Cognizant Hiring Windows Admin Manager

Cognizant; Chennai District, Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant invites an experienced Windows Server Administrator to join our enterprise IT team in Chennai and other hubs. You will manage Windows Server environments, AD DS, DNS/DHCP, and drive modernization across on-prem and cloud platforms. Strong scripting and automation skills are essential for a fast-paced, multi-datacenter setting.

Seeking 7–10 years of enterprise experience with large-scale infrastructure, SLA-driven operations, and collaboration across global teams.

Qualifications

• Advanced expertise in Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022 across on-prem and cloud environments.
• AD DS forest/domain design, replication, trusts, and GPO application.
• DNS/DHCP configuration and network fundamentals.
• Hyper-V provisioning, live migration, and failover clustering.
• Storage & virtualization with SAN, NetApp/Dell EMC/HPE or equivalent.
• Backup solutions (Veeam, Commvault, NetApp SnapVault or similar).
• Azure AD/Entra ID integration and hybrid identity management.
• IaC tools: Terraform, ARM templates, PowerShell DSC, Ansible.

Skills

Windows Server

AD DS

DNS/DHCP

Hyper-V

Hybrid cloud

Security hardening

Azure AD

Tools

Terraform

ARM templates

PowerShell DSC

Ansible

Job description

Dear Candidate

Primary : Windows Server Administration

Secondary : DB Administration ( Good to have )
Location: Chennai, HYD, Bangalore, Coimbatore

Grade: M or SA

Any Shifts: As of now the Shift requirement is between 2 pm to 11pm IST

Windows Server Administration & Architecture

• Advanced expertise in Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022 (or latest versions) across on-premises and cloud environments


• Mastery of Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS): forest/domain design, replication, trusts, schema management, and group policy application


• Proficiency in DNS administration, DHCP configuration, and network infrastructure fundamentals

Storage & Virtualization

• Deep experience with Hyper-V, including virtual machine provisioning, resource allocation, live migration, and failover clustering


• Strong knowledge of Storage Spaces, iSCSI, Fibre Channel (FC), and SAN storage protocols; experience with NetApp, Dell EMC, HPE, or equivalent enterprise storage


• Experience with backup solutions (Veeam, Commvault, NetApp SnapVault, or similar); data protection and recovery strategies

Security & Identity Management

• Mastery of Group Policy Objects (GPO), security policies, and Windows security hardening principles


• Knowledge of Windows authentication mechanisms: Kerberos, NTLM, smart card authentication, multi-factor authentication (MFA)


• Experience with Azure AD / Entra ID integration and hybrid identity management


• Understanding of Windows security standards (CIS Benchmarks, Microsoft Security Baselines, NIST) and compliance frameworks

Hybrid Cloud & Modern Infrastructure

• Azure Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS): virtual machines, Azure Virtual Networks, connectivity, and hybrid scenarios (Azure Arc, ExpressRoute)


• Azure Stack HCI and hybrid cloud deployment models


• Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools: Terraform, ARM templates, PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC), Ansible, or equivalents

Scripting & Automation

• Advanced PowerShell scripting: custom modules, workflow automation, REST API integration, and operational automation at scale


• Batch scripting, VBScript, and familiarity with other scripting languages (Python, Bash) for cross-platform automation


• Ability to develop runbooks and self-service automation solutions

Monitoring, Diagnostics & Performance Tuning

• Advanced use of Performance Monitor (Perfmon), Event Viewer, and Windows diagnostic tools; log parsing and analysis


• Experience with monitoring platforms: Splunk, Elastic Stack, Datadog, New Relic, or equivalent APM/SIEM solutions


• Knowledge of profiling, tracing, and advanced troubleshooting methodologies

Soft Skills & Professional Competencies

• Problem-solving and analytical thinking: ability to diagnose complex multi-layer issues and implement effective solutions


• Communication: clear articulation of technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders; strong documentation practices


• Leadership and mentoring: ability to guide junior team members and contribute to team knowledge development


• Project management: experience managing infrastructure initiatives from planning through deployment and handoff


• Adaptability: comfort working in fast-paced, dynamic environments with evolving technology landscapes

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 7-10 years of enterprise-level Windows Server administration experience


• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale infrastructure (100+ Windows servers) across multiple data centers or hybrid cloud environments


• Proven track record of leading infrastructure design projects, platform upgrades, and modernization initiatives


• Experience in IT managed services or multi-tenant environments, supporting SLA-based service delivery