Senior Modern Desktop Application Engineer

Ropes & Gray is an equal opportunity employer. Overview The Senior Modern Desktop Application Engineer is the firm’s highest-level technical authority for the design, integration and lifecycle management of the Microsoft productivity ecosystem, including the full Microsoft 365 stack (Office, Teams, Outlook, including Outlook New and plugins, OneDrive, and related web and desktop apps), Litera solutions and all Microsoft-integrated products except SharePoint. This position designs, implements and continuously optimises the firm’s desktop and web-based productivity environment, ensuring seamless interoperability, security and user experience across all platforms. This role requires advanced and continuously updated expertise in the entire Microsoft stack, with deep knowledge of how Teams, Outlook, OneDrive and the Microsoft Office web apps interact and integrate. The engineer evaluates new features, releases and integrations, leading the adoption and configuration of technologies that maximise attorney productivity, workflow efficiency and security. The Senior Modern Desktop Application Engineer partners closely with Desktop Engineering, Security, Application Support and the Training team, providing technical leadership, strategic guidance and comprehensive documentation. The engineer communicates complex technical concepts in clear, actionable terms to both technical and non-technical stakeholders and supports the training team and other groups in developing effective user enablement strategies. The engineer is expected to lead continuous improvement initiatives, drive the adoption of modern workplace technologies and ensure the firm’s productivity environment remains at the forefront of industry best practices. The individual must demonstrate strong leadership, collaboration and customer service skills, operating independently and as part of cross-functional teams. Responsibilities Design, implement and maintain the firm’s Microsoft 365 environment, including Office (desktop and web), Teams, Outlook (including Outlook New and plugins), OneDrive and related applications. Serve as the subject-matter expert on the integration and interoperability of Microsoft 365 applications (excluding SharePoint), Litera solutions and other Microsoft-integrated products. Lead the evaluation, adoption and configuration of new Microsoft features, updates and integrations, focusing on maximizing productivity, security and workflow efficiency. Develop and enforce standards for configuration, deployment and lifecycle management of Microsoft and Litera products across the firm’s desktop and web environments. Oversee the creation, maintenance and version control of configuration and settings files for all Microsoft 365 and integrated applications. Lead technical planning, testing and execution of major upgrades, migrations and feature rollouts, including impact analysis, rollback planning and user acceptance testing. Advise on and implement best practices for Teams collaboration, Outlook workflows (including Outlook New and plugin management), document management and cross-platform integration. Act as the escalation point for complex technical issues related to the Microsoft stack, Litera and integrated products, providing expert troubleshooting and remediation. Collaborate with Security, Infrastructure and Application teams to ensure compliance, data protection and optimal performance across all Microsoft platforms (excluding SharePoint). Produce clear, comprehensive technical and business documentation to support training, support and ongoing operations. Communicate configuration changes, impacts and best practices to User Support, IT Training and other IS stakeholders. Support the training team by providing technical expertise, documentation and guidance on new features, integrations and configuration changes. Participate in Desktop Engineering ticket queues and on-call rotation, addressing escalated incidents and service requests. Lead continuous improvement initiatives, staying current with emerging trends and technologies in the Microsoft ecosystem and legal technology. Essential Capabilities Ability to design and optimise complex, integrated Microsoft 365 environments (excluding SharePoint) to support business needs and legal workflows. Strong leadership, collaboration and interpersonal skills, influencing and guiding cross-functional teams. Flexibility and resilience in a rapidly evolving technology landscape, with commitment to innovation and continuous improvement. Strong customer-service mindset with focus on attorney and staff productivity. Commitment to maintaining strict confidentiality and data security. Ability to provide and accept constructive feedback, fostering a culture of continuous learning. Ability to work effectively in a multi-office, globally distributed environment and build strong working relationships across teams. Qualifications Education, Experience and Skills Required Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or a related field; advanced degree or relevant certifications (e.g. Microsoft Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert, Teams Administrator, Messaging Administrator) preferred. 5+ years of hands-on experience designing, engineering and supporting the full Microsoft 365 stack in an enterprise or legal environment. Deep technical expertise in Microsoft Teams (including governance, integration and advanced features), Outlook (including Outlook New, plugin management and workflow optimisation) and OneDrive and Office web applications. Demonstrated experience designing and managing complex integrations between Microsoft 365, Litera and other third-party solutions. Advanced knowledge of legal document workflows, formatting standards, version comparison and document management best practices. Proficiency in scripting, automation and configuration management (e.g. PowerShell, Group Policy, Intune, Azure AD). Experience with application packaging, deployment and lifecycle management in a distributed enterprise environment. Strong analytical, troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, able to resolve complex cross-platform issues. Business Analyst-level skills, including requirements gathering, process documentation and stakeholder communication. Manual testing and UAT experience, able to lead pilot programmes and user feedback initiatives. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to explain technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences. Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, multi-office, global environment. Strong project management, time management and organisational skills, managing multiple priorities and deliverables. Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and professional development in Microsoft and legal technology. Compensation and Total Rewards Package Ropes & Gray offers a comprehensive Total Rewards package, including health and well-being benefits, personal and professional development opportunities, career growth prospects and a collegial and supportive culture. The anticipated pay range for this role is as follows and represents a good-faith estimate of the starting salary at the time of posting. The role is also eligible for a discretionary bonus based on performance and the actual offered rate will be determined by factors such as qualifications, experience, location and market data. Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C.: $134,700 – $205,450 New York: $145,800 – $222,350 San Francisco, Silicon Valley: $151,900 – $231,650 Working Conditions This position requires a hybrid on-site presence as an essential function. Consistent and predictable on-site presence is required for business continuity, professional development and effective collaboration with colleagues and management. A standard office environment is expected; flexibility to work hours is required to fulfil position responsibilities. This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time. #J-18808-Ljbffr Ropes & Gray LLP