Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Windows Engineer

💰 $ - $

ITSystems AdministrationWindows

🎯 Role Definition

The Windows Engineer is an experienced infrastructure specialist responsible for designing, deploying, maintaining, and securing enterprise Microsoft Windows environments for servers and endpoints. This role focuses on Active Directory and Group Policy management, Windows Server administration (2012R2/2016/2019/2022), endpoint management (SCCM/Intune), automation with PowerShell, patch and release management, virtualization platforms (Hyper‑V and VMware), backup and disaster recovery, and integration with cloud identity services such as Azure AD. The ideal candidate balances hands‑on technical execution, documentation, and collaboration with application owners, security, and network teams to ensure a resilient, secure, and highly available Windows platform.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Desktop Support Engineer / Tier 2 Support
  • Systems Administrator (Windows-focused)
  • Junior Windows Administrator / Infrastructure Technician

Advancement To:

  • Senior Windows Engineer / Senior Systems Engineer
  • Infrastructure Architect / Active Directory Architect
  • Cloud Platform Engineer (Azure/AWS) or IT Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Network Engineer
  • Security Engineer (Endpoint/Identity)
  • Site Reliability Engineer / DevOps Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Design, deploy, and maintain enterprise Windows Server environments (Windows Server 2012R2/2016/2019/2022), ensuring high availability, security, and scalability to meet business and compliance requirements.
  • Administer Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) including OU design, user and group lifecycle management, domain controller provisioning, replication troubleshooting, FSMO roles management, and AD health monitoring.
  • Create, test, and enforce Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to standardize configuration, security settings, and compliance controls across domain‑joined systems, with careful change management and rollback plans.
  • Lead Windows patch management lifecycle using WSUS, SCCM/ConfigMgr, or Intune — plan patch windows, perform compatibility testing, deploy updates, and validate remediation across servers and endpoints.
  • Build and maintain automation frameworks using PowerShell to streamline repetitive tasks such as onboarding/offboarding, inventory, remediation, configuration drift detection, and scheduled maintenance.
  • Architect and operate virtualization infrastructure supporting Windows workloads on Hyper‑V and VMware vSphere, including VM lifecycle management, templates, snapshots, resource allocation, and performance tuning.
  • Implement and manage endpoint management platforms (SCCM/ConfigMgr, Microsoft Intune) for application deployment, configuration baselines, remote troubleshooting, and compliance reporting.
  • Integrate on‑premises identity with Azure AD, manage Azure AD Connect, and design single sign‑on (SSO) and hybrid identity solutions while ensuring secure authentication flows (Kerberos/NTLM/Modern Auth).
  • Design and operate Remote Desktop Services (RDS) / VDI solutions, optimizing user profiles, image management, session host farms, and printing/file redirection for a reliable remote user experience.
  • Configure and support core network services for Windows infrastructure — DNS, DHCP, WINS (if used), and IPAM — ensuring resiliency and fast name resolution for applications and services.
  • Implement backup, restore, and disaster recovery solutions for Windows servers and critical data using enterprise tools (Veeam, Commvault, Windows Server Backup), and execute recovery testing regularly.
  • Harden Windows servers and endpoints against threats by applying security baselines (CIS, Microsoft Security Baselines), configuring Windows Defender/endpoint protection, managing hardening checklists, and remediating vulnerabilities.
  • Monitor and troubleshoot system health and performance using SCOM, Azure Monitor, Splunk, or other observability tools; analyze logs and telemetry to proactively resolve issues and improve stability.
  • Lead Windows OS and application migrations and upgrades (domain consolidations, server refreshes, OS upgrades), including discovery, compatibility testing, pilot deployments, cutover planning, and post‑migration support.
  • Manage file and print services, storage access (SMB/NFS), NTFS permissions, DFS namespaces/replication, quota management, and remediation of permission issues in collaboration with business owners.
  • Provide Tier 3/4 incident response and root cause analysis for critical Windows-related outages; develop runbooks, incident playbooks, and post‑incident remediation plans.
  • Participate in vulnerability management and compliance initiatives by applying remediation plans, assisting with audits, producing evidence, and collaborating with cybersecurity teams to close findings.
  • Create, maintain, and review detailed technical documentation, runbooks, SOPs, and architectural diagrams for Windows infrastructure, automation scripts, and recovery procedures.
  • Coordinate with application owners, database teams, and network engineers to scope and deliver infrastructure changes while minimizing business disruption through robust change management practices.
  • Manage third‑party vendors and managed services for Windows platforms (support contracts, escalations, licensing, and procurement) and evaluate new technologies to optimize cost and performance.
  • Implement and maintain TLS/PKI services, certificate lifecycle management for servers and services, and troubleshoot certificate-related issues impacting authentication and encrypted communications.
  • Participate in on‑call rotation to provide after‑hours support, handle urgent incidents, and perform planned maintenance with clear communication to stakeholders and timely documentation of actions taken.

