Virtual Desktop Engineer

Virtual Desktop Engineer

Core Technical Skills

Citrix Platform Expertise

• Strong hands-on experience with Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (CVAD) in Citrix Cloud
• Deep understanding of multisession (RDS-based) architecture design and optimisation
• Experience designing and deploying Citrix Cloud control plane with on-prem / hybrid resource locations
• Configuration and management of:
• Delivery Controllers (Cloud Connectors)
• StoreFront (where applicable)
• Citrix Workspace / Gateway (including secure access patterns)
• HDX protocol optimisation for performance and user experience

Provisioning & Image Management

• Expert-level experience with Machine Creation Services (MCS)
• Image lifecycle management (gold image strategy, patching, versioning)
• Storage optimisation and IOPS considerations
• Experience designing non-persistent / pooled multisession environments
• Familiarity with PVS (Provisioning Services) (desirable but not mandatory)
• Familiarity with CI/CD methodologies (desirable but not mandatory)

Application Delivery & Packaging

• Strong experience with Microsoft APP-V
• Sequencing, deployment and lifecycle governance
• Knowledge of application layering / delivery alternatives (e.g. FSLogix App Masking, MSIX app attach - desirable)
• Experience managing application compatibility in shared (multisession) environments (essential)

User Environment & Profile Management

• Experience with:
• Ivanti Appsense
• Citrix UPM and WEM
• Deep understanding of profile performance, logon times, and optimisation techniques
• Group Policy design for VDI environments

Cloud & Infrastructure Integration

• Proven experience integrating Citrix Cloud with:
• Azure (preferred) or other hyperscalers
• Understanding of:
• Identity (Azure AD / Entra ID, AD DS)
• Networking (VNets, routing, private connectivity)
• Security controls (Zero Trust / Conditional Access)
• Experience designing high availability and resiliency across regions/resource locations

Architecture & Design Skills

• Ability to lead end-to-end platform design for multisession Citrix environments
• Production of:
• High-level and low-level designs (HLD/LLD)
• Capacity and scalability models
• Experience designing for:
• Performance at scale
• Resilience and failover (including DR / cyber recovery)
• Secure remote access patterns

Engineering & Delivery Skills

• Experience leading complex Citrix platform implementations and migrations
• Experience leading engineering and operations team through project delivery
• On-prem Citrix Cloud transitions
• Legacy VDI modernised platforms
• Strong understanding of:
• Build, test, and release engineering practices
• Environment promotion (DEV / UAT / PROD)
• Ability to work with:
• Automation (PowerShell scripting for Citrix / Azure)
• CI/CD integration (desirable)

Operational & Performance Management

• Experience in troubleshooting large-scale Citrix environments
• Logon performance issues
• Session reliability problems
• MCS image failures
• Monitoring and observability:
• Citrix Director / Monitor
• Azure Monitor / Log Analytics (desirable)
• Experience managing:
• Capacity planning
• Cost optimisation (especially in cloud-hosted VDI)

Security & Risk Awareness

• Understanding of:
• Secure VDI design principles
• Data protection in shared environments
• Experience aligning to:
• Enterprise security standards
• Cyber recovery / resilience design

Soft Skills / Leadership

• Proven ability to lead engineering workstreams
• Strong stakeholder engagement:
• Architecture teams
• Security / CISO
• Application owners
• Ability to produce executive-ready summaries and design documentation
• Comfortable operating in:
• Highly regulated / enterprise environments
• Fast-moving delivery with multiple dependencies

Desirable / Nice to Have

• Experience with:
• Windows 365 / AVD (for comparative design insight)
• Netscaler / Citrix ADC advanced configuration
• Knowledge of:
• Modern EUC trends (browser isolation, SaaS-first delivery models)
• Experience in financial services or trading environments