Azure Architect (Former Active Directory Admin)

Job Title : Azure Architect (Former Active Directory Admin) Min- 14 Years of experience

Location : Onsite - Santa Ana, CA or Princeton, NJ

Duration : Long-Term Contract (Immediate Requirement)

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled Azure Architect with a strong foundation in Windows System Administration and proven expertise in designing and managing enterprise-scale Azure environments. The ideal candidate will be responsible for architecting, implementing, and optimizing hybrid and cloud-native infrastructure solutions using Microsoft Azure technologies.

The role requires deep technical knowledge of Active Directory, Azure AD, networking, security, and automation, along with experience guiding migration and integration strategies between on-premises and cloud environments.

Key Responsibilities

Design and implement scalable Azure infrastructure architectures aligned with business and security requirements.

Oversee Windows Server infrastructure including AD, DNS, DHCP, domains, and forests across hybrid environments.

Develop and deploy Azure solutions using ARM templates, Resource Groups, NSGs, VPN gateways, and tagging strategies.

Architect and manage Azure Active Directory, O365 connectors, and tenant configurations for hybrid identity and access management.

Design and implement Intune-based device management and compliance policies.

Establish secure authentication frameworks using NTLM, Kerberos, Certificate Authority, and SAML SSO.

Define and enforce networking standards (VLANs, segmentation, firewalls, PAM) for hybrid connectivity.

Collaborate with DBA and infrastructure teams on SQL Server integration and management.

Provide technical leadership in troubleshooting, optimization, and best practice enforcement across cloud environments.

Must-Have Technical Skills

Windows Infrastructure : AD, DNS, DHCP, Domain / Forest creation and integration

Azure Architecture & Administration : Resource management, governance, and scalability

Azure AD & Intune : Hybrid identity, policy management, and compliance

O365 Administration : Tenant and connector configurations

Security & Authentication : NTLM, Kerberos, SAML, CA-based authentication

Networking Fundamentals : Routing, VPNs, segmentation, NSGs, firewalls

SQL Server : Basic administration and performance considerations

Required Expertise in One or More of the Following Scenarios

1. Active Directory Forest Trust with Entra Connect Sync

Architecting bidirectional trust between two AD forests

Synchronizing both forests to a single Entra tenant

Supporting cross-forest authentication and application integration

2. Synchronizing Multiple Forests via a Single Entra Connect Server

Designing multi-forest synchronization without forest trust

Managing object sync to a single tenant with security boundaries

3. Entra Connect Cloud Sync for Secondary Forests (Nice to Have)

Designing lightweight agent-based sync for distributed or hybrid models

Ideal for global or multi-geo environments

Preferred Candidate Profile

Experience : 7-10 years of progressive experience in Windows System Administration and Azure architecture

Proven experience designing or migrating hybrid cloud infrastructures

Strong troubleshooting, documentation, and automation skills

Excellent communication and collaboration abilities

Certifications such as Microsoft Certified : Azure Solutions Architect Expert or Azure Administrator Associate are a plus