Windows Engineer - .NET Modernization & Installer Architecture (Contractor)

Information at a Glance Engagement Model - Type: Staff augmentation / Time & Material - Workload: Part-time - Monthly Allocation: - Approx. 40 hours/month planned development work - Additional availability-based support component - Engagement Structure: Two-part model: - - Availability / Support - Handling critical bugs and user-reported issues - Response time within 8 hours, including: - Impact assessment - Initial root cause analysis - Workaround proposal or fix feasibility - Effort estimation or implementation of the fix - - Planned Development Work - Approx. 40 hours/month dedicated to feature development, modernization, and improvements Role Overview We are looking for an experienced Windows Engineer to support the modernization, stabilization, and enterprise readiness of existing Windows desktop applications. The role focuses on improving installer architecture, standardizing deployment workflows, enhancing CI/CD pipelines, and ensuring a reliable update and installation experience. Key Objectives - Maintain and stabilize the existing auto-update mechanism - Ensure the application and deployment model are enterprise-ready - Preserve user-level installation as the default mode - Introduce ARM support (primarily through installer modifications) - Consolidate installer workflows to eliminate inconsistencies and installation issues Key Responsibilities 1. .NET Modernization - Migrate Windows desktop applications from .NET Framework to .NET 8 - Refactor legacy code to align with modern .NET practices - Reduce technical debt through targeted improvements - Support WPF and/or WinForms applications 2. Installer Architecture & Deployment - Redesign and standardize the installer architecture - Address current challenges: - Multiple installers supporting different workflows - Frequent installation inconsistencies and failures - Establish a unified and reliable installation process - Ensure support for: - User-level installations (default) - Enterprise deployment scenarios - Auto-update mechanisms - Implement ARM compatibility through installer adjustments 3. CI/CD & DevOps - Design, improve, and maintain CI/CD pipelines - Lead or support migration to Azure DevOps - Maintain or transition from existing systems (e.g., Jenkins) - Automate: - Build processes - Testing - Packaging - Release workflows - Align CI/CD pipelines with installer and release strategies 4. Application Performance & Stability - Optimize desktop application performance with focus on: - Startup time - UI responsiveness - Memory consumption - Troubleshoot production issues efficiently 5. Support & Incident Handling - Provide timely response to critical issues based on SLA - Perform root cause analysis and deliver fixes or mitigation strategies - Ensure clear documentation and communication of findings Required Technical Skills Core Skills - Strong experience with C# and .NET (Framework and .NET 6/8) - Windows desktop application development (WPF and/or WinForms) Advanced Requirements - Strong experience in multithreaded programming and concurrency - Proven experience in GUI performance optimization - Deep understanding of MVVM architecture - Experience with installer technologies (MSI, MSIX, or custom solutions) CI/CD and DevOps - Hands-on experience with CI/CD systems - Strong knowledge of Azure DevOps (preferred) - Experience with Jenkins is a plus - Experience in build automation and pipeline design Nice-to-Have Skills - Experience with ARM-based builds or deployments - Enterprise software distribution experience - PowerShell scripting - MSBuild expertise Soft Skills - Ability to work independently in a part-time engagement model - Strong analytical and problem-solving skills - Clear and structured communication - Proactive and solution-oriented mindset Success Criteria - Unified and stabl