So, here is my test figure... trying to go simple. Does the simple gray outline technique work? And does he need a satin varnish?

Its odd, he looks like he has a strange texture in the photo... not sure why. Not a flattering photo, I suppose.

I'd add one more highlight to the grey, not everywhere, just to help separate things a bit. Looks good!

I'd add a watered-down gloss varnish. It will help the model to pop a little more, and make it appear as they did in the film. That said, I think you've done a solid job.

If you don't feel like adding more highlights to every model, another way to add definition is to use different shades of black for the big straps and things. There are few truly black paints. Most are a very dark shade of blue or red. This is why mixing black with things to darken them can sometimes lead to bad results. But you can use this to create different blacks for the body glove, the armor plates, and the strapping. Also, you can vary the gloss finish if you want. Carefully apply it only to armor and leave it off the cloth parts.

I'm with @TauntaunScout on this one. I'm working on one last unit of Stormtroopers before I tackle these guys but broadly my plan is this;

1)Prime everything thoroughly in black

2)For the actual armour plates/helmet, do some grey highlights and slightly brighten them in some key focal areas like the helmet

3)For the under-suit and the various pouches/straps, I would start by painting in a darker grey on them (like Vallego's German Grey) and highlight that up a step or two on the edges. You should be able to tell from a distance that those parts aren't as "black" as the armour.

4)Paint the guns with some dark metal. Look at some reference pics online to see what parts are "black" and what parts are "metallic"

5)Nuln Oil the whole thing, which should shade the German Grey parts and keep the black parts nice and black

6)Paint the green lights on their helmet, and if you really want to be "correct", do some more pronounced dark green eye lenses for the DT-F16 model, since they depict her(?) as having more green lenses in Rebels.

7)Touch up anything you think might need some love. Maybe get the red markings on the guns, then base, seal with some kind of Matte varnish, then go back and paint on some gloss varnish onto only the armour plates/helmet. Leave the under-suit, pouches, straps, gun, etc in the matte finish.

What opinions do you guys have on dry-brushing the highlights vs. edge highlighting? For mine I feel like doing the drybrushing will save me a lot of time but I'm concerned on the results...

17 minutes ago, Varulfr said:

What opinions do you guys have on dry-brushing the highlights vs. edge highlighting? For mine I feel like doing the drybrushing will save me a lot of time but I'm concerned on the results...

That’s what I did with mine and I’m pleased with the result. You can see them in my thread, I also explain how I painted them step by step later because someone asked.

Your Death Trooper looks great. I agree with @TauntaunScout that carefully placed coats of Semi gloss or Gloss clear coat can change the overall look of the miniature especially armored troopers.

In reference to your original question. Yes he does. He works for the Empire.