Citrix / Azure Virtual Desktop Architect

UNC Health is seeking a Citrix / Azure Virtual Desktop Architect to lead the strategy, architecture, support and modernization of our enterprise virtual desktop and application delivery platforms in a large, complex healthcare environment. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of virtual end-user computing for a health system supporting caregivers, clinical operations, and business teams across North Carolina. The environment is primarily Citrix-based, and this position will help guide ongoing modernization, including evaluation of hybrid and cloud-hosted delivery models such as Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD). The platform supports approximately 30K+ concurrent users, making this an excellent opportunity for an architect who enjoys enterprise-scale design, technical leadership, and long-term technology planning in a mission-driven organization. .

What You’ll Do:

Platform Architecture & Strategy

• Serve as the technical lead and subject matter expert for the enterprise virtual application and desktop platform.
• Define and maintain enterprise architecture standards, reference designs, capacity models, and lifecycle strategies for virtual desktop platforms.
• Evaluate platform options, including Citrix enhancements and Azure Virtual Desktop, and provide architecture guidance, trade-off analysis, and recommendations.
• Design and support on-premises and hybrid architecture aligned with UNC Health’s infrastructure and cloud strategies.

Citrix Platform Architecture & Engineering

• Design, implement, and support Citrix infrastructure, including the following core technologies:

• Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops

• Citrix Provisioning Services (PVS), including Azure based deployment strategies

• Citrix StoreFront

• Citrix Studio and Citrix Director

• Citrix Workspace Environment Manager (WEM)

• Architect high availability, resiliency, and scalability across multiple Citrix sites.
• Serve as the technical escalation point for complex platform issues affecting performance, stability, and availability.

Azure & Cloud Integration

• Partner with cloud and infrastructure teams to design hybrid Citrix and cloud architecture.
• Participate in Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) evaluations or pilots from a platform architecture perspective.
• Ensure integration with identity, networking, security, and monitoring frameworks.
• Bring a strong understanding of cloud architecture, design patterns, and operational models.

Profiles, Policy & Platform Optimization

• Architect and support profile management solutions such as Citrix UPM and FSLogix.
• Use Microsoft Group Policy and Citrix WEM to implement standardized and scalable configuration management.
• Drive platform performance, logon optimization, and session reliability improvements.

Monitoring, Automation & Operations

• Monitor infrastructure health using Citrix Director, Citrix Studio, ExtraHop, UberAgent, and related tools.
• Analyze platform performance and usage data to support capacity planning and root cause analysis.
• Develop PowerShell automation to streamline platform administration and improve operational efficiency.

Technical Leadership

• Mentor Citrix and virtualization engineers on architecture patterns, standards, and best practices.
• Collaborate with infrastructure, networking, security, and application teams on platform initiatives.
• Contribute to platform roadmaps, major upgrades, and architectural decision-making.

• 5+ years of experience with Windows client/server networking, including Windows domain and authentication, Active Directory, logon scripts, policies, and client and network security.
• 5+ years of experience with server configuration and installation, performance and network monitoring tools, operating system upgrades and migrations, and advanced troubleshooting across hardware and software.
• 5+ years of experience with Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop, Citrix Workspace Environment Manager (WEM), Citrix StoreFront, and Citrix Provisioning Services (PVS).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop.
• Experience with Citrix PVS, including Azure deployment strategies.
• Experience with Citrix StoreFront. *Experience with Microsoft Group Policy Objects (GPOs).
• Experience with authentication methods and identity integration.
• Experience with Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD).

• Relevant certifications such as ITIL, Citrix, or Microsoft Azure certifications., * Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems Management or related field (or equivalent combination of education, training and experience). Licensure/Certification Requirements:

• No licensure or certification required. Professional Experience Requirements:

• If a Bachelor’s degree: Five (5) years of relevant experience.
• If an Associate’s degree: Seven (7) years of relevant experience.

• If a High School diploma or GED: Nine (9) years of relevant experience. Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements:

• Excellent analytical and communication skills. Ability to work well in a team environment. Demonstrated ability to successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Highly responsive to internal customers.

Your passion belongs at UNC Health. Join more than 56,000 teammates working together to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve across North Carolina.