ZipStaff Inc.
Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) Architect
Houston, Texas•Full-time
$45 - $50 hourly
$45 - $50 hourly
About the Job
Job Title: Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) Architect
Location: Houston, TX (On-site – 5 days/week)
Employment Type: Contract (W2 through ZipStaff — No C2C or 1099)
About the Opportunity:
ZipStaff is seeking a senior Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) Architect to lead the design, implementation, optimization, and escalation support of enterprise virtual desktop and application delivery platforms for a major technology services client.
This role is critical to the modernization of end-user computing services, including Azure Virtual Desktop deployments, Windows 365 solutions, Citrix replacement initiatives, Intune policy management, application packaging, and support for critical business applications.
What You’ll Do:
- Design, implement, and maintain Azure Virtual Desktop environments across development, test, pre-production, production, high-availability, and disaster recovery environments.
- Develop enterprise architecture, solution designs, deployment standards, and operational support documentation.
- Design scalable, secure, and resilient virtual desktop and published application environments.
- Lead production readiness reviews, DR planning, and DR testing activities.
- Optimize AVD host pools, scaling plans, FSLogix profiles, image management, and performance monitoring.
- Create infrastructure standards and reference architectures for enterprise AVD deployments.
- Troubleshoot complex AVD infrastructure, performance, authentication, connectivity, and user experience issues.
- Support Windows 365 solutions, Citrix replacement initiatives, Intune policy management, and application packaging.
- Provide escalation support and technical leadership for critical business applications delivered through virtual desktop platforms.
Required Qualifications:
- 8+ years of overall IT infrastructure / end-user computing experience.
- 4+ years of hands-on architecture and implementation experience with Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD).
- Strong experience designing and optimizing AVD host pools, scaling plans, FSLogix, image management, and performance monitoring.
- Proven experience developing enterprise architecture, solution designs, and operational documentation for virtual desktop platforms.
- Experience leading production readiness, high availability, and disaster recovery planning/testing for VDI environments.
- Strong troubleshooting skills across AVD infrastructure, authentication, connectivity, and user experience issues.
- Experience with Windows 365, Intune, and application packaging in enterprise environments.
- Ability to work 5 days on-site in Houston, TX.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with Citrix to AVD / Windows 365 migration or replacement initiatives.
- Strong background in enterprise end-user computing modernization programs.
- Relevant Microsoft Azure or Windows Virtual Desktop certifications.