diff --git a/packaging/build_macos_signed.sh b/packaging/build_macos_signed.sh
index bbed9a20c..87173f229 100755
--- a/packaging/build_macos_signed.sh
+++ b/packaging/build_macos_signed.sh
@@ -112,13 +112,73 @@ codesign --verify --strict --verbose=2 "$APP"
 echo "==> dmg"
 DMG="$DIST/OpenCADStudio-v$VERSION-macos-arm64.dmg"
 rm -f "$DMG"
+
+# Stage the .app next to a symlink to /Applications so the DMG opens onto
+# the familiar "drag the icon onto Applications" installer layout, rather
+# than dropping just the bare .app into the user's Downloads-mounted volume
+# with no indication of where it's supposed to go (#769).
+STAGING="$DIST/dmg-staging"
+rm -rf "$STAGING"
+mkdir -p "$STAGING"
+cp -R "$APP" "$STAGING/"
+ln -s /Applications "$STAGING/Applications"
+
+# Build read-write first so Finder can save the window's icon layout, then
+# convert to the compressed read-only image the CI job's own DMG step
+# already produces — same two-stage approach that layout customization
+# always needs, since a UDZO image can't be mounted for editing afterward.
+RW_DMG="$DIST/OpenCADStudio-rw.dmg"
+rm -f "$RW_DMG"
 for i in 1 2 3 4 5; do
-    if hdiutil create -volname "Open CAD Studio" -srcfolder "$APP" -ov -format UDZO "$DMG"; then
+    if hdiutil create -volname "Open CAD Studio" -srcfolder "$STAGING" -ov -format UDRW -fs HFS+ "$RW_DMG"; then
         break
     fi
-    echo "hdiutil failed (attempt $i), retrying..." >&2
+    echo "hdiutil create (rw) failed (attempt $i), retrying..." >&2
     sleep 3
 done
+[ -f "$RW_DMG" ] || { echo "hdiutil create (rw) failed permanently" >&2; exit 1; }
+
+MOUNT_DIR="$(mktemp -d /tmp/ocs-dmg-mount.XXXXXX)"
+hdiutil attach "$RW_DMG" -mountpoint "$MOUNT_DIR" -quiet
+# Finder's own volume list can lag a moment behind `hdiutil attach`
+# returning, and "container window of <alias>" isn't a valid reference the
+# way "container window of disk <name>" is — so poll by name (up to 15s)
+# before touching it, rather than a fixed sleep or a path-based reference.
+osascript <<APPLESCRIPT || echo "DMG layout script failed (non-fatal, keeping default Finder view)" >&2
+tell application "Finder"
+    repeat 30 times
+        if (exists disk "Open CAD Studio") then exit repeat
+        delay 0.5
+    end repeat
+    tell disk "Open CAD Studio"
+        open
+        set current view of container window to icon view
+        set toolbar visible of container window to false
+        set statusbar visible of container window to false
+        set the bounds of container window to {200, 120, 760, 480}
+        set viewOptions to the icon view options of container window
+        set arrangement of viewOptions to not arranged
+        set icon size of viewOptions to 96
+        set position of item "OpenCADStudio.app" of container window to {140, 180}
+        set position of item "Applications" of container window to {420, 180}
+        close
+        open
+        update without registering applications
+        delay 1
+    end tell
+end tell
+APPLESCRIPT
+hdiutil detach "$MOUNT_DIR" -quiet
+
+for i in 1 2 3 4 5; do
+    if hdiutil convert "$RW_DMG" -format UDZO -ov -o "$DMG"; then
+        break
+    fi
+    echo "hdiutil convert failed (attempt $i), retrying..." >&2
+    sleep 3
+done
+rm -f "$RW_DMG"
+rm -rf "$STAGING"
 [ -f "$DMG" ] || { echo "hdiutil failed permanently" >&2; exit 1; }
 
 if [ -n "${NOTARY_PROFILE:-}" ] && [ "$DEVELOPER_ID" != "-" ]; then