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Active Directory Sme Jobs (NOW HIRING)

L3 Active Directory Engineer

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$62.25 - $81.25/hr

Fulltime L3 Engineer / SME Active Directory (OnPremise) Experience: 7 12+ years Domain: Identity & Access Management, Windows Infrastructure Role Summary We are looking for a highly skilled L3 Active ...

Windows Active Directory Engineer

Warren, NJ ยท On-site

$54.75 - $71.75/hr

Warren, NJ (3 Days Hybrid) Duration: Long term contract We are looking for an SME with Global Customer Support experience in Windows /Active Directory technologies. Ideal candidate should have ...

Sr. Systems Engineer (Active Directory)

Wilmington, DE ยท On-site

$51.25 - $67/hr

Serve as the enterprise subject matter expert (SME) for Active Directory architectural designs, ensuring they align with business needs and security requirements. * AD Management: Develop, implement ...

Must Haves : 8+ years designing and managing multiple Active Directory Forests and Domains for a ... An SME expert in multiple areas. Understands how to develop a solution for an extremely complex ...

Sr. Systems Engineer (Active Directory)

Wilmington, DE ยท On-site

$51.25 - $67/hr

Serve as the enterprise subject matter expert (SME) for Active Directory architectural designs, ensuring they align with business needs and security requirements. * AD Management: Develop, implement ...

Genesis10 is currently seeking an Active Directory SME for a hybrid position with a Global Financial Institution located in Charlotte, NC, Plano, TX, and Pennington, NJ. The role requires deep ...

Functions as a niche technical subject matter expert (SME) in Active Directory with a high technological skill level. Ability to troubleshoot data and application access issues and adjust Active ...

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Active Directory Sme information

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How much do active directory sme jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for active directory sme in the United States is $46.58, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $33.41 and $54.33 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by an Active Directory SME when managing large-scale enterprise environments?

Active Directory SMEs often encounter challenges such as maintaining security while enabling user productivity, managing complex group policies, and ensuring seamless integration with cloud services. In large-scale enterprises, coordinating changes across multiple domains and sites can be particularly complex, requiring careful planning to avoid disruptions. Effective collaboration with IT security, application teams, and network administrators is essential to address compatibility issues and meet compliance requirements.

What is an Active Directory SME?

An Active Directory SME (Subject Matter Expert) is an IT professional with specialized knowledge and extensive experience in Microsoft Active Directory services. They are responsible for designing, implementing, managing, and troubleshooting Active Directory environments, ensuring secure and efficient directory services within organizations. Active Directory SMEs often handle tasks like user and group management, domain controller maintenance, Group Policy administration, and directory migrations. They also advise on best practices and help resolve complex issues related to identity and access management.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Active Directory SME?

To thrive as an Active Directory SME, you need deep expertise in Active Directory architecture, domain management, authentication protocols, and a relevant degree such as in IT or Computer Science. Familiarity with tools like PowerShell, Azure AD, Group Policy, and certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for success in this role. These skills are important because they ensure secure, efficient, and reliable directory services management within complex enterprise environments.

What is the difference between Active Directory Sme vs Network Administrator?

AspectActive Directory SmeNetwork Administrator
CertificationsMicrosoft Certified: Windows Server, Active Directory certificationsCompTIA Network+, Cisco CCNA, Microsoft certifications
Work EnvironmentFocus on Active Directory, identity management, and domain servicesManage overall network infrastructure, including routers, switches, and servers
Employer & Industry UsageIT departments in enterprises, organizations relying on Windows environmentsBroadly used across industries for network management and support

The Active Directory SME specializes in managing and securing Active Directory environments, focusing on identity and access management within Windows networks. In contrast, a Network Administrator oversees the entire network infrastructure, including hardware, connectivity, and security. While both roles require networking knowledge and certifications, the SME is more specialized in directory services, whereas the Administrator has a broader scope of network management.

More about Active Directory Sme jobs
What job categories do people searching Active Directory Sme jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Active Directory Sme jobs are:
Infographic showing various Active Directory Sme job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $96,891 per year, or $46.6 per hour.

