Position Title: Senior Windows and Virtualization Administrator
Department: IT - System Administration
Experience Level: 8+ years of professional experience
Direct Reports: NA
Hire type: Full-time, Contract
Worktimes: EST
Job Location: Atlanta, GA (Work from Office), US Residents Only
Tags: Senior Windows Systems Administrator, Senior Virtualization Administrator, Senior IT Systems Administrator, Senior IT Infrastructure Administrator
Position Summary
We are looking for a Senior Windows and Virtualization Administrator to manage and maintain the company’s Windows-based server infrastructure and virtual environments. The role includes implementing, monitoring, and optimizing systems to ensure high availability, security, and efficiency. The administrator will also support virtual platforms such as VMware and Hyper-V, while collaborating with other IT teams to enhance system performance.
Key Technical skills required
- Advanced Virtualization Technologies: VMware ESXi, Hyper-V, vSphere, Virtual Machine Manager (VMM), Nested Virtualization, Windows Server Containers, Docker
- Automation and Scripting for Efficiency: PowerShell, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Terraform, Ansible, Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions
- Cybersecurity and Compliance in IT Infrastructure: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Conditional Access, Azure Security Center, Privileged Access Management, Microsoft Defender ATP, Vulnerability Management
- Identity and Access Management (IAM) and Active Directory: Azure AD Connect, Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS), Group Policy Management, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Conditional Access
- Advanced Monitoring and Performance Optimization: System Center Operations Manager (SCOM), PRTG, SolarWinds, Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Microsoft Sentinel
- Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning: Azure Site Recovery, Veeam Backup, Microsoft Data Protection Manager (DPM), DRaaS, Backup as a Service (BaaS)
- Networking and Software-Defined Networking (SDN): SDN, VPN, DirectAccess, Azure Virtual Network (VNet), Load Balancing, Network Security Groups (NSGs)
- Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Solutions: Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD), Azure Virtual Desktop, VMware Horizon, Citrix Virtual Apps, RDS
- Windows Server Management and Optimization: Windows Server 2022, Secured-core Server, SMB over QUIC, Storage Spaces Direct, Windows Admin Center
Primary Responsibilities
- Install, configure, and manage Windows servers and related infrastructure.
- Monitor system performance, security, and storage utilization to ensure optimal system health.
- Implement and maintain virtualization solutions (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V).
- Manage Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, and other Windows services.
- Perform regular backups, patch management, and disaster recovery planning.
- Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to Windows and virtual environments.
- Collaborate with IT teams to deploy and integrate new technologies and services.
- Ensure compliance with security policies and implement access controls and monitoring.
- Prepare documentation for system processes and configurations.
- In-depth knowledge of cybersecurity practices and tools, including Microsoft Defender ATP for endpoint protection, Privileged Access Management, and Azure Security Center for proactive threat management.
- Management of Active Directory and Azure AD for hybrid identity management
- To provide Conditional Access and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to secure access across on-premises and cloud environments.
- Work on monitoring and analytics tools to maintain optimal performance and availability.
- Work with Microsoft Sentinel for advanced threat detection and response in a cloud or hybrid environment.
Mandatory Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in information technology, Computer Science, or a related field.
- Strong knowledge of Windows Server, Active Directory, and virtualization platforms (VMware/Hyper-V).
- Familiarity with backup/recovery tools and security best practices.
- Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
- Expert-level skills in virtualization platforms such as VMware ESXi and Hyper-V for deploying, managing, and troubleshooting virtual environments.
- Knowledge of Windows Server Containers and Docker for containerized applications is increasingly valuable.
- Expertise in disaster recovery planning and implementation, utilizing tools like Azure Site Recovery and Veeam for backup and business continuity.
- Advanced skills in network management, including SDN and VPN configuration, as well as Azure Virtual Network (VNet) for creating secure connections between on-premises and cloud environments.
- Experience managing VDI solutions to support remote work, particularly with Windows Virtual Desktop and Azure Virtual Desktop.
- Expertise with the latest Windows Server features, including Secured-core Server for enhanced security, SMB over QUIC for secure file sharing, and Storage Spaces Direct for scalable storage.
Desirable / Great to have
- Familiarity with DevOps practices and tools, specifically CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps and GitHub
- Advanced scripting skills with PowerShell, to automate routine tasks.
- Experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform and Ansible for managing and deploying virtualized infrastructure efficiently.
- Proficiency in integrating and managing hybrid cloud environments with a focus on Azure and AWS.
- Certification in Microsoft or VMware technologies (e.g., MCSE, VCP) is a plus.
Soft Skills
- Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to handle issues independently.
- Effective communication skills to collaborate with IT teams and document system processes.
- Strong organizational abilities to manage multiple tasks and maintain system performance.
- A proactive, detail-oriented mindset with the ability to optimize infrastructure for long-term sustainability.
