How to hire the right software packaging engineer for your business
The role of a software packaging engineer is often misunderstood. Is it just a small part of a bigger process? Is it a “one-man show”? And do you really need one in your company?
In this article, we’ll look at the value a software packaging engineer brings. Whether you’re looking for periodic support or a full-time team member, you will know exactly what to look for when hiring a professional for this role.
Reverse engineering: are you a packager looking for a job in your field? We have an article where we present the most frequently asked application packaging interview questions, along with our answers.
What does a software packaging engineer do, and why would your company need one?
Simply put, a software packaging engineer looks after the software your company employs or produces. They ensure it can be smoothly installed, functions efficiently, is properly maintained, and that any issues are resolved with minimal disruption to your operations.
Two situations will benefit from the input of a software packaging engineer:
- Building an Installer for your company’s software: If your company develops its software, a packaging engineer can create the installation package, making it easy for the end-users to install your software efficiently.
- Managing enterprise-wide software deployment: If your company requires specific software applications to be used on multiple devices throughout the organization, a software packaging engineer can streamline the process of installing, configuring, and activating them.
Software packaging engineers for installer builds
For companies that develop software, hiring a packaging engineer to create a user-friendly installer is essential—even if it is on a contract basis for occasional releases. Here’s what to look for:
- Experience with Windows Installer: Look for experience in creating Windows installers with options for silent installations, alongside a clean, intuitive interface.
- First impressions matter: A poorly designed installation process can deter users before they even experience your product. A packaging engineer should design an interface that reflects well on your brand.
- Professional tools: As in any other profession, the tools we use determine the quality, efficiency and, ultimately, the success of our work. Look for familiarity with tools such as Advanced Installer, so you can be sure of the quality of the results.
Always request a portfolio of past installer builds. Download and test some of these yourself! This way you can test the quality of their work and the ease of use of their projects.
Software packaging engineers in enterprise companies
In an enterprise environment with multiple devices and software, packaging engineers go beyond building installers—they configure and customize the software for deployment through management tools like Microsoft Endpoint Manager, Intune, or SCCM. Their responsibilities will include:
- Controlling updates: disabling automatic updates is important to maintain consistency across systems in an organization.
- Preconfiguring licenses and settings to reduce setup time for the end user.
- Automanting version management: they will ensure old versions of software get removed once a newer version is deployed, to keep systems current.
- Resolving conflicts: ensuring no conflicts arise from other applications or dependencies.
- Tracking and troubleshooting: monitoring deployments and resolving issues as needed.
A software packaging engineer is responsible for configuring the installation process only. Unless this configuration directly impacts the functionality of the software, any software performance issues do not fall within the scope of their work.
Key things to look for when hiring a software packaging engineer
Depending on the company’s needs, the ideal software packaging engineer will work either as part of a dedicated team, handling software packaging that is then uploaded to SharePoint, or they will be involved in a broader application management process that includes deployment and troubleshooting.
These are the essential skills to look for:
- Windows OS build and functionality expertise;
- Digital signature knowledge;
- Understanding of registry hives and how value changes affect the OS;
- Ability to differentiate between system context vs. user context to apply settings at the right level, ensuring that applications work as intended;
- Proficiency in software packaging tools (e.g. Advanced Installer, ORCA editor, Installshield);
- Basic Virtual Machine (VM) management which is vital for testing different deployment scenarios and ensuring applications run smoothly;
- PowerShell scripting (especially PSADT for installer logic) which helps streamline deployments and ensures consistency across multiple installations;
- Basic knowledge of configuration management tools (SCCM, Intune)
- Understanding of the application lifecycle (from the request to package creation, testing, integration, distribution, and, later on, retirement)
- Ability to document and maintain an internal software packaging database.
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Conclusion
Hiring a skilled software packaging engineer can significantly enhance your company's software deployment efficiency and end-user experience.
If your company develops software, whether you’re looking for a full-time or part-time contributor to your team, you will want to hire an experienced engineer with a strong portfolio and proficiency in tools like Advanced Installer. Their skill in building intuitive and reliable installers can create a powerful first impression of your product.
If, on the other hand, we’re looking at an enterprise environment, where managing a wide range of third-party software is essential, the software packaging engineer’s role expands.
From configuring installers for seamless integration with configuration management tools to ensuring consistent application deployment, and maintaining strict control over updates and licenses, the ideal candidate will have a robust skill set, including in-depth knowledge of Windows OS, digital signatures, registry hives, and proficiency in packaging tools and scripting.
Ultimately, whether you need a part-time expert for periodic tasks or a full-time professional to manage ongoing software packaging needs, look for candidates who demonstrate both technical expertise and a thorough understanding of the software lifecycle. This will ensure smooth software operations and a positive user experience across your organization.
Written by
Radu Popescu
Technical Writer at Advanced Installer, Technical Engineer on various enterprise client projects. Experienced in Software Packaging, SCCM infrastructure and System Administrating. Tech enthusiast and music producer in his spare time.