How to hire a desktop lead technician

How to hire a desktop lead technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step desktop lead technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a desktop lead technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new desktop lead technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The desktop lead technician hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A desktop lead technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, desktop lead technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of desktop lead technicians.

   Type of Desktop Lead Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Desktop Lead Technician	Computer support specialists provide help and advice to people and organizations using computer software or equipment. Some, called computer network support specialists, support information technology (IT) employees within their organization... Show more	$24-59
   Technician Support Team Leader	The Technician Support Team Leader is tasked with leading and training the technical support team. As a team leader, you will be required to organize scheduled staff reviews and communicate new procedures and policies with them... Show more	$30-58
   Information Technology/Support Technician	An information technology (IT) support technician is a professional who is responsible for providing support and troubleshoots software and hardware problems faced by customers. As for larger organizations that have their own IT department, technicians must work together internally with their IT staff members... Show more	$14-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PC
   • Workstations
   • Remedy
   • Asset Management
   • Remote Desktop
   • OS
   • SCCM
   • Epic
   • Mac
   • Desk Support
   • Microsoft Windows
   • Windows XP
   • Technical Issues
   • Network Connectivity

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Help accomplish the business unit's SLA goals, which lead to higher bonuses.
   • Design and implement an inventory system using SharePoint providing a more efficient way to manage company assets.
   • Transfer all user data, applications, and software to new PC and ensure capability.
   • Maintain inventory of all PC relate assets using remedy database.
   • Support remote users with VPN, dial-up, and OWA access.
   • Work with outside vendors to package software for deployment through LANDesk and SCCM.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your desktop lead technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A desktop lead technician can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, desktop lead technicians' average salary in alaska is 52% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level desktop lead technicians 59% less than senior-level desktop lead technicians.
   • Certifications. A desktop lead technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a desktop lead technician's salary.

   Average desktop lead technician salary

   $80,452yearly

   $38.68 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level desktop lead technician salary

   $51,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

4. Writing a desktop lead technician job description

   A desktop lead technician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a desktop lead technician job description:

   Desktop lead technician job description example

   **Overview**
   
   SOS International, LLC (SOSi) is currently seekinga **WSMT Desktop Lead** in **Fort Huachuca, AZ** . The WSMT Desktop Section Lead reports to the WSMT Team Lead and is responsible for Windows Desktop activities related to installing, configuring, and maintaining operating system workstations, both physical and virtual, in support of business processing requirements. The WSMT Desktop Section Lead has supervisory responsibilities over the WSMT Desktop Team and is responsible for the team's overall performance, personnel management, and customer service.
   
   **Responsibilities**
   
   + Supervisory responsibilities to include but not limited to:
   
   + Reporting and timekeeping; technical/administrative training; assuring ITIL process compliance; actively communicating with the government to include utilizing MS Teams; scheduling to effectively utilize all team resources; support management decision-making; committing to quality management standards, QA/QC compliance, and metrics analysis.
   
   + Coordinates team schedules ensuring mission coverage.
   
   + Trains, mentors, coaches, and enforces the SOSi code of conduct.
   
   + Assures ATCTS reporting compliance and employees training and certifications are current.
   
   + Recommends innovative solutions to more effectively and efficiently support work performance.
   
   + Ensures employees are compliant with required training and certification reporting requirements.
   
   + Provides performance feedback and appraisals for all direct reports.
   
   + Nominates employees for recognition and awards program.
   
   + Supports leadership development and succession planning program.
   
   + Have a detailed understanding of desktop services to include Windows 10 Operating Systems, Active Directory, VDI concepts, VMware Horizon View, VM AppVolumes, Network Policy Server (NPS) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
   
   + Perform software installations and upgrades to operating systems and layered software packages.
   
   + Schedule installations and upgrades and maintain them in accordance with established IT policies and procedures.
   
   + Monitor and tune the system to achieve optimum performance levels.
   
   + Ensure workstation/server data integrity by evaluating, implementing, and managing appropriate software and hardware solutions.
   
   + Conduct routine hardware and software audits of workstations and servers to ensure compliance with established standards, policies, and configuration guidelines.
   
   + Develop and maintain a comprehensive operating system hardware and software configuration database/library of all supporting documentation.
   
   + Build and sustain systems in accordance with all IA controls.
   
   + Develop and promote standard operating procedures.
   
   + Provide overall direction and guidance to assigned project managers.
   
   + Review and evaluate work of subordinate staff and prepares performance reports.
   
   + Prepare activity and progress reports regarding all systems analysis and programming sections.
   
   + Follow ITIL best practices to manage tickets and processes.
   
   + Maintain SOPs, TTPs, and SmartBooks associated with current knowledge of relevant technologies as assigned.
   
   + Participate in special projects as required.
   
   + Actively collaborate with GTMs, Branch Chiefs, Division Chiefs and RCC-C Leadership.
   
   + Mentor Junior personnel.
   
   **Qualifications**
   
   + Active in scope Top Secret (TS) with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance or the abililty to obtain an Interim Top Secret with SCI eligibility
   
   + HS +12 yrs similar technical experience or AA/AS +10 or BS/BA +8
   
   + An IAT II certification (CCNA-Security, CND, CySA+, GICSP, GSEC, Security+ CE, or SSCP) is required.
   
   + Must be willing to work overtime, after hours, holidays, and weekends, as necessary
   
   **Preferred Qualifications**
   
   + ITIL Foundation Certification
   
   + DISA ACAS v5.3
   
   + PMP Certification
   
   + 3-5 years or more of supervisory experience
   
   + Fluency in a foreign language is desirable, but not required.
   
   **Working Conditions**
   
   + Working conditions are normal for an office environment.
   
   + Fast paced, deadline-oriented environment.
   
   + May require periods of non-traditional working hours including consecutive nights or weekends (if applicable).
   
   SOSi is an equal employment opportunity employer and affirmative action employer. All interested individuals will receive consideration and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or protected veteran status. SOSi takes affirmative action in support of its policy to advance diversity and inclusion of individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
   
   **Job Locations** _US-AZ-Fort Huachuca_
   
   **Job Post Information* : Posted Date** _7 months ago_ _(3/18/2022 1:59 PM)_
   
   **_ID_** _2022-5808_
   
   **_Location : Location_** _US-AZ-Fort Huachuca_
   
   **_Potential for Remote_** _No_
   
   **_Clearance Requirement_** _Top Secret/SCI_
   
   **_Job Requires Relocation_** _Yes_
   
   **_Job Requires Relocation_** _Yes_

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find desktop lead technicians for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   To find desktop lead technician candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit desktop lead technicians, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   If your interviews with desktop lead technician applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new desktop lead technician

   Once you've selected the best desktop lead technician candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new desktop lead technician first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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