Secondary Functions

  • Support cross‑functional projects such as cloud migrations, hybrid identity rollouts, and application modernization by providing Windows platform expertise and technical implementation guidance.
  • Respond to ad‑hoc requests from business units for system provisioning, access changes, and performance tuning; deliver solutions within SLA expectations and maintain a customer‑centric approach.
  • Contribute to the organization's infrastructure roadmap by evaluating new Microsoft and third‑party technologies, proof‑of‑concepts, and pilot programs to improve reliability and lower total cost of ownership.
  • Develop training materials and conduct knowledge transfer sessions for IT staff and application owners on Windows operational procedures and tools.
  • Assist with capacity planning and forecasting for compute, storage, and licensing needs to support growth and ensure optimal resource allocation.
  • Participate in sprint planning, change advisory boards, and agile ceremonies when working within DevOps or platform teams to prioritize tasks and deliverables.
  • Maintain and enhance monitoring dashboards, alerts, and automated remediation workflows to reduce mean time to repair (MTTR) and increase system uptime.
  • Collaborate with security teams to implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) integrations, investigative workflows, and containment strategies for Windows endpoints.
  • Perform periodic configuration reviews, licensing audits, and cleanup of stale accounts, machines, or policies to ensure compliance and operational efficiency.
  • Create proof‑of‑value and migration plans for moving workloads to Azure or hybrid cloud environments while ensuring identity, networking, and security integration are correctly designed.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert administration of Active Directory (AD DS) including domain controllers, replication, trusts, FSMO roles, and GPO management.
  • Strong PowerShell scripting and automation experience for operational tasks, orchestration, and custom tool development.
  • Proficient with Windows Server OS installation, configuration, patching, performance tuning, and troubleshooting (2012R2/2016/2019/2022).
  • Hands‑on experience with endpoint management tools: Microsoft SCCM/ConfigMgr, Microsoft Intune, and Group Policy for configuration and software deployment.
  • Expertise in Windows patch management processes using WSUS, SCCM, or third‑party patching platforms and testing/rollback strategies.
  • Virtualization platform knowledge: Hyper‑V and VMware vSphere administration, VM lifecycle, resource management, and troubleshooting.
  • Familiarity with Azure services relevant to Windows workloads: Azure AD, Azure AD Connect, Azure Virtual Machines, and hybrid identity solutions.
  • Experience with backup and DR tools (Veeam, Commvault, Azure Backup) and performing recovery exercises.
  • Networking fundamentals for Windows environments: DNS, DHCP, TCP/IP, routing, firewalls, and load balancing as they relate to server and desktop communication.
  • Endpoint security and hardening skills: Windows Defender/EDR, Microsoft security baselines, certificate management (PKI/TLS), and vulnerability remediation.
  • Monitoring and logging proficiency using SCOM, Splunk, Azure Monitor, or similar observability platforms.
  • Knowledge of Remote Desktop Services (RDS), VDI technologies, and profile management.
  • Experience with identity and access management concepts including SSO, MFA integration, and conditional access policies.
  • Familiarity with storage protocols (SMB/NFS), DFS replication/namespaces, and NTFS permissions management.
  • Basic familiarity with SQL Server or application dependencies hosted on Windows servers is a plus for troubleshooting application issues.

Soft Skills

  • Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with a methodical approach to diagnosing complex system issues.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with technical teams, stakeholders, and non‑technical users.
  • Customer‑oriented mindset and ability to prioritize work to meet SLAs and business needs.
  • Collaborative team player who can work with cross‑functional teams and mentor junior engineers.
  • Attention to detail, thorough documentation practices, and commitment to operational excellence.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and tasks in a deadline‑driven environment.
  • Comfortable working in on‑call rotations and responding calmly under pressure during incidents.
  • Continuous learner mentality to keep current with Microsoft platform changes and security best practices.
  • Strong organizational skills and experience with change management processes.
  • Proactive mindset for automation, process improvement, and reduction of manual toil.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate’s degree or equivalent experience in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field; OR significant demonstrable hands‑on experience with enterprise Windows environments.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Network Engineering, or equivalent.
  • Relevant professional certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate, Microsoft 365, Azure Administrator, MCSA/MCSE, or similar.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Computer Science
  • Information Technology
  • Network Engineering
  • Systems Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of progressive experience supporting and administering enterprise Windows server and endpoint environments.

Preferred: 5+ years of focused Windows infrastructure experience with demonstrated expertise in Active Directory, Group Policy, PowerShell automation, SCCM/Intune, virtualization (Hyper‑V/VMware), patch management, and hybrid cloud identity integrations (Azure AD). Experience with security and compliance initiatives, disaster recovery planning, and large‑scale migrations is highly desirable.

Explore More Careers