Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) / VDI Engineer

Numentica•Austin, TX

About The Position

This role focuses on the design, deployment, configuration, and management of Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) environments. The engineer will administer and optimize virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) to ensure high availability, performance, and scalability. This includes evaluating and implementing relevant Azure services such as Azure Active Directory, Azure Monitor, Azure Storage, and Azure Networking. The position also involves applying in-depth knowledge of networking principles (DNS, VPN, ExpressRoute, NSGs) for virtual desktop connectivity and performance, configuring traffic flows, and implementing security best practices. Monitoring for security threats, managing Windows Server operating systems, and utilizing SCCM/Intune for system management are key aspects. The role requires developing automation scripts, troubleshooting complex issues, and collaborating with various IT teams. Continuous learning and staying current with evolving Azure services and VDI technologies are essential.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline. Equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of a formal degree.
Minimum of three (3) to six (6) years of hands-on experience in IT infrastructure, systems engineering, or cloud engineering roles.
Demonstrable hands-on experience deploying, configuring, and supporting Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) in production or government-grade environments.
Proficient understanding of Microsoft Azure, with emphasis on services supporting Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).
Practical experience with Hyper-V and/or VMware; hands-on AVD deployment, configuration, management, and day-to-day support.
Solid understanding of DNS, TCP/IP, VPNs, NSGs, firewalls, and application port requirements in virtual desktop environments.
Demonstrated familiarity with Windows Server OS versions and their integration with Azure workloads.
Practical experience with SCCM / OSD and Microsoft Intune / AutoPilot for device provisioning, management, and patching.
Working knowledge of VDI security controls, identity and access management, endpoint hardening, and data protection best practices.
Proficiency in at least one scripting language (PowerShell strongly preferred; Python or Bash also valued) for automation of administrative and operational tasks.
Proven ability to diagnose and resolve performance, connectivity, and application delivery issues within a VDI/cloud environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Collaborative team player, comfortable working across multi-disciplinary IT teams and third-party vendor relationships.
Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and professional development in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.

Nice To Haves

Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) or Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty certification.
Experience working within government, public sector, or regulated environments subject to compliance frameworks (e.g., FedRAMP, NIST, FISMA).
Familiarity with Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and other observability tools for VDI environment health monitoring.
Experience with Azure Site Recovery, backup solutions, and disaster recovery planning for virtual desktop environments.
Knowledge of zero-trust security architecture principles as applied to virtual desktop and cloud environments.
Prior experience with multi-Service Provider delivery models and cross-functional project team coordination.
Project Management exposure (PMP or equivalent) is a plus.

Responsibilities

Design, deploy, configure, and manage Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) environments, including host pools, session hosts, application groups, and workspace configurations.
Administer and optimize virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) to ensure high availability, performance, and scalability in alignment with agency requirements.
Evaluate and implement Azure services relevant to VDI — including Azure Active Directory, Azure Monitor, Azure Storage, and Azure Networking — to support robust desktop delivery.
Apply in-depth knowledge of networking principles (DNS, VPN, ExpressRoute, NSGs) as they relate to virtual desktop connectivity and performance.
Configure and document port requirements and application traffic flows necessary to traverse agency firewall configurations.
Implement and maintain security best practices for virtual desktop environments, including access control policies, data encryption, endpoint hardening, and compliance with organizational security standards.
Monitor the VDI environment for security threats and vulnerabilities; coordinate with the security team to remediate identified risks.
Manage Windows Server operating systems and their integration with Azure services to support VDI workloads.
Utilize SCCM / OSD and Microsoft Intune / AutoPilot for system provisioning, configuration management, patch deployment, and lifecycle management of virtual desktop images.
Develop and maintain standard operating environment (SOE) images and golden templates for virtual desktop deployment.
Develop and maintain automation scripts (PowerShell, Python, or equivalent) to streamline provisioning, configuration, monitoring, and administrative tasks within the VDI environment.
Diagnose and resolve complex issues related to virtual desktop performance, connectivity, application delivery, and user experience.
Proactively monitor environment health, analyze performance metrics, and implement efficiency improvements to reduce incidents and improve uptime.
Collaborate effectively with infrastructure, security, application, and project teams to align VDI solutions with broader IT and business objectives.
Communicate clearly with stakeholders at varying technical levels, including documenting architecture decisions, procedures, and operational runbooks.
Stay current with evolving Azure services, VDI technologies, and industry best practices; proactively recommend improvements and emerging solutions to leadership.
Participate in technical design reviews, change management processes, and project planning activities as required.