troubleshoot both workstation and server-related issues, for remote and on-site users.
• Strong diagnostic discipline - able to correctly identify the root cause of a problem and follow a logical, methodical path to troubleshoot and resolve it, rather than relying on trial-and-error. When a task is unclear, requirements are ambiguous, or knowledge gaps exist, the candidate must ask clarifying questions before proceeding rather than making assumptions.
• Microsoft 365 administration - hands-on, day-to-day administration of a Microsoft 365 tenant: managing users, licenses, mailboxes, groups, policies, and security settings, and troubleshooting common issues.
• Hands-on hardware repair (required) - confident opening and repairing desktops and laptops: e.g., installing a graphics card, replacing a cooling fan or a laptop keyboard, and swapping RAM or storage.
• Apple iOS support (required) - setting up, configuring, using, and troubleshooting iPads and iPhones.
• Networking knowledge with an emphasis on VLANs - switching concepts, VLAN segmentation, and core IP addressing, DHCP, and DNS fundamentals.
• Hands-on network cabling - able to run, terminate, and test Ethernet (RJ45) cabling and work with patch panels and basic structured cabling.
• Wi-Fi setup and troubleshooting (enterprise wireless / access points).
• Ability to support a VoIP / telephony system (softphone and desk phones).
• IoT device setup and network integration.
• Working familiarity with RMM (Remote Monitoring & Management) and MDM (Mobile Device Management) platforms.
• Working understanding of AI tools and platforms - how modern AI systems work, with the ability to help administer them (for example, managing users and monitoring policies and usage).

Requirements

Preferred / Additional Advantages

• Experience with directory services and identity management (user accounts, password resets, group membership, and device enrollment).
• Supporting VPN clients for remote access.
• Endpoint security / EDR / antivirus administration.
• Windows imaging, reinstallation, and driver management; printer and peripheral support.
• Scripting for automating routine tasks.
• Experience with enterprise networking equipment (switches, access points, gateways, and related security devices).
• Basic experience with virtualization environments.
• Working knowledge of Linux - comfortable navigating the command line and performing basic administration and troubleshooting.
• Experience with Windows Server and basic server-room / rack hardware.
• Clear documentation habits - recording fixes, configurations, and procedures.

Professional Skills

• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills are required.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills with the ability to manage priorities and workflow.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and organize projects and drive them to completion.
• Acute attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within various teams.
• Proven ability to take full ownership of assigned tasks and projects and follow through to completion independently - without the need for repeated reminders or follow-up. Candidates who require constant supervision or frequent status chasing are not a fit for this role.
• Proactive, clear communication of task and project status - keeps the manager and stakeholders informed of progress, completion, and any blockers rather than leaving status unknown.
• Good judgment about when to proceed independently and when to seek direction - comfortable asking for guidance or escalating appropriately rather than stalling or guessing. Clarifies ambiguous requirements before beginning work.

Work Ethic & Reliability

• Dependable and consistently punctual, with reliable day-to-day attendance and adherence to scheduled working hours.
• Strong sense of personal accountability - follows through on commitments and takes responsibility for outcomes.
• Self-managing: able to structure and prioritize their own day and workload with minimal supervision.
• High ethical standards and integrity in all aspects of work.

Personal Skills

• Commitment to excellence and high standards.
• Self-motivated with a strong desire to learn new technologies and resolve technical issues continuously.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, both verbal and written. Open and approachable.
• Ability to effectively engage with diverse individuals across all organizational levels.
• Sound judgment with the ability to make timely and informed decisions.
• Resilience and composure - able to stay calm, professional, and solution-focused in a fast-paced environment, and comfortable receiving direct feedback from senior leadership.
• Versatility, flexibility, and enthusiasm for adapting to rapidly changing priorities and learning new skills.

Position Requirements

• Must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer. Visa sponsorship (including H-1B) is not available for this position.
• This is an on-site position based in the Chicago area; regular travel between the three company locations (Fullerton, Skokie, and the Chicago showroom) is required. This role is not remote.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable personal vehicle. Travel and transporting equipment between locations will be required.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Hard-working, intelligent, and enthusiastic professional who takes pride in delivering results.