Manager, Core Operating Systems

Description

Job Description

Manager, Core Operating Systems

The Role

The Manager, Core Operating Systems leads the team that defines what the operating system environment should be across macOS, Windows, Linux, and VDI. This role owns the strategy, standards, and direction for Core OS, including OS baselines, hardening requirements, patch and update policies, lifecycle decisions, and the compliance posture required to keep our client environment secure, standardized, and resilient.

You will set the enterprise guardrails for Core OS - determining how images and configurations are designed, what controls must be present, how strict those controls should be, and what constitutes a compliant posture for each platform. Your team establishes golden images, OS configuration standards, security and compliance requirements, and lifecycle roadmaps that define the expected state of the operating system environment.

This team is accountable for the OS-level decisions that shape endpoint security, consistency, and manageability at scale. They partner closely with endpoint engineering, analytics, and platform teams that implement, automate, measure, and operate these standards through endpoint management tooling and service delivery.

What You'll Do

• Own the Core Operating Systems strategy, roadmap, and execution as part of the broader End User Engineering strategy.

• Lead the full OS lifecycle across macOS, Windows, Linux, and VDI , including design, provisioning, hardening, patching, compliance, support, and decommissioning.

• Define and maintain secure, scalable, and user-friendly OS baselines , including golden images, configuration profiles, and policies.

• Drive adoption of modern, cloud-first endpoint management and zero trust device posture practices.

• Partner with engineering teams to translate OS standards and requirements into scalable platform capabilities, automation, and operational processes.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a Core OS engineering team , setting priorities, team rhythms, and a culture of automation, reliability, security, and operational excellence.

• Oversee the design and continuous improvement of OS images, configuration baselines, patching strategies, and configuration-as-code practices .

• Partner with Security, Networking, and Support to implement OS-level controls, improve endpoint stability and performance, and reduce operational escalations.

• Ensure OS and VDI environments meet security, compliance, audit, and risk management requirements, including documentation and support for audits and incident response.

• Serve as the primary point of ownership for Core OS across internal stakeholders and vendors, communicating plans, changes, impacts, and timelines clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or equivalent experience.

• 6+ years in endpoint/client engineering, Core OS engineering, end-user computing, or related infrastructure roles.

• 2+ years leading engineers or acting as a technical lead with ownership of an OS platform, baseline, or service.

• Hands-on experience managing macOS, Windows, Linux, and/or VDI in a medium-to-large enterprise environment.

• Strong experience with modern endpoint management platforms (e.g., Intune/Endpoint Manager, Jamf, SCCM/ConfigMgr, Workspace ONE, or similar) focused on OS baselines, policies, and compliance.

• Solid background in:

• OS imaging / provisioning and device enrollment flows

• Patch management and OS update strategies

• Scripting and automation (e.g., PowerShell, Bash, Python, or similar)

• Endpoint security controls at the OS level (EDR, disk encryption, compliance policies, privilege management)

• Identity & access integration on endpoints (Azure AD/Entra ID, SSO, conditional access)

• Demonstrated ability to engineer and operate at scale (thousands of devices, multiple OSes, multiple regions).

• Excellent communication skills and comfort working with security, infra, and business partners .

• Experience running global or multi-region OS baselines across macOS, Windows, Linux, and/or VDI.

• Track record implementing zero trust / device posture / direct-to-app access in conjunction with OS configuration and policy.

• Experience with VDI/DaaS platforms (Citrix, VMware Horizon, AVD, etc.) including OS image design and lifecycle management.

• Familiarity with configuration-as-code / infrastructure-as-code workflows (Git, CI/CD for configuration).

• Experience managing budgets, licensing, and vendor relationships for endpoint and OS management tools.

• New hires receive devices with consistent, secure OS baselines and can start work with minimal manual setup.

• High OS patch and compliance rates across macOS, Windows, Linux, and VDI with minimal disruption to end users.

• Fewer OS-related incidents and escalations , with more remediation handled through self-service and automation rather than manual intervention.

• Strong, ongoing partnership with Security and Infrastructure on zero trust and modern management initiatives.

• A high-performing, engaged Core OS team that ships improvements regularly and reliably.

• A measurable improvement in an "It Just Works"-style experience : devices stay fast and stable, OS updates are predictable, and users rarely think about the underlying operating system because it simply works.