What does a desktop engineer do?
A desktop engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency and performance of computer systems across the organization to deliver high-performance on business operations and client specifications. Desktop engineers resolve computer desktop issues, including navigation and security complications that create delays in the operational process. They conduct regular maintenance with the computer systems, upgrade network infrastructure, and perform configuration to ensure smooth functionality and resolutions. A desktop engineer should have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, recommending system solutions to avoid the reoccurrence of network issues and glitches.
Desktop engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real desktop engineer resumes:
- Assign and manage extensions, voicemail accounts using AVAYA phone system.
- Partner with Microsoft, Symantec and other vendors to manage applications on all corporate desktops.
- Work on installing, configuring and managing multiple LAN/WAN network technologies (Cisco switches, routers and firewalls).
- Manage software deployments using SCCM and oversee monitoring of complex applications.
- Install and troubleshoot LAN connectivity email configurations on end-user workstations.
- Advance knowledge of LAN's including administration, security and physical cabling.
- Reserve IP addresses, create DNS entries and deploy to DHCP/DNS servers using BlueCAT.
- Create DHCP scopes for each school and specify an IP range that would work.
- Configure, reconfigure and troubleshot LAN printers, local printer and all other peripherals.
- Resolve networking issues like TCP/IP, DNS, intranet or internet and deploy laptops & desktops.
- Create roadmap to revamp the current SMS environment to allow more productivity and better quality machine deployment.
- Provide Windows/Mac administration, LAN/WAN/VPN administration, VMware administration, and intrusion detection and prevention (IDP) monitoring.
- Assist in the management of networking issues regarding active directory, VPN, file share, and network domain access.
- Support field personnel with mobile computing needs, including laptops, PDA, web-mail, VPN access and other company-issu hardware.
- Perform Altiris deployments, repairs and 2nd tier analytical troubleshooting, on over 200 plus XP desktops, laptops and printers.
Desktop engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Desktop Engineers are proficient in Customer Service, SCCM, and Troubleshoot. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Listening skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Desktop Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 9%
Provided desktop support with customer service, user account management, installing and troubleshooting hardware/software.
- SCCM, 9%
Created custom inventory items for SCCM 2012 to inventory warranty information, extended monitor information, security log event reporting.
- Troubleshoot, 7%
Installed and troubleshoot LAN connectivity email configurations on end-user workstations.
- PowerShell, 6%
Implement network troubleshooting and configuration using PowerShell 3.0 in order to maintain connectivity, and observe authorization protocols for security.
- OS, 4%
Provided project management for migrations, OS updates and application deployment for enterprise-sized companies and evaluate new software and hardware products.
- Technical Support, 4%
Investigate and implement software driver upgrades and operating system upgrades using internet websites and software vendor technical support.
Common skills that a desktop engineer uses to do their job include "customer service," "sccm," and "troubleshoot." You can find details on the most important desktop engineer responsibilities below.
Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for a desktop engineer to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "computer support specialists must be patient and sympathetic." Additionally, a desktop engineer resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "developed asset management website to assist management, team, and external customers. "
Listening skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling desktop engineer duties is listening skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "support workers must be able to understand the problems that their customers are describing and know when to ask questions to clarify the situation." According to a desktop engineer resume, here's how desktop engineers can utilize listening skills in their job responsibilities: "communicated with pier 1 store managers at remote location to troubleshoot with pos registers, workstations, printers and routers. "
Speaking skills. This is an important skill for desktop engineers to perform their duties. For an example of how desktop engineer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "support workers must describe the solutions to computer problems in a way that a nontechnical person can understand." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a desktop engineer: "addressed daily tickets sent in through remedy. ".
