Microsoft 365 Engineer

Microsoft 365 Engineer - Contract - Richmond, VA- $65.00 - $70.00/hr.

The final salary or hourly wage, as applicable, paid to each candidate/applicant for this position is ultimately dependent on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate's/applicant's qualifications, skills, and level of experience as well as the geographical location of the position.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Sponsorship not available.

Our client is seeking a Microsoft 365 Engineer in Richmond, VA.

Role Description

The Microsoft 365 Infrastructure Engineer will lead client-facing Copilot readiness engagements across the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. This role focuses on assessment, architecture, governance, and implementation across SharePoint Online, Entra ID, Microsoft Search, and Microsoft Purview compliance capabilities to enable secure and accurate Copilot adoption.

M365:
Design, manage, and optimize Microsoft 365 services to support Copilot readiness, including SharePoint Online, OneDrive, Teams, Exchange Online, and related applications.
Conduct Copilot readiness assessments across identity, compliance, content architecture, and search indexing; lead migrations, upgrades, integrations, and automation to modernize client environments.
Map current-state content landscapes and design future-state SharePoint Online architectures with structured metadata, taxonomy, site hierarchy, and permission inheritance.
Lead migration planning and execution from file shares and legacy repositories into SharePoint Online and OneDrive using automated tooling.
Configure and optimize Microsoft Search, including schema extensions, managed properties, verticals, result sources, and indexing patterns.
Build governance frameworks, provisioning models, and operational standards tailored to each environment; provide client workshops, documentation, and enablement sessions across technical and business teams.
Create automation using PowerShell, PnP PowerShell, and Microsoft Graph API for reporting, provisioning, and repeatable deployment patterns.
Produce readiness deliverables including assessment findings, identified risks, and a prioritized remediation roadmap for Copilot adoption.

Identity (Entra ID) and Automation:
Advise on Entra ID configuration required for Copilot interoperability, including authentication methods, conditional access paths, and tenant-level identity controls.
Design and validate permission models (including least-privilege access), consent and app permission approaches, and identity governance practices that support access trimming and secure Copilot retrieval.
Apply Microsoft Graph API concepts (service principles, delegated/application permissions, and API limitations) to support automation, reporting, and operational controls.

Security and Compliance:
Implement and maintain security best practices across Microsoft 365, including identity and access controls that support secure Copilot usage.
Implement and tune compliance controls (DLP, sensitivity labels, retention, and related policies) that align with Copilot's retrieval behavior and access trimming.
Conduct regular security and compliance assessments; document findings and provide actionable remediation recommendations to stakeholders.
Support and Troubleshooting:
Provide technical support and troubleshooting for Microsoft 365 services supporting Copilot readiness, including SharePoint Online/OneDrive, Microsoft Search, Entra ID (Conditional Access), and Microsoft Purview compliance controls.
Collaborate with the IT support team to resolve escalated incidents and service requests.

Skills & Requirements

Bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field.
Minimum of 4+ years of experience delivering Microsoft 365 modernization and SharePoint Online solutions, including direct client engagement/consulting or cross-functional stakeholder delivery.
Microsoft certifications in Microsoft 365, Security/Compliance, Identity, or Azure are preferred (e.g., MS-102, SC-300/SC-400, AZ-104 or equivalent).
Copilot for Microsoft 365 readiness/deployment experience and related training/certification is preferred.
Additional relevant Microsoft certifications are a plus
Deep hands-on experience designing and administering SharePoint Online (sites, libraries, metadata, taxonomy, permissions, and information architecture).
Strong knowledge of Microsoft Entra ID authentication flows, conditional access logic, consent and permission models, and identity governance.
Proficiency with PowerShell scripting, PnP PowerShell, and enterprise automation patterns used for reporting, provisioning, and repeatable deployments.
Working knowledge of Microsoft 365 / Microsoft Purview compliance controls, including DLP, sensitivity labeling, and retention policies.
Experience configuring and optimizing Microsoft Search (schema, managed properties, verticals, result sources, and indexing patterns) is preferred.
Experience with Microsoft Graph API concepts, service principles, delegated/application permissions, and common API limitations.
Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
Strong communication skills with the ability to present architecture, findings, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.

Other
Occasional travel may be required.
Requires the ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

Benefits/Other Compensation

This position is a contract/temporary role where Hays offers you the opportunity to enroll in full medical benefits, dental benefits, vision benefits, 401K and Life Insurance ($20,000 benefit).

Why Hays?

You will be working with a professional recruiter who has intimate knowledge of the industry and market trends. Your Hays recruiter will lead you through a thorough screening process in order to understand your skills, experience, needs, and drivers. You will also get support on resume writing, interview tips, and career planning, so when there's a position you really want, you're fully prepared to get it.

Nervous about an upcoming interview? Unsure how to write a new resume?

Visit the Hays Career Advice section to learn top tips to help you stand out from the crowd when job hunting.

Hays is committed to building a thriving culture of diversity that embraces people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better we serve our candidates, clients, and employees. We are an equal employment opportunity employer, and we comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, marital status, genetic information, HIV-positive status, as well as any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. One of Hays' guiding principles is 'do the right thing'.
We also believe that actions speak louder than words.
In that regard, we train our staff on ensuring inclusivity throughout the entire recruitment process and counsel our clients on these principles. If you have any questions about Hays or any of our processes, please contact us.

In accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law protecting qualified individuals with known disabilities, Hays will attempt to reasonably accommodate those individuals unless doing so would create an undue hardship on the company. Any qualified applicant or consultant with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to perform the essential functions of the job should call or text .

Drug testing may be required; please contact a recruiter for more information.

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