*Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*

Role: Senior Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) Engineer

Location: Remote - Canada; hybrid option may be available based on business or client requirements.

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Senior Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) Engineer to support a large-scale enterprise infrastructure environment. This role will be responsible for designing, implementing, optimizing, and supporting Azure Virtual Desktop solutions while ensuring security, performance, scalability, cost efficiency, and operational excellence.

The successful candidate will bring deep expertise across Azure Virtual Desktop, Microsoft Intune, FSLogix, Microsoft Azure infrastructure services, and enterprise end-user computing. The role will act as a technical subject matter expert and collaborate closely with infrastructure, cloud, security, service desk, and business stakeholder teams to deliver secure, reliable, and high-quality virtual desktop services.

Key Responsibilities
• Design, deploy, configure, and manage enterprise Azure Virtual Desktop environments, including host pools, workspaces, application groups, and session hosts.
• Lead AVD migration, modernization, and platform standardization initiatives.
• Create, maintain, and optimize golden images for enterprise desktop deployments.
• Implement and support FSLogix profile management to provide a consistent and optimized end-user experience.
• Configure and maintain security controls, including Conditional Access, Multi-Factor Authentication, Role-Based Access Control, and Network Security Groups.
• Ensure AVD solutions align with Zero Trust principles, enterprise security standards, and compliance requirements.
• Monitor and optimize platform performance, availability, reliability, and cost using Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and native Azure capabilities.
• Implement autoscaling, right-sizing, and capacity optimization strategies to improve operational efficiency.
• Provide Tier 3 operational support, incident resolution, root cause analysis, and technical leadership during critical incidents.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, operational procedures, support runbooks, and knowledge articles.
• Collaborate with cloud architects, security teams, service desk teams, infrastructure teams, and business stakeholders to translate requirements into scalable AVD solutions.
• Participate in architecture reviews, capacity planning, service improvement initiatives, and operational governance forums.

Required Skills and Qualifications

Mandatory Skills
• 10+ years of overall infrastructure experience, including strong hands-on expertise with Azure Virtual Desktop.
• 4+ years of experience with Microsoft Intune and endpoint management.
• Strong knowledge of FSLogix profile management and user profile optimization.
• Experience with Microsoft Azure infrastructure services and cloud-based enterprise platforms.
• Hands-on experience with Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and operational monitoring practices.
• Strong understanding of Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID, identity management, and access controls.
• Experience administering Windows virtual desktop environments.
• Proficiency with PowerShell scripting for automation, administration, and troubleshooting.
• Working knowledge of Conditional Access, Zero Trust security principles, and enterprise security frameworks.

Preferred Skills
• Experience with Azure Landing Zones and enterprise cloud governance models.
• Knowledge of endpoint management, device compliance, and modern workplace technologies.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Defender Suite and cloud security tooling.
• Strong understanding of Azure networking concepts.
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code tools such as Terraform or Bicep.
• Experience with Citrix or VMware Horizon migration initiatives.
• ITIL Foundation certification or equivalent service management experience.

Education and Certifications

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline is preferred.

Relevant Microsoft Azure certifications are preferred, including:
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert

Experience
• Extensive experience supporting enterprise-scale virtual desktop or end-user computing environments.
• Proven experience leading Azure Virtual Desktop implementation, migration, or modernization programs.
• Experience working within large enterprise cloud environments with strict security, compliance, and operational requirements.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, documentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Success Factors
• Strong customer focus, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to influence technical decisions and provide practical architectural guidance.
• Proven ability to work independently and lead complex technical initiatives.
• Strong documentation, knowledge transfer, and operational handover capabilities.

Nice-to-Have Domain Experience
• Insurance, financial services, or regulated industry experience.
• Experience supporting geographically dispersed enterprise user populations.
• Managed services delivery experience within large-scale IT organizations.

Compensation: We are offering between $110,000 - $125,000. Applications will be accepted until July 24, 2026.Cognizant will only consider applicants for this position who are legally authorized to work in Canada without requiring employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.

This position is also eligible for Cognizant's discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant's applicable plans.

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.