Azure Virtual Desktop Engineer

No sponsorship will be provided for this role.

Location

Onsite in Memphis, TN; Maryville, TN; Birmingham, AL; Lafayette, LA; New Orleans, LA; Dallas, TX; Charlotte, NC; or Raleigh, NC

Weekly Schedule

Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm

Job Overview

We are seeking a skilled Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) Administrator to design, deploy, and manage our cloud-based virtual desktop infrastructure. This role is pivotal in ensuring a secure, scalable, and high-performing AVD environment that supports our organization’s digital transformation and remote work initiatives. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver seamless user experiences, optimize performance, and maintain robust security standards in a dynamic Azure cloud ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Deployment & Configuration

• Architect, deploy, and configure Azure Virtual Desktop environments tailored to organizational requirements, including multi-session and single-session setups.
• Implement custom OS images for virtual desktops using Azure Image Builder or similar tools to ensure consistency and compliance.

Maintenance & Updates

• Execute regular maintenance tasks, such as patching, updating virtual machine images, and managing Azure policies to keep the AVD environment secure and compliant.
• Automate routine maintenance tasks using Azure Automation, PowerShell, or Azure CLI to improve efficiency.

Performance Optimization

• Monitor and optimize AVD performance using Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and Application Insights to ensure low latency and a seamless user experience.
• Fine-tune resource allocation (e.g., scaling host pools, managing compute resources) to balance cost and performance.

Monitoring & Proactive Management

• Deploy and manage monitoring solutions to track AVD health, performance metrics, and user activity, proactively addressing potential issues.
• Leverage Azure Sentinel or similar tools for real-time threat detection and incident response within the AVD environment.

Cloud Transition

• Lead the migration from traditional on-premises desktop environments (e.g., Windows Server RDS, Citrix) to Azure Virtual Desktop, ensuring minimal disruption and comprehensive user training.
• Develop and execute migration plans, including application compatibility testing and user profile management with FSLogix.
• Troubleshooting & Support:
• Diagnose and resolve complex technical issues related to AVD, including connectivity, application performance, and session host failures.
• Provide Tier 2/3 support to end-users, leveraging Azure support tools and ticketing systems to ensure high availability and user satisfaction.
• Security & Compliance:
• Implement and manage security controls, including Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) for identity management, Conditional Access policies, and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
• Ensure compliance with industry standards (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) and organizational policies through secure configuration and regular audits.
• Collaboration & Integration:
• Work closely with IT, cybersecurity, and DevOps teams to integrate AVD with other Azure services (e.g., Azure Files, Azure NetApp Files, Microsoft 365).
• Partner with application owners to ensure compatibility and optimize delivery of business-critical applications via AVD.
• Documentation & Training:
• Maintain detailed documentation of AVD configurations, processes, and troubleshooting guides.
• Provide training and knowledge transfer to internal teams and end-users to support adoption and efficient use of AVD.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience in Azure cloud engineering, with at least 2 years focused on deploying and managing Azure Virtual Desktop environments.
• Proven experience in migrating on-premises VDI solutions to cloud-based platforms.
• Familiarity with hybrid cloud environments and integration with on-premises infrastructure.
• Certifications (preferred but not required):
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate.
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty or Microsoft Certified: Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop.
• Additional certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals or Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert are a plus.

Technical Skills

• Expertise in Azure Virtual Desktop deploym