Lead Workday Engineer (People Tech & AI)

Role

We are looking for a Lead Workday Engineer (People Tech & AI), for a hybrid location based in San Jose 3 days a week, reporting to the Director, Enterprise Systems Programming in the IT/Corporate Apps department. In this role, you will lead the evolution of our HR tech stack by blending deep Workday expertise with AI-driven development. You will leverage AI-assisted coding and agentic workflows to build automated solutions that solve complex People & Culture challenges and help us build seamless, intelligent employee experiences across our entire HR landscape.

What you'll do (Role Expectations)

• Own the full lifecycle of cross-platform People & Culture solutions, bridging systems like Workday, ServiceNow HRSD, and broader HR tooling to architect secure, scalable, and seamless employee experiences
• Spearhead the evaluation, design, and implementation of AI-driven HR solutions and leverage AI applications, AI-assisted coding practices, and multi-agent orchestration to accelerate development, optimize data mapping, and build robust automated workflows
• Serve as the senior subject matter expert and strategic partner to HR, Payroll, and IT executives, translating complex technical concepts and AI capabilities into actionable business value, ensuring optimal user experiences and cross-platform synergy
• Drive AI and P&C technology investments by developing data-driven business cases with clear ROI, defining key success metrics for adoption, and creating compelling presentations to communicate strategy and impact to executive leadership
• Develop and execute comprehensive implementation plans using agile methodologies, and design robust test plans and scripts to ensure all Workday integrations and custom AI applications are delivered on time, high-quality, and bug-free

Who You Are (Success Profile)

• You thrive in ambiguity, are comfortable building the path as you walk it, and see ambiguity not as a hindrance but as the raw material to build something meaningful.
• You are a learner who has a true growth mindset and never stops developing yourself, actively seeking feedback to become a better partner and a stronger teammate, and you love what you do with purpose.
• You are a pragmatic builder who is obsessed with creating, iterating, and shipping, and you aren't afraid to roll up your sleeves to build the first version yourself, balancing the drive for technical excellence with the need to deliver value to users quickly.
• You champion simplicity, are skilled at distilling complex problems, user needs, and technical concepts into clear, simple, and actionable plans, and you are a precise communicator who brings clarity and focus to every interaction.
• You are resilient and adaptable, viewing change as an opportunity and setbacks as temporary, maintaining composure and focus in high-pressure situations to guide yourself and your team through complexity with a steady, positive hand.

What We're Looking for (Minimum Qualifications)

• 8+ years of software engineering or systems integration experience, including at least 4 years of proven architectural-level understanding of the Workday Integrations framework (Payroll Integrations, Core Connectors, EIBs, Workday Studio, and advanced reporting like BIRT or Custom RaaS APIs)
• Demonstrated experience integrating AI tools, Large Language Models (LLMs), or MCP frameworks into enterprise workflows
• Practical experience with AI prompting techniques and AI-assisted development practices for faster deployment of complex logic
• Proven ability to lead agile teams, manage vendor relationships, and thrive in a rapidly evolving, high-growth environment
• Demonstrated ability to build business cases, justify investments, and measure ROI of P&C technology solutions

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

• Previous experience integrating modern ATS platforms like Greenhouse or managing ServiceNow HRSD modules with complex, AI-enabled agentic flows
• Deep knowledge of Workato or similar middleware, experience running IT operations for custom P&C applications, and familiarity with hyperscaler infrastructure such as AWS, GCP, or Azure
• Hands-on experience deploying AI agents within distinct HR processes, coupled with a strong background in UX and design thinking to ensure seamless, intuitive employee adoption