Senior Azure Virtual Desktop Engineer | Remote-Eligible

Cognizant; Lansing (MI); Remote; USD 79,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation is seeking a Senior Azure Virtual Desktop Engineer to design, deploy, automate, and optimize Azure Virtual Desktop environments. You will lead end-to-end lifecycle management, replacing legacy jump-servers while ensuring security, scalability, and cost efficiency across the Azure estate.

You will collaborate with identity, networking, security, and endpoint teams to deliver a modern virtual desktop experience.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience designing, deploying, and supporting Azure Virtual Desktop environments.
• Strong expertise in Azure Virtual Desktop architecture, including Host Pools, Workspaces, Application Groups, Session Hosts, and user assignment models.
• Strong understanding of Azure infrastructure services, including Resource Groups, VNets, Subnets, NSGs, and network security principles.
• Experience optimizing AVD environments for performance, scalability, and cost efficiency.
• Hands-on experience with PowerShell, Azure CLI, Azure Automation, and Infrastructure-as-Code tools such as Terraform, Bicep, or ARM templates.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and deploy Azure Virtual Desktop environments from resource sizing and architecture through production implementation.
• Define AVD resource specifications, including VM SKUs, session host sizing, image selection, capacity planning, naming conventions, and tagging standards.
• Configure and maintain Azure infrastructure components including Resource Groups, VNets, Subnets, Host Pools, Workspaces, Application Groups, and Session Hosts.
• Design and manage pooled (multi-user) and personal (dedicated) desktop environments, aligning deployment models with business and technical requirements.
• Administer user assignments, application group access, and host pool allocations to ensure an optimal end-user experience.
• Monitor and optimize AVD consumption costs through rightsizing, scaling strategies, deallocation schedules, and monthly cost reviews.
• Develop automation solutions for provisioning, image management, autoscaling, patching, and decommissioning using PowerShell, Azure CLI, and Infrastructure-as-Code.
• Collaborate with identity, networking, security, and endpoint management teams to ensure seamless integration with enterprise platforms.
• Maintain technical documentation, architecture diagrams, operational procedures, and support runbooks.

Skills

Azure Virtual Desktop

Automation experience

Cost optimization

Lifecycle management

Tools

PowerShell

Azure CLI

Terraform

Bicep

ARM templates

Job description

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation is seeking a Senior Azure Virtual Desktop Engineer to design, deploy, automate, and optimize Azure Virtual Desktop environments. You will lead end-to-end lifecycle management, replacing legacy jump-servers while ensuring security, scalability, and cost efficiency across the Azure estate.

You will collaborate with identity, networking, security, and endpoint teams to deliver a modern virtual desktop experience.