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

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.

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, Power Shell, 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  (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 Dev Ops teams to integrate AVD with other Azure services (e.g., Azure Files, Azure Net App 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.

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:
    Dev Ops Engineer Expert are a plus.

Technical

Skills:

• Expertise in Azure Virtual Desktop deployment, management, and optimization, including host pools, work spaces, and application groups.
• Proficiency in automation tools and scripting languages (e.g., Power Shell, Azure CLI, ARM templates, or Bicep).
• Strong understanding of cloud security best practices, including Microsoft Entra , RBAC, and network security (e.g., Azure Firewall, NSGs).
• Experience with FSLogix for user profile management and Azure Monitor for performance analytics.
• Knowledge of related Azure services (e.g., Azure Active Directory, Azure Blob Storage, Azure Backup).
• Familiarity with Dev Ops practices, including CI/CD pipelines and…