Virtual Desktop Engineer

Job Family:
Systems Engineering

Travel Required:
Up to 10%

Clearance Required:
Active Top Secret (TS)

We are seeking a highly skilled Virtual Desktop Engineer to support secure virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) environments across federal programs. This role is responsible for engineering, deploying, optimizing, and maintaining virtual desktop and application delivery platforms-including Azure Virtual Desktop, Citrix Virtual Apps/Desktops, and VMware Horizon-to enable mission-critical operations in secure federal environments.

The ideal candidate brings strong hands-on experience with VDI platforms, endpoint management, virtualization, and cloud-integrated virtual desktop architectures.

What You Will Do

• Deploy, configure, and support Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solutions across on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments (Azure/AWS).
• Administer and optimize Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), Citrix Virtual Apps/Desktops, or VMware Horizon environments supporting federal user communities.
• Manage session hosts, master images, golden images, application layers, profile containers, and policy configurations.
• Troubleshoot complex issues across VDI stacks including connectivity, performance, application access, profile persistence, and user experience.
• Support secure configuration baselines, STIG alignment, patching, and compliance documentation.
• Implement automation for provisioning, scaling, monitoring, and cost optimization across VDI environments.
• Collaborate with networking, cloud, cybersecurity, and server engineering teams to ensure secure and high-performance desktop delivery.
• Assist with VDI migrations, modernization projects, cloud transitions, and integration with identity platforms (Azure AD/Entra).
• Maintain system documentation, architecture diagrams, change records, and operational runbooks.
• Provide Tier 2/Tier 3 escalation support and mentor junior engineers as needed.

What You Will Need

• U.S. Citizenship
• An ACTIVE and MAINTAINED "TOP SECRET" Federal or DoD security clearance and ability to obtain SCI.
• Minimum of FIVE (5) years of experience administering virtual desktop or application delivery platforms
• Hands-on experience with at least one major VDI technology (Azure Virtual Desktop, Citrix, VMware Horizon)
• Experience supporting secure environments (Federal Civilian, DoD, Intelligence Community, or similar)
• Understanding of virtualization (Hyper-V, VMware), Windows client/server OS, and profile management technologies
• Familiarity with cloud-integrated VDI architectures and identity services (Azure AD/Entra, MFA, Conditional Access)
• Strong troubleshooting abilities and experience supporting distributed, high-availability VDI infrastructures
• Excellent communication, documentation, and collaboration skills

Nice to Have Certifications

• Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty (AZ-140)
• Citrix CCA-V or CCP-V
• VMware VCP-DaaS

Desired Additional Skills

• Experience with automation (PowerShell, Azure Automation, Terraform)
• Knowledge of FSLogix, profile containers, and application layering technologies
• Experience with Zero Trust-aligned access models and device posture validation
• Familiarity with monitoring tools (ControlUp, Splunk, Azure Monitor, Citrix Director)
• Experience with endpoint management tools (Intune, SCCM/ConfigMgr)
• Understanding of NIST 800-53, RMF, STIGs, and other federal compliance frameworks

The annual salary range for this position is $98,000.00-$163,000.00. Compensation decisions depend on a wide range of factors, including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, security clearances, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs.

What We Offer:

Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace.

Benefits include:

• Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
• Parental Leave
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Group Term Life and Travel Assistance
• Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance
• Health Savings Account, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Transit and Parking Commuter Benefits
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development, Certifications & Learning Opportunities
• Employee Referral Program
• Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
• Care.com annual membership
• Employee Assistance Program
• Supplemental Benefits via Corestream (Critical Care, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Assistance and ID theft protection, etc.)
• Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus

About Guidehouse

Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer-Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.

Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

If you have visited our website for information about employment opportunities, or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Guidehouse Recruiting at 1- or via email at All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodation.

All communication regarding recruitment for a Guidehouse position will be sent from Guidehouse email domains including @guidehouse.com or Correspondence received by an applicant from any other domain should be considered unauthorized and will not be honored by Guidehouse. Note that Guidehouse will never charge a fee or require a money transfer at any stage of the recruitment process and does not collect fees from educational institutions for participation in a recruitment event. Never provide your banking information to a third party purporting to need that information to proceed in the hiring process.

If any person or organization demands money related to a job opportunity with Guidehouse, please report the matter to Guidehouse's Ethics Hotline. If you want to check the validity of correspondence you have received, please contact Guidehouse is not responsible for losses incurred (monetary or otherwise) from an applicant's dealings with unauthorized third parties.

Guidehouse does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Guidehouse and Guidehouse will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.