Senior Engineer - Citrix na United Airlines

United's Digital Technology team is comprised of many talented individuals all working together with cutting-edge technology to build the best airline in the history of aviation. Our team designs, develops and maintains massively scaling technology solutions brought to life with innovative architectures, data analytics, and digital solutions.

Job overview and responsibilities

United Airlines is growing rapidly, and we are looking for a Citrix engineer, who is a motivated, self-starter that can assist with our virtual desktop infrastructure. The ideal candidate will be proficient in supporting both physical and virtual end-user desktop environments through innovative solutions. Demonstrates a strong drive to take ownership of issues and see them through to resolution. Possesses a keen awareness of emerging technologies that align within our organization. Proactively identifies opportunities for streamlining processes, adding value, and elevating the overall end-user experience.

• Architecture, Design, and Implementation: Responsible for the design, architecture, and implementation of complex Citrix environments, including virtual apps and desktops (formerly XenApp/XenDesktop), Citrix ADC (NetScaler), and Citrix Cloud services
• This includes capacity planning, high availability, and disaster recovery
• Performance Tuning and Optimization: Proactively monitor and tune the Citrix infrastructure to ensure optimal performance, scalability, and user experience This involves analyzing metrics, identifying bottlenecks, and implementing solutions to improve system efficiency
• Advanced Troubleshooting and Support: Act as the highest escalation point for complex technical issues related to the Citrix platform
• This includes root cause analysis, resolving difficult-to-diagnose problems, and providing expert-level support to junior engineers and help desk staff
• Security and Compliance Management: Ensure the Citrix environment is secure and compliant with organizational policies and industry best practices
• This includes configuring security settings, implementing multi-factor authentication, managing access controls, and applying security patches and hotfixes
• Project Management and Leadership: Lead and manage technical projects related to the Citrix infrastructure, such as major upgrades, migrations, or the deployment of new services
• This often involves coordinating with other IT teams, developing project plans, and mentoring junior staff
• Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity: Design, implement, and regularly test disaster recovery and business continuity plans for the Citrix environment This includes ensuring data integrity, system availability, and the ability to quickly restore services in the event of an outage
• Documentation and Knowledge Transfer: Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for all aspects of the Citrix infrastructure, including architectural diagrams, standard operating procedures, and troubleshooting guides
• This is crucial for knowledge transfer and ensuring the long-term stability and supportability of the environment

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Bachelor's degree or related experience in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Technology, Computer Information Systems, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering Technology, etc. 
• Certifications are not required
• 4+ Years of advanced technical expertise, with a strategic mindset, and leadership capabilities
• Hands-on experience in the design, implementation, and management of complex enterprise-level Citrix environments
• Proficiency in scripting languages, especially PowerShell, to automate tasks, generate reports, and perform large-scale configurations efficiently
• Citrix Core Technologies: Deep, hands-on expertise with the entire Citrix stack, including Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (CVAD), Citrix ADC (Application Delivery Controller, formerly NetScaler), and Citrix Cloud services
• This includes designing and managing components like StoreFront, Delivery Controllers, Provisioning Services (PVS), and Machine Creation Services (MCS)
• Virtualization Platforms: Comprehensive knowledge of underlying hypervisor technologies such as VMware vSphere (ESXi), Microsoft Hyper-V, or Nutanix AHV
• A senior engineer must understand how Citrix integrates with and leverages these platforms for optimal performance
• Windows Server and Active Directory: Expert-level skills in Windows Server administration, including managing Active Directory, Group Policy Objects (GPOs), and DNS
• These are the fundamental building blocks of almost any Citrix environment
• Networking: Strong understanding of networking concepts, including TCP/IP, routing, switching, and firewall policies
• This is crucial for configuring Citrix ADC for load balancing and secure remote access
  Scripting and Automation: Proficiency with scripting languages, particularly PowerShell, is essential for automating repetitive tasks, generating reports, and performing large-scale configurations
• Cloud Computing: Experience with major public cloud platforms like Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services
• (AWS) is becoming increasingly important for building and managing hybrid or cloud-based Citrix solutions.
• Advanced Troubleshooting: The ability to perform root cause analysis and resolve complex, intermittent issues that Tier 1 or 2 support cannot.
• This involves using advanced monitoring tools and a deep understanding of the entire infrastructure
• Performance Tuning: Proactively monitoring and fine-tuning the Citrix environment to ensure a high-quality user experience
• This includes optimizing HDX protocol settings, managing user profiles, and balancing server loads
• Capacity Planning: The skill to analyze usage data and forecast future needs to ensure the environment can scale to support growing user demands without performance degradation
• Mentorship: A senior engineer is expected to act as a mentor for junior and mid-level team members, sharing knowledge and providing guidance on complex tasks
• Technical Documentation: The ability to create and maintain clear, comprehensive documentation for system architecture, procedures, and troubleshooting guides
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills are necessary to translate complex technical issues into understandable terms for management, project managers, and business leaders
• Project Leadership: The ability to lead technical projects from conception to completion, including planning, coordination with other teams, and execution
• Must have excellent organizational skills
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Customer focused

What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Technology, Computer Information Systems, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering Technology, etc.
• Citrix Certified Associate - Virtualization (CCA-V), Citrix Certified Professional - Virtualization (CCP-V), Citrix Certified Expert - Virtualization (CCE-V),
• Citrix Certified Associate - App Delivery and Security (CCA-AppDS), Citrix Certified Professional - App Delivery and Security (CCP-AppDS), Citrix DaaS on Citrix Cloud Certified (CC-DaaS-CC), Microsoft Certifications, VMware Certified Professional (VCP), Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST), Cisco Certified Technician (CCT), CCT Data Center, CCT Collaboration,  Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate,  CompTIA Network+
• 5+ Years of a wide range of experience that goes beyond basic day-to-day administration
• Hands-on, expert-level experience with complex enterprise-level Citrix environments
• Extensive experience with major platform upgrades and migrations
• Proven ability to monitor, analyze, and optimize the performance of the entire Citrix stack
• Deep experience with advanced Citrix ADC (NetScaler) features, including Global Server Load Balancing (GSLB), Web Application Firewall (WAF), and complex traffic management policies
• Experience with the core infrastructure that supports Citrix
• This includes hands-on experience with VMware vSphere or Microsoft Hyper-V and advanced administration of Windows Server and Active
• Directory, particularly Group Policy Objects (GPOs)
• Experience with the integrations of public cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure or AWS
• This is crucial for managing hybrid environments and leveraging cloud services for scalability and new deployments