Active Directory SME(ADFS & Entra ID Services)

Saransh Inc

Culver City, CA โ€ข On-site

$57.75 - $75.50/hr

Contractor

Re-posted 28 days ago


Job description

Seeking a highly skilled Subject Matter Expert – Active Directory & Entra ID Services to work along a team of engineers responsible for delivering and supporting enterprise-level identity and access management services. The ideal candidate will possess deep technical expertise in Active Directory (AD), Entra ID (Azure AD), and related hybrid identity services, coupled with strong leadership, stakeholder management and service ownership skills.

This role involves managing day-to-day operations, driving service excellence, mentoring team members, and acting as the key point of contact for technical escalations, issue resolutions and stakeholder communications.

The Subject Matter Expert (SME) will serve as the go-to person for domain-specific knowledge, providing expert guidance to both stakeholder and internal teams. This role requires deep functional and/or technical expertise, strong communication skills, and the ability to translate complex subject matter into actionable insights that drive project success. The SME will work closely with stakeholders to ensure solutions are aligned with best practices, company standards and stakeholder objectives.

Work closely with offshore team and be a backup for the onsite Tech Lead and cover for other’s responsibilities as needed.

Key Responsibilities

General Responsibilities

  • Serve as the primary knowledge resource in the designated domain.
  • Provide expert input on solution design, process improvement, and decision-making.
  • Partner with stakeholders to understand business challenges and propose feasible, high-impact solutions.
  • Act as a trusted advisor, ensuring that recommendations align with the stakeholder’s strategic goals.
  • Participate in governance meetings, design discussions, and project reviews as a subject expert.
  • Provide expert validation during testing, quality assurance, and implementation phases.
  • Develop and maintain detailed documentation, process maps, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Contribute to building internal knowledge repositories, playbooks, and reusable frameworks.
  • Identify opportunities for optimization or innovation in processes, tools, or methodologies.
  • Mentor team members to build domain capability within the organization.
  • Drive continuous improvement, automation, and standardization across the environment.
  • Collaborate with project teams to support new implementations, migrations, and transformations.

Technical Responsibilities

  • Responsible for administering and supporting Active Directory Domain Controllers, forests, and trust relationships.
  • Manage promotion/demotion of domain controllers and forest-level administration.
  • Manage Group Policy Objects (GPOs), Sites and Services, and replication configurations.
  • Manage conducting regular AD health checks, database cleanup, and replication remediation.
  • Manage SYSVOL, Global Catalogue, FSMO roles, and Windows Time Services.
  • Manage implementation and support of Active Directory backup, recovery, and disaster recovery procedures.
  • Configure and manage Certificate Services and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).
  • Manage roaming profiles, folder redirection, and cloud storage access control (Azure Storage).
  • Lead Active Directory domain migrations and consolidation projects.
  • Ensure security hardening and vulnerability management of domain controllers.

Entra ID / Hybrid Identity

  • Responsible for administering and supporting Entra Connect / Sync servers and synchronization rules.
  • Manage Azure AD roles, Administrative Units, and RBAC.
  • Manage Conditional Access Policies, Application Registrations (OIDC, SAML), and Dynamic Groups.
  • Oversee Privileged Identity Management (PIM) and Service Principals.
  • Support custom domain management and identity lifecycle processes.
  • Collaborate on integrations with OKTA or other IAM solutions.

Automation, Documentation & Process

  • Develop and design automation opportunities utilising, PowerShell scripts for reporting, and health monitoring etc.
  • Maintain up-to-date technical documentation, architecture diagrams, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Drive process efficiency by implementing best practices and automation frameworks.
  • Support audit and compliance requirements by maintaining accurate records and configurations.
  • Prepare Root cause analysis and related documentations for incidents and problem management.

Required Skills

  • 10–12 years of relevant experience in Active Directory and Entra ID management, with at least 3–5 years in a subject matter expert [SME] role.
  • Deep understanding of Windows Server infrastructure, ADFS, ADCS, DNS, PKI, and IAM principles.
  • Strong experience in managing complex and multi forest Active Directory infrastructure.
  • Strong PowerShell scripting and automation experience.
  • Demonstrated experience in stakeholder-facing service delivery and technical leadership.
  • Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and reporting skills.
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical mindset with the ability to manage critical incidents under pressure.

Preferred Certifications

  • Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator (SC-300)
  • Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)
  • Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate
  • ITIL Foundation Certification