Sr. Desktop Engineer

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Senior Desktop Engineer serves as a technical leader within Desktop Engineering, independently architecting, implementing, and managing the university's end-user computing infrastructure. This role is accountable for advanced configuration management across macOS, Windows, and Linux platforms; deep expertise with enterprise management tools such as Jamf, Intune, MECM, and AWX; and for developing scalable, automated solutions that elevate reliability, security, and user experience across the Vanderbilt community. In addition to platform ownership, the Senior Desktop Engineer coaches and mentors Desktop Engineers to build team-wide skill redundancy, strengthen operational capabilities, and support long-term workforce development.

About the Work Unit:

Vanderbilt University Information Technology is a human-centric organization that advances our university by delivering innovative solutions and frictionless experiences through collaboration.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

Desktop Engineering & Infrastructure Management:

• Autonomously design, implement, and maintain desktop engineering management infrastructure, including configuration profiles, compliance policies, automation pipelines, and enterprise-wide deployment frameworks.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in Jamf, Intune, MECM, GPO, and AWX, ensuring best-practice configuration, security hardening, and platform optimization across all managed devices.
• Develop and maintain advanced device management policies, continually refining enforcement, automation, and configuration baselines to improve security posture and end-user experience.
• Lead support, configuration, and enhancement of AWS Workspaces, AWS AppStream, and Azure Virtual Desktop environments.
• Diagnose and resolve the most complex end-user device and application issues, acting as an escalation point for Desktop Engineering and service desk teams.
• Oversee enterprise software and update distribution, ensuring reliable, controlled deployment of applications, configurations, and OS updates.
• Collect and analyze operational metrics, using data to drive service improvements and measure compliance, reliability, and adoption.

Coaching, Collaboration & Leadership:

• Coach Desktop Engineers on device management tools, scripting, automation, and troubleshooting methodologies to develop skill redundancy across the team.
• Provide technical leadership on infrastructure projects, ensuring engineering standards, documentation, and operational readiness are met.
• Collaborate with VUIT leadership to evaluate technologies, enhance service lines, and influence strategic direction for end-user platform engineering.

Software License Management and Compliance:

• Serve as a resource for necessary software licensing models, terms, and compliance requirements. Act as the go to resource for interpreting licensing terms, especially for site and volume agreements.
• Track and Document License Usage including where and how they are deployed across the university. Use license-tracking systems to monitor usage and ensure alignment with contractual entitlements.
• Coordinate license renewals with users and departments to manage the timely renewal, acquisition, and phase-out of software licenses. This includes providing continual reporting to VUIT Business Operations for customer billing.
• Ensure compliance through continuous review and conducting ongoing audits of existing software contracts. Identify and address any discrepancies or risks related to overuse or underutilization.
• Support vendor-initiated software audit requests.

Support the Software Storefront:

• Support integration and management of applications distributed through the university's software storefront, ensuring proper entitlement, licensing, and automated deployment.

Service Development & Continuous Improvement:

• Lead enhancements to existing desktop engineering services by identifying improvement opportunities and implementing scalable, secure, efficient solutions.
• Develop documentation, engineering runbooks, and platform standards to support operational sustainability and cross-team adoption.

On-call Responsibilities:

The position includes rotating on-call duties for after-hours incident response and requests.

Driving Required:

Must have and maintain a valid driver's license and a satisfactory driving record. Vanderbilt University engages a third party to provide up-to-date notifications regarding negative changes to motor vehicle records.

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does not have supervisory responsibility. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Manager, Desktop Engineering.

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree is necessary
• Linux+ certification is preferred
• AWS Cloud Practitioner certification is preferred
• Azure Fundamentals certification is preferred

Experience and Skills:

• 5-7 years of related experience is necessary
• Working knowledge of MECM, GPO, JAMF, AWX, and Intune is necessary
• Proficiency in Microsoft, Apple, and Linux operating systems is necessary
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are necessary
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously on complex infrastructure design, configuration, and implementation is required.
• Demonstrated commitment to VUIT's Guiding Principles is necessary

Information Technology's Guiding Principles:

• Trust and Respect- VUIT cultivates a community built on trust, mutual respect, and inclusivity, where all members feel valued and supported. We prioritize honesty, dignity, empathy, and a willingness to listen and understand.
• Professionalism- VUIT strives to maintain a culture of maturity, accountability, and integrity to best represent the University and self. Have a sense of humility and poise in your work and daily interactions.
• Collaborate- VUIT commits to being inclusive in solution design where we value sharing within and partnering across the university. We are intentional about including our colleagues and preventing silos.
• Bias-to-Action- VUIT is seen as a changemaker by exhibiting a decisive, self-starter, take-action approach with a willingness to make decisions without excessive deliberation. Personal initiative is recognized as a key part of the creative process.
• Communicate- Communication (written, verbal and non-verbal), within and outside VUIT, is open, thoughtful, welcoming, clear, proactive, concise yet complete, always honest, and delivered kindly.
• Innovate- VUIT pledges to be bold and challenge the status quo by inspiring a culture of creativity that promotes growth and advancement for the university.
• Celebrate Each Other- We are intentional in showing appreciation for the work of others by valuing and acknowledging meaningful contributions at all levels of the organization.
• Optimize- VUIT will practice continuous and thoughtful optimization of our solutions and services to increase our human and technological capacity. Capacity drives innovation.

About Us

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of "America's Best Large Employers" as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.