Type: Contract, per-project.
Location: Remote - within LATAM time zones (GMT-3 to GMT-5) - Remote with meetings across U.S. time zones
Availability: Contractor (40 hours per week)
Windows Application Developer - Partner Engineer
We’re looking for a Windows Application Developer - Partner Engineer to join our Windows Ecosystem Enablement team.
This role is focused on helping strategic ISV partners bring their desktop applications into the Windows ecosystem and the Microsoft Store. You will work directly with senior engineers, solve complex packaging and platform issues, build reference implementations, and navigate Microsoft’s internal teams to unblock partner success.
This is not a traditional Windows developer role. We are looking for someone with deep understanding of the Windows ecosystem—someone who understands how software is packaged, distributed, installed, and integrated at the OS level.
Core Responsibilities
Partner Technical Support & Onboarding
Support ISV partners with packaging, publishing, and onboarding applications into the Microsoft Store
Resolve technical blockers related to installers, Store dependencies, Windows Update, drivers, policies, and OS-level integrations
Help partners adopt the right architecture across Win32, .NET, UWP, WebView2, PWA, MSIX, and unpackaged app models
Prototyping & Technical Problem Solving
Build small tools, sample apps, sandbox environments, and reference implementations to reproduce and solve partner issues
Create proof-of-concepts without touching client codebases
Deliver targeted fixes across packaging workflows, SDK usage, and publishing processes
Internal Microsoft Collaboration
Work across Microsoft teams including Windows Store, WinGet, Copilot, and platform engineering groups
Identify the right internal stakeholders, escalate technical blockers, and drive solutions across siloed teams
Support high-priority partner escalations in fast-moving, cross-functional environments
Documentation & Best Practices
Create technical guides, internal playbooks, and reusable reference implementations based on partner learnings
Document packaging best practices and onboarding standards for Microsoft teams and ISV partners
Help establish scalable technical guidance for future partner onboarding
Partner Outreach
Support outreach efforts to software vendors not yet publishing in the Microsoft Store
Help qualify leads, follow up with ISVs, and support partner adoption initiatives
Required Experience
Strong Windows Ecosystem Background
5+ years of experience working with Windows applications and desktop software distribution
Strong understanding of installers, drivers, OS-level APIs, software packaging, and Windows platform integrations
Experience across Win32, .NET, UWP, WebView2, PWAs, or similar desktop architectures
Commercial Software Distribution Experience
Background working at companies that ship and distribute commercial software products
Exposure to packaging, deployment, signing, Store submission, and operating system integration
Experience only building internal business systems is not enough for this role
Prototyping & Troubleshooting Mindset
Ability to independently reproduce issues, create sandbox environments, and build reference implementations
Strong problem-solving skills across low-level platform issues and technical ambiguity
Strong Communication & Ownership
Comfortable working directly with clients and senior engineers
Able to explain technical tradeoffs clearly and drive solutions proactively
Strong ownership mindset with a bias toward action
Nice to Have
Experience with MSIX, unpackaged apps, Xbox-to-Windows migration, PWA packaging, and Windows Store publishing
Familiarity with installer technologies such as WiX
Experience with GitHub Actions, SDK fixes, and CI publishing workflows
Data pipeline literacy (Spark, Fabric, large-scale systems)
Experience using AI tools like Copilot for prototyping and workflow acceleration
Previous Microsoft experience is a strong plus
(*) SOUTHWORKS only hires individuals from countries that are not blocked or sanctioned by the United States, including those identified on the United States Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC).
Skills Required
- 5+ years of experience working with Windows applications and desktop software distribution
- Strong understanding of installers, drivers, OS-level APIs, software packaging, and Windows platform integrations
- Experience across Win32, .NET, UWP, WebView2, PWAs, or similar desktop architectures
- Background working at companies that ship and distribute commercial software products
- Ability to independently reproduce issues, create sandbox environments, and build reference implementations
- Strong problem-solving skills across low-level platform issues and technical ambiguity
- Comfortable working directly with clients and senior engineers
- Able to explain technical tradeoffs clearly and drive solutions proactively
- Strong ownership mindset with a bias toward action
What We Do
SOUTHWORKS Development on Demand model turns up the heat on software engineering projects, taking clients from stuck to scaled one week at a time. Booked weekly, with transparent, up-front pricing, SOUTHWORKS dedicated Fireteams of world-class, battle-tested engineers accelerate and grow clients’ businesses. And with SOUTHWORKS nearshore operations and time zone affinity, clients are always in the know. SOUTHWORKS focuses on clients’ future-facing software development projects that they have neither the time nor the resource to handle in-house. SOUTHWORKS brings development intensity to help start-ups, scale-ups and enterprise clients unlock their toughest dev challenges, at scale, and at speed. No long term contracts. No overhead. No hidden costs. No hand-holding. No distant time zones. No surprises.
