Manager, Desktop & Applications Engineering

Title: Manager, Desktop & Applications Engineering

Location: New York, NY

Duration: Hybrid, onsite 2 days a week in NYC

Salary: 200-250k +Bonus

A global professional services organization is seeking a Manager, Desktop & Applications Engineering to support its IT function. The firm operates across multiple international offices and supports a large population of end users in a high-performance, client-facing environment.

This role is a senior position within the End User Computing team, responsible for driving strategy, delivery, and continuous improvement across desktop platforms and enterprise applications. The position places strong emphasis on Microsoft 365 technologies and a specialized application stack commonly used in professional services environments.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with deep technical expertise and a strong focus on end-user experience. This individual will oversee application lifecycle management, lead escalation efforts, and ensure a stable, secure, and optimized desktop environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and develop a team of desktop engineers and application analysts, setting expectations around service quality, delivery, and technical standards.
• Promote knowledge sharing, cross-training, and continuous improvement across the team.
• Collaborate with senior IT leadership to align EUC strategy with broader organizational goals.

Modern Desktop & Microsoft 365

• Drive modern desktop initiatives leveraging Microsoft 365, including Microsoft Intune, OneDrive, Teams, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Edge.
• Oversee configuration and optimization of Office applications, add-ins, and integrations with enterprise platforms.
• Support a transition to cloud-first endpoint management and modern device management practices.

Application Management

• Serve as a subject matter expert for key business applications, including iManage Work 10, Litera Desktop (Litera Compare, Contract Companion, and related tools), BigHand, IntApp Time, and Adobe Acrobat DC.
• Manage full application lifecycle including packaging, testing, deployment, patching, and upgrades.
• Ensure structured release processes with minimal disruption to end users.

Escalation & Issue Resolution

• Own Level 3 escalation handling for complex desktop and application issues.
• Perform root cause analysis and partner with vendors and internal teams to resolve recurring issues.
• Utilize monitoring tools to track performance, identify trends, and implement improvements.

Engineering & Platform Delivery

• Design and deploy applications across physical and virtual desktop environments.
• Configure system settings, policies, and endpoint controls using Group Policy and Microsoft Intune.
• Support application integrations within secure and hybrid environments.
• Maintain detailed technical documentation and standard operating procedures.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field preferred.
• 7–10 years of experience in desktop engineering, application integration, or systems engineering.
• Prior experience managing or leading technical teams.
• Strong expertise in Windows OS, registry management, Group Policy, and Microsoft Intune.
• Experience with enterprise troubleshooting and monitoring tools such as Windows Performance Analyzer, ControlUp, Perfmon, and Wireshark.
• Hands-on experience with Windows Server, Active Directory, DNS, and DHCP.
• Deep familiarity with Microsoft 365 and Office 365, including Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, and Edge.
• Experience configuring collaboration tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx, and Jabber.
• Knowledge of virtualization platforms including VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), and Citrix (CVAD/DaaS).
• Strong scripting and automation skills using PowerShell; SQL experience is a plus.
• Experience with profile and environment management tools such as FSLogix and Ivanti AppSense preferred.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively identify and resolve issues in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong documentation and process discipline.