VDI Platform Engineer

Talascend is currently seeking a VDI Platform Engineer for a W-2 contract opportunity located in Washington, D.C.

CLEARANCE:

• Must be a US Citizen.
• Must currently have an active Public Trust Security Clearance.
• DOJ PT Security Clearance is preferred.

SUMMARY:

Our client is looking for a Senior VDI Platform Engineer to support a large U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) program.  The Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is responsible for enforcing federal antitrust laws and promoting fair competition in the marketplace.  As a Senior VDI Platform Engineer supporting Azure Virtual Desktop, you will be responsible for the design, implementation, optimization, and support of the VDI environment. You will leverage Azure cloud technologies and the Azure Virtual Desktop platform to deliver a high-performance, cost-effective, and secure virtual desktop experience. In addition, you will collaborate with cloud engineers, security teams, and business units to ensure that the VDI platform aligns with organizational needs and industry best practices. This work is located onsite in the DC area.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the design and architecture of Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) environments, including the selection of appropriate Azure resources, virtual machines, storage, and networking.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand business needs and customize the VDI solution to ensure the best possible user experience, while aligning with company policies and security requirements.
• Ensure the virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is optimized for performance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness using Azure tools and resources.
• Implement, configure, and maintain Azure Virtual Desktop solutions, including provisioning of virtual desktops, application hosting, and integration with on-premises resources when needed.
• Develop and implement group policies, security settings, and user profiles within the AVD environment to meet company standards and user needs.
• Deploy and manage multi-session Windows 10 or Windows 11 virtual desktops, app delivery configurations, and host pools.
• Monitor the health and performance of the Azure Virtual Desktop environment, proactively identifying and resolving issues to ensure uptime and reliability.
• Leverage Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and other tools to gain insights into system performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Utilize Azure Active Directory (AAD) for user authentication and ensure conditional access policies are in place for secure VDI access.
• Provide tier 3 support for complex VDI-related issues, troubleshooting and resolving incidents related to virtual desktop performance, user access, and application delivery.
• Develop and implement automation solutions to streamline VDI management tasks such as provisioning, patching, and user profile management using PowerShell, Azure Automation, and other scripting tools.
• Create and manage scripts for the automation of AVD environment scaling, resource allocation, and cleanup.
• Document architecture, configurations, troubleshooting guides, and processes to facilitate efficient platform management and knowledge sharing.
• Stay up to date with new features and best practices in Azure Virtual Desktop and related cloud technologies.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS: 

• US Citizenship.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
• 5+ years of experience with VDI technologies, cloud platforms, and desktop virtualization, with a minimum of 3 years focused on Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) or similar cloud-based VDI solutions.
• Expertise in Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), including host pools, session hosts, app virtualization, and multi-session Windows.
• Proficiency in Azure services, including Azure Active Directory, Azure Networking, Azure Storage, and Azure Monitoring.
• Hands-on experience with Windows 10/11 multi-session desktop environments and Windows Server.
• Strong knowledge of PowerShell scripting for automation of VDI management tasks.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Endpoint Manager (Intune) and Group Policy management in virtual desktop environments.
• Experience with remote desktop services (RDS), Citrix, or other desktop virtualization technologies is a plus.
• Knowledge of security protocols and tools for securing virtual desktop infrastructure, including Azure security best practices and VPN technologies.
• Experience with monitoring tools such as Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, or third-party solutions like SolarWinds or Splunk.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities, with a focus on optimizing performance, identifying bottlenecks, and resolving issues in a timely manner.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to document and explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment and collaborate with business and technical teams to achieve organizational goals.
• Experience in managing VDI-related projects, from design and implementation to ongoing support and optimization.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Certifications: Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert or Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate.
• Experience with Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, VMware Horizon, or other enterprise-level VDI solutions.
• Familiarity with enterprise storage solutions (e.g., SAN, NAS) and virtual storage technologies.
• Exposure to DevOps practices and CI/CD pipeline integration for virtual desktop infrastructure management.
• Knowledge of containerized applications and how they can integrate into the VDI environment.