Application Packager (DV Cleared) in Reading, Berkshire
Posted by Randstad Technologies Recruitment
£65 – £70 a day
Reading · Contract
- Location: Reading, UK (100% Onsite)
- Engagement: 6-Month Contract (Inside IR35)
- Security Clearance: Valid, fully transferable Developed Vetting (DV) clearance is mandatory
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Application Packager to join our Software Discovery and Packaging Team supporting a secure, mission-critical defence programme in Reading.
Operating fully onsite within an air-gapped/controlled environment, you will manage the end-to-end application lifecycle-from initial requirements discovery and packaging through to deployment, patching, and retirement. The estate encompasses Windows 10/11 endpoints managed via Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM), requiring a specialist who is equally adept at modern packaging methodologies and legacy software remediation.
Key Responsibilities
- End-to-End Packaging Lifecycle: Lead software intake and discovery, evaluating licensing, identifying dependencies, rationalising redundant versions, and delivering clean, production-ready packages.
- Packaging & Authoring: Develop, test, and maintain MSI packages, MST transforms, and custom scripted installers using tools such as Flexera AdminStudio, InstallShield, and ORCA.
- Complex Application Delivery: Package bespoke, legacy, and high-complexity software suites (e.g., Autodesk, Microsoft 365/Office, specialised engineering, and scientific tooling).
- MECM Deployment & Management: Configure and deploy packages using the MECM Application Model, setting up robust detection rules, system requirements, dependencies, supersedence, and rollback routines.
- Testing & Quality Assurance: Conduct clean-build testing, orchestrate User Acceptance Testing (UAT) with business application owners, and maintain detailed technical sign-off documentation.
- Secure Environment Operations: Manage software media imports, vulnerability scanning, and cryptographic provenance checks in compliance with strict air-gapped security protocols.
- OS & Migration Support: Support Windows 10/11 migration tracks, large-scale software rollouts, and endpoint gold-image build engineering.
- Tier-3 Troubleshooting: Investigate and resolve complex deployment failures using installer logs, Process Monitor, and diagnostic utilities.
- Governance & Process: Adhere strictly to ITIL-aligned Change, Configuration, and Release Management frameworks, providing regular deployment reporting and audit-ready records.
Essential Criteria & Skills
- Security Clearance: Active, fully transferable UK Developed Vetting (DV) clearance.
- Enterprise Packaging Expertise: Proven track record packaging for enterprise Windows 10/11 environments, with deep knowledge of MSI table architecture, transforms, custom actions, and repair mechanisms.
- Tooling: Proficient with Flexera AdminStudio, InstallShield, and ORCA (or industry equivalents).
- Scripting & Automation: Strong PowerShell scripting skills, particularly with the PowerShell App Deployment Toolkit (PSADT).
- MECM/SCCM: Hands-on experience with MECM Current Branch (Application Model, distribution points, collections, and deployment monitoring) alongside Active Directory and Group Policy.
- Troubleshooting: Advanced diagnostic capability using Sysinternals (Process Monitor, Process Explorer) and MSI verbose logging.
- Stakeholder Management: Confident communicator able to collaborate with technical peers, service delivery managers, and non-technical business stakeholders.
Desirable Experience
- Prior experience in UK Defence, Central Government, or high-security air-gapped environments.
- Modern deployment formats: MSIX, Intune (Win32 apps), or virtualised delivery (App Volumes, Citrix/VDI).
- Legacy migration experience involving Windows 7 remediation, App-V sequencing, or VBScript/Batch conversion.
- Exposure to OS Deployment (OSD) task sequences and base gold-image creation.
- Relevant industry certifications (e.g., Flexera Certified, Microsoft Certified, or ITIL Foundation).
Randstad Technologies is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.
Application opens at the source listing. Free for jobseekers.