Azure Virtual Desktop SME (SC Cleared)

Azure Virtual Desktop SME (SC Cleared)

Our client, a leading global supplier for IT services, requires Azure Virtual Desktop SME with Active SC Clearance.

This is a fully remote position with occasional travel required to the client's office in Gloucester.

This is a 6+ month temporary contract to start ASAP

Day rate: Competitive Market rate

Job Purpose:

• You will work as an Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) SME for the Virtual Devices Team following Scaled Agile Framework
• You will be involved in running, operating, and developing the AVD Environment which supports over 5K users from various geographies around the world
• You will support and administer the Azure Virtual Desktop estate, ensuring secure, performant, and highly available remote working environments
• The AVD environment consists of Single and Multisession AVDs which is managed from Azure Portal and Infrastructure as a Code with DevOps CI/CD pipelines using Terraform, Azure CLI, ARM Templates and PowerShell Scripts
• You will also need to support and maintain the Windows environment and related infra (Group Policies, OU, Application Configuration, patching etc.) which is provided in AVD
• You are also expected to participate in knowledge transfer, documentation, and cross skilling the Team comprising of Junior SMEs

Key Responsibilities:

• Run, operate, and develop the AVD Environment
• Maintain and manage Windows Environment hosted in AVD
• Maintain and manage policies/configuration which supports AVD
• Work within a dedicated AVD support team with direct end-user support
• Manage and maintain all aspects of Azure Virtual Desktop infrastructure
• Administer host pools, images, user/application access, resource groups
• Support and customise multi-user environments using FSLogix & NetApp (or equivalent)
• Ensure high availability and DR across AVD components
• On-call support responsibilities (1-in-3 rotation, supplier to coordinate coverage)
• Ad-hoc travel to Gloucester Business Park (remote-first model)
• Work within a dedicated AVD support team with direct end-user support
• Manage and maintain all aspects of Azure Virtual Desktop infrastructure
• Administer host pools, images, user/application access, resource groups
• Maintain and manage applications hosted in AVD
• Develop and execute Infrastructure as a Code pipelines using Terraform and PowerShell
• Maintain and manage CI/CD Pipelines via GitHub Repos
• Develop competency in the team and cross skill junior SMEs

Key Requirements

Essential:

• In-depth understanding of the Azure and AVD architecture including good understanding of AVD design best practices and Migration best practices
• High proficiency in management, configuration and deployment best practices of Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)
• Highly proficient in configuring and managing Resource Pool, Host Groups, Images, Apps and User Access
• Highly proficient in configuring user customisation through FSlogix
• Good understanding of Virtual Desktop and Application strategies and best practices
• Proficient in Windows Operating System principals, Group Policy Management, PowerShell and Application Troubleshooting
• Sound knowledge of Cloud Computing Fundamentals and Azure
• Experience of working in a dedicated Virtual Desktop Support Team providing direct support to user base
• In-depth understanding of the Azure Virtual Desktop AVD architecture and design best practices
• Proficiency in day-to-day administration of Azure Virtual Desktop environments including management of Resource Groups, Host Pools, Virtual Machine Images, Application Access & User Access
• Experience in administration of AVD Multi-User environments including user customisation via FSLogix & NetApp storage (or equivalent)

Desirable:

• Hands on experience of Azure DevOps, CI/CD Pipelines, managing GitHub Repos, ARM Templates, Azure CLI, Terraform and PowerShell
• Understanding of Agile frameworks like SCRUM
• Strong Azure fundamentals
• Experience with Terraform IaC pipelines for infrastructure management
• Good communication skills, Interpersonal skills, and customer responsiveness
• Working knowledge of tools like JIRA and Service Now
• Sound knowledge of Cloud Computing fundamentals specifically Azure
• Experience of managing Terraform based Infrastructure as Code pipelines

Special Working Requirements:

• On-Call requirement: Willingness to provide on-call support (shared 1-in-3 rotation among team)
• Should be ready to work in out of hours (based on project requirement
• You will need SC clearance for this role
• Ability to work remotely with occasional, ad-hoc travel to Gloucester Business Park
• Availability to start role in the next two months

Due to the volume of applications received, unfortunately we cannot respond to everyone.

If you do not hear back from us within 7 days of sending your application, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.