Windows Azure Virtualization Engineer

Description

Location: Suitland, MD – Local candidates preferred; hybrid/on-site as needed.  Primary location:  REMOTE
Schedule: Supports East Coast business hours, 6:00 AM–3:00 PM ET
Salary: Starting at $122,000

Position Summary

Windows, Azure, Virtualization Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, securing, and maintaining enterprise Windows infrastructure, cloud environments, and virtualization platforms. This role requires hands-on experience with Windows Server administration, Microsoft cloud technologies, virtual machines (VMs), and Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM).

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in modernizing and securing Windows environments, managing Group Policy Objects (GPOs) through advanced change control and governance processes, and supporting cloud-based and hybrid infrastructure. Responsibilities include infrastructure optimization, automation, system migrations, security hardening, and troubleshooting complex technical issues across on-premises, virtualized, and cloud environments.

This position requires a hands-on technical professional who can work independently, collaborate with cross-functional IT teams, and provide technical guidance to junior team members. Local candidates must be available to work on-site as needed, typically two days per week.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Windows Infrastructure & Advanced Group Policy Management

• Design, implement, administer, and maintain enterprise Windows Server environments, including Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, and file services.

• Administer and manage Group Policy Objects (GPOs), including policy creation, configuration, testing, troubleshooting, and optimization.

• Implement and manage Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM), including controlled change management, version control, approval workflows, auditing, and rollback of Group Policy changes.

• Troubleshoot complex Active Directory, Group Policy, authentication, and Windows configuration issues across enterprise environments.

• Manage Windows operating system deployments, patching, upgrades, configuration standards, and lifecycle maintenance.

• Administer Microsoft Intune, Microsoft Configuration Manager (SCCM/MECM), Windows Autopilot, and Microsoft Entra ID as applicable to the environment.

• Develop and maintain PowerShell scripts to automate infrastructure administration, configuration, reporting, and operational tasks.

Cloud Infrastructure & Virtualization

• Design, configure, administer, and optimize virtualized infrastructure, including VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, and cloud-hosted virtual machines.

• Support Microsoft Azure infrastructure services, including virtual machines, networking, storage, identity integration, monitoring, and security.

• Manage VM provisioning, configuration, performance monitoring, capacity planning, patching, and lifecycle management.

• Support hybrid infrastructure integrating on-premises Windows environments with Microsoft Azure and other cloud services.

• Troubleshoot VM performance, resource allocation, availability, connectivity, and operating system issues.

• Participate in cloud migration, infrastructure modernization, and workload optimization initiatives.

• Implement and maintain backup, recovery, disaster recovery, and business continuity solutions for virtualized and cloud environments.

• Identify opportunities to improve scalability, reliability, security, and operational efficiency through cloud and virtualization technologies.

Windows Security & Compliance

• Implement and maintain Windows security controls, including AGPM/GPO security configurations, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Defender for Servers, BitLocker, and Windows Firewall.

• Apply security baselines, hardening standards, least-privilege access, multifactor authentication, and identity management controls.

• Monitor vulnerabilities, security events, and configuration compliance; coordinate remediation and corrective actions.

• Maintain secure configuration and change management practices for Windows servers, endpoints, virtual machines, and cloud resources.

• Support security assessments, audits, compliance reviews, and incident response activities in coordination with cybersecurity teams.

• Ensure infrastructure configurations align with organizational security policies and applicable compliance requirements.

Infrastructure Operations & Technical Leadership

• Troubleshoot and resolve complex Windows, cloud, virtualization, and infrastructure issues.

• Lead or support infrastructure migrations, upgrades, modernization projects, and new technology implementations.

• Develop and maintain technical documentation, architecture diagrams, configuration records, and operational procedures.

• Collaborate with cloud, networking, cybersecurity, application, and service desk teams to maintain reliable enterprise services.

• Evaluate emerging Microsoft, cloud, and virtualization technologies and recommend practical improvements.

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior administrators and engineers.

Professional Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in Windows infrastructure administration, systems engineering, or enterprise IT infrastructure.

• Demonstrated hands-on experience administering Windows Server environments and enterprise Active Directory.

• Hands-on experience with Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM), including GPO change control, versioning, approvals, and rollback.

• Experience supporting cloud infrastructure and virtualized environments, with an emphasis on Microsoft Azure and VM administration.

• Ability to work on-site in the Fairfax, VA area as needed, approximately two days per week.

Required Technical Skills

• Windows Server administration (2016, 2019, 2022, and newer versions).

• Active Directory, Group Policy Objects (GPOs), AGPM, DNS, DHCP, and PKI.

• Microsoft Azure infrastructure and cloud-hosted virtual machines.

• Virtualization platforms such as VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V.

• Microsoft Entra ID and hybrid identity environments.

• PowerShell scripting and infrastructure automation.

• Windows patch management, security hardening, and vulnerability remediation.

• Cloud and VM monitoring, troubleshooting, resource optimization, and lifecycle management.

• Backup, recovery, storage, and disaster recovery fundamentals.

• Enterprise networking concepts, including TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, VPNs, routing, switching, and firewalls.

• Enterprise security controls, configuration management, and compliance best practices.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience migrating workloads from on-premises infrastructure to cloud or hybrid environments.

• Experience with Azure Monitor, Azure Backup, Azure networking, and cloud security controls.

• Experience with Microsoft Defender security solutions and Microsoft endpoint management tools.

• Experience automating routine infrastructure tasks and configuration management with PowerShell.

• Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code or configuration automation tools.

Preferred Certifications

Microsoft

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate

• Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate

Other relevant certifications

• VMware certifications or equivalent hands-on virtualization experience.

• Microsoft or vendor-specific certifications related to cloud infrastructure, virtualization, or systems administration.

ActioNet is an equal opportunity employer and value inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

********Direct Applicants, only. No Agencies, No third-party recruiters, please********