Sr. Analyst, Restaurant Technology Hardware

About the role

Job Purpose

Support the evaluation, testing, deployment, sustainment, and lifecycle management of restaurant technology hardware solutions across Panera cafés. Partner with Product Management, Deployment, Supply Chain, Operations, and vendor partners to ensure successful implementation, operational readiness, and ongoing support of hardware platforms.

Location: St. Louis, MO (hybrid)

Duties & Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of this job include, but are not limited to:

• Support and perform technical evaluation, validation, and recommendation of hardware platforms, peripherals, and supporting technologies to ensure scalability, reliability, security, and cost effectiveness.
• Support the development and maintenance of restaurant hardware standards, reference designs, and deployment documentation.
• Develop and maintain hardware implementation documentation, installation guides, field procedures, deployment standards, and technical reference materials.
• Partner with vendors and Deployment teams to support hardware forecasting, inventory planning, and lifecycle replacement initiatives.
• Support end-to-end hardware solution lifecycle activities including design, lab validation, pilot deployments, production rollout, and sustainment.
• Serve as a technical liaison with vendor partners to evaluate new technologies, support solution validation, and assist with issue resolution.
• Collect and analyze field feedback to identify recurring issues, improve deployment processes, and enhance hardware supportability.
• Support and ensure the adoption of security, device management, and enterprise technology standards across hardware solutions.
• Participate in technical design reviews, architecture discussions, and solution validation activities across multiple concurrent initiatives.
• Drive continuous improvement of hardware performance, reliability, and supportability through testing strategies, root cause analysis, and solution optimization.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to design and implement restaurant technology hardware solutions.
• Provide technical guidance and support to field engineers, deployment teams, and project stakeholders.
• Maintain awareness of emerging restaurant and retail technology trends, hardware lifecycle best practices, and industry standards, translating insights into actionable improvements.
• Support complex troubleshooting and root cause analysis related to hardware platform performance, integrations, and deployment issues.
• Contribute to project planning, technical estimation, risk identification, annual budgeting, and lifecycle planning activities for restaurant technology hardware initiatives

Qualifications (Education & Experience)

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Management Information Systems, or related technical field; equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• 5-8 years of experience supporting restaurant technology, hardware deployment, retail technology, or related IT environments.
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, or supporting retail hardware and device-based technology solutions in operational environments.
• Experience working across hardware solution lifecycles including evaluation, testing, deployment, and production support.
• Strong understanding of systems integration across hardware platforms, operating systems, device management platforms, networking, and enterprise applications.
• Experience working with vendor partners for hardware evaluation, certification, deployment support, and lifecycle management.
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical recommendations and drive initiatives to completion.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively across technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to quickly learn and apply new technologies, tools, and industry best practices.
• Customer-focused mindset with experience supporting both field operations and enterprise technology stakeholders.
• Experience working directly with franchisees and supporting franchise-operated business environments.
• Familiarity with IT Service Management (ITSM) tools and processes including incident, problem, change, asset, and configuration management.
• Experience working within Agile, SAFe, or similar product and software delivery frameworks.
• Experience working with modern endpoint ecosystems including Windows, iOS, and browser-based enterprise applications.
• Experience using enterprise collaboration and delivery tools such as Microsoft 365, Confluence, Jira, and ServiceNow or similar platforms.

Working Conditions

• This field-based role includes periodic engagement in-store and operates within a hybrid work model that also encompasses desk-based responsibilities and IT lab activities.
• In-store engagement is project-driven and may be required to support hardware validation, testing, and deployment initiatives, including occasional work outside standard business hours
• Limited travel may be required based on implementation requirements.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform computer-based work for extended periods.
• Ability to move between office, lab, and restaurant environments as needed.
• Ability to occasionally handle and transport light technology equipment.
• Ability to support hands-on hardware validation and testing activities when required.
• Ability to lift 50lbs.

Direct Reports

• This position will not have any direct reports under its supervision.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Disabled/Veterans

Competitive Pay $98,077 - $117,692 annually