Senior Authentication Lead

At Ignite IT, a Senior Authentication Lead is essential for overseeing authentication systems and services. Key responsibilities include administering on-premises and Azure cloud environments, managing Active Directory and PKI support, and ensuring secure access management via group policies and domain trusts. The role also involves troubleshooting issues related to smart card authentication, maintaining directory accounts, and developing scripts for efficient management and reporting.

To qualify for the Senior Authentication Lead position at Ignite IT, candidates should have a minimum of eight years of related experience, particularly in Authentication, Active Directory PKI, and Microsoft Windows domain administration. A Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Business Systems, Management Information Systems, or a related IT field is required. Proficiency in administering cloud authentication systems and advanced scripting skills, particularly in PowerShell, are also critical to succeed in this role.

The Senior Authentication Lead role at Ignite IT requires strong technical skills including expertise in Microsoft Windows Active Directory, authentication systems, and Azure Cloud Tenant administration. Knowledge of access control principles, permissions management, and the ability to troubleshoot complex authentication issues is vital. Furthermore, candidates must have advanced scripting skills for automation and reporting, ensuring streamlined operations within the authentication infrastructure.

Yes, US citizenship is a requirement for the Senior Authentication Lead position at Ignite IT. This is essential as the selected applicant must be able to obtain and maintain a federal government public trust clearance due to the sensitive nature of the work involved in providing secure authentication and access management.

As a Senior Authentication Lead at Ignite IT, you can expect a competitive benefits package that includes options for health, dental, and vision insurance, along with a 401(k) plan with matching contributions. Additional perks such as tuition reimbursement, flexible schedules, professional development assistance, and generous paid time off are also part of what makes this opportunity appealing.

When discussing your experience with Microsoft Windows Active Directory, highlight specific examples where you administered AD domains, managed user accounts, and configured group policies. Talk about your hands-on experience with tools like Active Directory Users and Computers, and how you've utilized these tools to troubleshoot issues and support secure login processes.

In answering this question, ensure you explain your preferred scripting languages, such as PowerShell, and share specific instances where you've developed scripts to automate tasks or reporting in authentication management. Discuss the impact of these scripts on efficiency and how they have improved workflows.

To troubleshoot a smart card authentication issue, outline your systematic approach, starting from identifying symptoms, checking system logs, and confirming configurations. Emphasize the importance of collaboration with users and peers in resolving the issue and the methods you use to ensure secure access after resolving the problem.

For this question, share your familiarity with Azure services and your specific roles in managing Azure Cloud environments. Talk about how you've integrated on-premises solutions with Azure for authentication purposes and any challenges you've faced in this context.

When responding, discuss your understanding of compliance frameworks and your approach to enforcing security policies. Share examples of how you've documented security protocols and ensured that teams adhere to compliance measures, particularly in authentication and access management.

In response, explain your approach to role-based access control (RBAC) and how you've implemented strategies to manage permissions effectively. Provide examples of how you’ve assessed risks and enforced access rights across various systems.

Discuss your methods for keeping up with industry trends, such as following relevant technology blogs, participating in professional networks, attending conferences, and engaging in continuous learning through certifications related to authentication and cloud security.

Share a narrative about a specific challenging authentication issue you've encountered, detailing how you approached diagnosing the problem, the steps you took to resolve it, and the ultimately successful outcome that benefited the organization.

For this question, highlight your understanding and experience with Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and how you've managed digital certificates. Discuss the importance of PKI in ensuring secure communications and how you've implemented these practices in real-world scenarios.

When discussing mentoring, emphasize your philosophy of sharing knowledge. Describe how you provide guidance through hands-on training, creating learning resources, or leading discussion groups to foster a strong understanding of authentication best practices among junior staff.