Senior Desktop Support Engineer

Cloud Imperium Games; Manchester; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Cloud Imperium Games in Manchester is seeking three Senior Desktop Support Engineers to own the full lifecycle of desktops and high‑end workstations. You will design, deploy Windows images with Intune/Autopilot, diagnose complex hardware faults, and manage endpoint security and configuration.

You will collaborate with Engineering, Art, Design, QA and Production, mentor teammates, and participate in on‑call coverage across time zones; some international travel may be required.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in desktop or end-user computing engineering, incl. senior/escalation work.
• Strong knowledge of PC hardware and Windows 10/11 internals and high-end HW repair.
• Experience designing OS deployment at scale with Intune/Autopilot, SCCM/MECM, MDT.
• Advanced PowerShell scripting to automate tasks and processes.
• Excellent knowledge of AD, GPO, Entra ID, and MS 365 administration.

Responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of desktops, workstations and laptops.
• Design, build and maintain Windows images and deployment pipelines.
• Diagnose and resolve complex hardware faults to component level.
• Manage endpoint configuration, patching, and security baselines.
• Support identity and access on endpoints (AD, Entra ID, M365).
• Automate tasks with PowerShell and lead OS upgrade projects.

Skills

Desktop engineering

Senior escalation

PowerShell scripting

AD/Policy

Networking basics

Customer service

Education

Associate degree

Tools

Intune

Autopilot

SCCM/MECM

MDT

WDS/PXE

Sysinternals

Windows Performance Toolkit

WinDbg

BitLocker

Defender for Endpoint

Conditional Access

LAPS

Active Directory

Group Policy

Entra ID

Microsoft 365

Job description

We are a crowdfunded company and have a dedicated and enthusiastic community of backers who are helping us create the “Best Damn Space Sim Ever”. We want to build the best we can deliver and we believe wholeheartedly in the value of exceptional diverse talent.

Founded in 2012, Cloud Imperium Games creates cutting-edge videogames that defy expectations. We’re currently developing Star Citizen, a record-breaking multiplayer online space sim, and Squadron 42, a cinematic single-player adventure set in the same universe. Join us as we break boundaries and make video game history.

Cloud Imperium Games is looking for three skilled and talented Senior Desktop Support Engineers to support our studios worldwide!

What do our Senior Desktop Support Engineers do?

Own the full lifecycle of desktops, high-performance workstations, and laptops, including specification, build, deployment, repair, refresh, and secure disposal.

Design, build, and maintain standardised Windows 10/11 images and deployment pipelines using Intune, Autopilot, SCCM/MECM, MDT, and WDS/PXE.

Diagnose and resolve complex hardware faults to component level, and act as the final escalation point for difficult Windows issues using tools such as Sysinternals, Windows Performance Toolkit, and WinDbg.

Manage endpoint configuration, patching, driver and firmware updates, and application packaging and deployment (MSI, MSIX, Win32), while applying security baselines including BitLocker, Defender for Endpoint, Conditional Access, and LAPS.

Support identity and access on endpoints, including Active Directory, Group Policy, Entra ID join and hybrid join, and Microsoft 365 apps.

Automate repetitive tasks and workflows with PowerShell and other scripting tools, and lead desktop projects such as OS upgrades, hardware refreshes, and new studio or team set-ups.

Partner with departments across Engineering, Art, Design, QA, Audio, and Production as a trusted IT adviser, learning how they work and recommending the tools, hardware, and processes that help them make games faster.

Work alongside our Senior IT Engineers for Network and Systems, mentor other members of the IT team, and share knowledge through documentation, runbooks, and knowledge-transfer sessions.

• Work UK business hours and take part in a rotating on-call schedule to provide after-hours support to studios in other time zones. International travel may be required.

What does a good Senior Desktop Support Engineer look like to us?

A true passion for technology is a must, and we would also like it if you:

Have 6+ years of experience in desktop or end-user computing engineering, including at least 2 years at a senior or escalation level.

Have expert knowledge of PC hardware and Windows 10/11 internals, with the ability to build, diagnose, and repair high-end workstations and laptops to component level and tune them for GPU-intensive workloads.

Have proven experience designing and running OS deployment at scale using Intune and Autopilot, SCCM/MECM, and/or MDT.

Are an advanced PowerShell scripter with a demonstrable track record of automating tasks and processes.

Have strong working knowledge of Active Directory, Group Policy, Entra ID, and Microsoft 365 administration, plus a solid grasp of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, Wi-Fi, 802.1X) and endpoint security, encryption, and patch management.

Bring a calm, methodical approach to troubleshooting and can resolve the issues others couldn’t.

Have excellent customer service skills, communicate clearly with non-technical colleagues, and take a collaborative, team-first approach.

• Hold certifications such as CompTIA A+, MD-102, AZ-800/AZ-801, or CCNA (or equivalents). An associate degree in IT, Computer Science, or a related field is preferred, but equivalent professional experience is accepted.

Experience in game development, with developer workstations, Perforce, or build infrastructure, is a bonus, as is a passion for sci‑fi games and space sims.

We are always keen to hear from passionate IT engineers, so join the ‘verse and become our latest Star Citizen!

CIG Diversity Statement

CIG is a global company, staunchly committed to cultivating a culture and workplace that celebrates all backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives. Together, we are creating a space where authentic recognition, appreciation, and understanding of the importance of diversity is fostered by everyone. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strive to build a team that represents all walks of life, and we want every employee to bring all the things that make them unique to the work environment. The universe is as vast and varied as the people in it, and it’s our differences that make it special.

We are aware of people receiving job offers that fraudulently allege to be from CIG. These types of fraud can be carried out through false websites, fake email addresses claiming to be from our company, or social media. We do not ask for your personal info like bank account numbers, identification numbers, etc through social media or chat-based apps, nor do we request or send money for the purchase of business equipment.

If you suspect fraud, please report it to your local authorities, as well as reaching out to us at [e-mail] with any information you may have.

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!