Writing skills. For certain desktop engineer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "writing skills." The day-to-day duties of a desktop engineer rely on this skill, as "strong writing skills are useful for preparing instructions and email responses for employees and customers, as well as for real-time web chat interactions." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what desktop engineers do: "report generation and report writing for citrix, symantec av. "
Problem-solving skills. A commonly-found skill in desktop engineer job descriptions, "problem-solving skills" is essential to what desktop engineers do. Desktop engineer responsibilities rely on this skill because "support workers must identify both simple and complex computer problems, analyze them, and solve them." You can also see how desktop engineer duties rely on problem-solving skills in this resume example: "develop, implement and maintain a secure and locked down end-user computing environment with end-point, anti-virus and encryption solutions. "
The three companies that hire the most desktop engineers are:
- Salient CRGT
14 desktop engineers jobs
- TEKsystems12 desktop engineers jobs
- University of Minnesota11 desktop engineers jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable desktop engineer resume templates
Build a professional desktop engineer resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your desktop engineer resume.
Compare different desktop engineers
Desktop engineer vs. Computer support technician
A computer support technician is responsible for diagnosing and resolving computer and network issues, identifying the source of malfunctions, and improving infrastructure to avoid downtimes and operational delays. Computer support technicians manage the efficiency of all equipment and peripherals for the computers, assist in installing components, and keeping adequate resources or alternatives for defective items. They also recommend minimal costs technology materials and create troubleshooting manuals for reference, ensuring that the network processes adhere to internal guidelines and regulations.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a desktop engineer are more likely to require skills like "sccm," "troubleshoot," "powershell," and "pc." On the other hand, a job as a computer support technician requires skills like "computer support," "desk support," "laptop computers," and "pcs." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Computer support technicians really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $46,827. Comparatively, desktop engineers tend to make the most money in the finance industry with an average salary of $105,574.The education levels that computer support technicians earn slightly differ from desktop engineers. In particular, computer support technicians are 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a desktop engineer. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Desktop engineer vs. Senior help desk
A Desktop Support Specialist is focused on troubleshooting different software packages, hardware devices, and other peripherals. They monitor the performance of the company's desktop infrastructure.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real desktop engineer resumes. While desktop engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "customer service," "sccm," "troubleshoot," and "powershell," senior help desks use skills like "home health," "patients," "care plan," and "run errands."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Senior help desks tend to reach similar levels of education than desktop engineers. In fact, they're 1.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for desktop engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Babak Beheshti Ph.D.
Dean, Professor, New York Institute of Technology
-We will be witnessing a more widespread commercial deployment of 5G in 2020. With the implementation of the Standalone 5G devices based on the 3gpp release 16, we should be seeing the more robust mobile broadband deployment of 5G, wider availability of 5G smartphones, and a push towards an all 5G Network in select urban areas around the world.
-Significant growth in AI-based technologies, from face recognition and voice recognition to business intelligence and market predictions. As machines and deep learning algorithms get integrated into many applications, many industries will undergo substantial changes. AI systems will continue to interact with our phones; cars will interpret and analyze their surroundings and intelligently drive themselves. Online vendors will monitor our browsing habits, and Google decides what kind of search results to give us, based on who it thinks we are.
Desktop engineer vs. Desktop support specialist
A desktop support analyst's role is to develop strategies and systems to improve and coordinate desktop support efforts. Their responsibilities revolve around testing and modifying existing networks and systems, providing corrective measures on issues and concerns, performing regular inspections, troubleshooting, and maintaining inventories on software, hardware, and other applications. Furthermore, as a desktop support analyst, it is essential to respond to calls and correspondence from clients, all while adhering to the policies and regulations of the company.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from desktop engineer resumes include skills like "powershell," "vdi," "asset management," and "excellent interpersonal," whereas a desktop support specialist is more likely to list skills in "laptop computers," "technical problems," "technical assistance," and "problem resolution. "
Desktop support specialists earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $53,933. Comparatively, desktop engineers have the highest earning potential in the finance industry, with an average salary of $105,574.Most desktop support specialists achieve a similar degree level compared to desktop engineers. For example, they're 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Desktop engineer vs. Desktop support analyst
Types of desktop engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
