VMware Windows AD Administrator

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VMware Windows AD Administrator, Irvine, CA-Onsite

Rate:$60/hr on C2C Max

We are seeking a Senior Active Directory Engineer to lead the design, implementation, and operation of an enterprise Active Directory environment as part of a major implementation project. This role requires deep technical expertise, strong architectural skills, and hands-on delivery experience in complex AD environments.

The ideal candidate will have 10+ years of experience working with Microsoft Active Directory in large-scale or enterprise environments and will be comfortable owning the solution from architecture through steady-state operations .

Key Responsibilities

Active Directory Architecture & Design

• Design enterprise-grade Active Directory architectures , including:
• Forest and domain design
• Trust relationships (internal and external)
• OU structure, delegation models, and naming standards
• Define Group Policy (GPO) strategy aligned with security and operational requirements
• Design identity lifecycle management processes (joiners, movers, leavers)
• Ensure architectural alignment with security and operational best practices

Active Directory Improvement & Optimization

• Perform current-state assessments of the customer’s AD environment
• Identify and remediate gaps related to:
• Security posture
• Performance and replication health
• Operational inefficiencies
• Technical debt from legacy configurations
• Improve and optimize:
• Group Policy Objects (cleanup, consolidation, redesign)
• AD Sites and Services and replication topology
• DNS and domain controller placement
• Implement non-disruptive enhancements to existing environments, minimizing business impact
• Plan and execute phased improvement activities with clear risk mitigation and rollback strategies

Security & Best Practices

• Implement AD security best practices , including:
• Tiered administration models (e.g., Tier 0/1/2)
• Privileged access management
• Secure administrative delegation
• Harden Active Directory against common attack vectors
• Support incident response related to identity or directory services
• Collaborate with security teams on identity-related controls

Documentation & Knowledge Transfer

• Produce detailed architecture diagrams , implementation documents, and SOPs
• Create operational guides and troubleshooting documentation
• Conduct knowledge transfer sessions for operations and support teams

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands-on experience with Microsoft Active Directory in enterprise environments
• Strong experience across the full AD lifecycle:
• Design
• Implementation
• Migration
• Operations
• Deep technical knowledge of:
• Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
• DNS and AD-integrated DNS
• Group Policy design and troubleshooting
• AD replication and topology
• Proven experience leading AD implementation or transformation projects
• Strong PowerShell skills for AD administration and automation
• Solid understanding of Windows Server internals and authentication mechanisms (Kerberos, NTLM)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with hybrid identity solutions:
• Azure AD / Microsoft Entra ID
• Azure AD Connect / Cloud Sync
• Experience with:
• Multi-forest or multi-domain environments
• M&A-related AD consolidation projects
• Familiarity with identity security tools (e.g., PAM, MFA integrations)
• Microsoft certifications (preferred, not mandatory):
• Windows Server
• Identity and Access Management
• Experience working in regulated or security-sensitive environments

Soft Skills & Attributes

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of critical systems
• Excellent communication skills for:
• Technical teams
• Project stakeholders
• Management
• Comfortable working in high-pressure implementation environments
• Strong documentation and presentation skills