Senior Manager, VDI Engineering & Systems Administration

Apex Fintech Solutions • Austin, TX

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Apex is seeking an experienced, hands-on technical leader to manage the core engineering teams responsible for end-user computing and virtual desktop infrastructure. As Senior Manager, VDI Engineering & Systems Administration, you will serve as the team’s top technical resource—overseeing M365 and Azure administration, workstation deployment and patching, and the build and maintenance of our VDI environment. In this role, you will regularly collaborate with our Staff Desktop Architect, leveraging their expertise as a trusted technical oracle and partner on strategic problem-solving and architectural decisions. You will provide daily direction, support, and mentorship for a team of Desktop Engineers, VDI Engineers, and System Administrators, ensuring alignment with best practices and long-term standards set in partnership with the Staff Desktop Architect.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical field (or equivalent work experience) required; advanced degree preferred
• 8+ years of total professional experience in the field of IT systems administration, desktop engineering, or VDI infrastructure.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience, including direct management or technical leadership of IT engineering teams.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in M365 administration (user management, security, compliance, Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, Intune, etc.).
• Strong background in Azure administration and integration.
• Experience administering and integrating EntraID and Okta for identity and access management.
• Practical experience with SCCM, SmartDeploy, Automox, and other workstation and patch management solutions.
• Experience managing teams responsible for desktop imaging, deployment, and endpoint patching at scale.
• Deep expertise in VDI solutions—preferably VMware Horizon and Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), including deployment, upgrades, troubleshooting, and support; experience working collaboratively with senior architects or subject matter experts a plus.
• Proficiency in scripting (PowerShell and/or Python) for automation of operational tasks.
• Solid understanding of Windows administration; experience with Linux a plus.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and documentation skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple shifting priorities.

Nice To Haves

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)
• Microsoft Certified: Modern Desktop Administrator Associate (MD-100, MD-101)
• Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals
• VMware Certified Professional – Desktop and Mobility (VCP-DTM)
• VMware Certified Advanced Professional – Desktop and Mobility Design (VCAP-DTM Design)
• Citrix Certified Associate – Virtualization (CCA-V)
• AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate or Professional
• Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals (for environments using Power BI/Fabric)

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Technical Oversight: Directly lead and mentor System Administrators managing M365 and Azure administration, including user lifecycle, security, compliance, and service availability.
• Manage Desktop Engineers responsible for workstation provisioning, imaging, deployment, and end user patch management.
• Manage the VDI Engineering group—overseeing design, provisioning, maintenance, and troubleshooting of VMware and AVD-based virtual desktop environments, working in concert with our Staff Desktop Architect as a resource and technical oracle, to guide strategic problem-solving, complex architectural decisions, and consistent application of leading practices and standards.
• Act as the escalation point for highly technical issues across Microsoft 365, Azure, desktop engineering, and VDI infrastructure—consulting with the Staff Desktop Architect on advanced challenges as needed.
• Organize and prioritize daily workload and project assignments for the team, ensuring timely completion of both operational tasks and project initiatives, in conjunction with our PMO to ensure proper resource allocation and alignment of work effort.
• Systems Administration & Engineering: Serve as a subject matter expert for administrative tasks in Microsoft 365, Azure Active Directory, Intune, EntraID, Okta, and related tooling—maintaining close collaboration with the Staff Desktop Architect to remain aligned on technical direction and solutions.
• Oversee processes for deploying, patching, and inventorying workstations using tools including SCCM, SmartDeploy, and Automox, ensuring compliance with security policies and regulatory mandates.
• Drive continual system improvements, including automation of provisioning and patching processes through PowerShell, other scripting languages, and appropriate endpoint management solutions.
• Oversee the implementation and routine maintenance of the Firm’s VDI environments—including image management, capacity planning, monitoring, and performance tuning—with periodic input from the Staff Desktop Architect to ensure solutions remain future-proof and robust.
• Operations & Troubleshooting: Take ownership of service monitoring, incident response, root cause analysis, and problem resolution for client computing and VDI operations—engaging the Staff Desktop Architect on unique or deeply technical incidents.
• Maintain documentation for standard operating procedures, troubleshooting guides, and end-user support materials.
• Ensure systems meet or exceed established SLAs for uptime, patch compliance, and response times.
• Collaboration: Work closely with other IT teams—such as Security, Applications, and Infrastructure—to coordinate cross-team efforts and consult with the Staff Desktop Architect where architectural and cross-functional guidance is warranted.
• Deliver clear technical guidance and training for the team; provide technical insights to leadership as needed.
• Participate in on-call rotation and after-hours maintenance as required.

Benefits

• We offer a robust package of employee perks and benefits, including healthcare benefits (medical, dental and vision, EAP), competitive PTO, 401k match, parental leave, and HSA contribution match.
• We also provide our employees with a paid subscription to the Calm app and offer generous external learning and tuition reimbursement benefits.
• At AFS, we offer a hybrid work schedule for most roles that allows employees to have the flexibility of working from home and one of our primary offices.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees