Workday

Principal Software Development Engineer

Workday$182K — $273K *
Information Technology
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 12+ years of backend software development experience, primarily in Java, with advanced design patterns knowledge.
  • 5+ years experience designing and integrating robust RESTful APIs and microservices.
  • 8 years of experience with SQL including database design and optimization for scalability.
  • 3+ years hands-on experience with CI/CD processes and tools like Jenkins, Kubernetes, and Docker.
  • 5+ years of experience as a technical lead or architect in Agile/Scrum environments.

Responsibilities

  • Lead user experience feature development for advanced Assistant capabilities.
  • Design and architect new feature solutions and conduct code reviews to ensure quality.
  • Collaborate with Scrum teams and Product Managers on cross-boundary feature development.
  • Mentor junior team members to promote technical excellence and continuous learning.
  • Identify and address technical inefficiencies to drive organizational innovation.
  • Advocate for transparent knowledge sharing and maintain technical documentation.

Benefits

  • Support for professional development and technical exploration.
  • Flexible work schedule allowing for remote and in-office time.
  • Encouragement of contributions to open-source projects.
  • Mentorship programs fostering a culture of learning.
  • Opportunities to shape the future of enterprise planning solutions.
Full Job Description
About the Team
Our Planning User Experience team is at the forefront of innovation, driving the evolution of enterprise planning solutions through advanced software engineering and AI integration. We are a diverse, highly motivated group of engineers, product managers, and researchers who thrive on collaboration and continuous learning. Our culture emphasizes technical excellence, transparent knowledge sharing, and a passion for solving complex business challenges.

* Mission: To empower organizations with intelligent, scalable planning tools that anticipate and adapt to the needs of tomorrow's enterprises.
* Collaboration: We work cross-functionally with product, design, and AI teams to deliver impactful features and seamless user experiences.
* Growth: Team members are encouraged to explore new technologies, contribute to open source, and participate in leadership and technical training programs.
* Impact: Your work will directly influence the strategic direction of our platform and help shape the future of enterprise planning.

We foster an environment where innovation, mentorship, and technical rigor are celebrated-and where every team member's voice matters.

About the Role

Join our innovative Planning organization as a Principal Software Development Engineer. You'll architect and lead the development of advanced planning features, seamlessly integrating AI capabilities and modern software design patterns. This is a high-impact, strategic role where your technical vision and leadership will shape the future of our platform and drive business value across the enterprise.
  • High-Impact Innovation: Lead mission-critical projects at the intersection of enterprise planning and Artificial Intelligence.
  • Exceptional Talent: Collaborate with a motivated group of engineers, researchers, and product leaders.
  • Shape the Future: Influence our platform's evolution and organizational strategy.
  • Unparalleled Growth: Enjoy dedicated support for professional development and technical exploration.


Responsibilities:
  • Lead user experience feature development and evolve existing features for the agentic era, enabling advanced Assistant capabilities
  • Design and architect new feature solutions, lead framework development, conduct code reviews, ensure quality, and maintain organizational compliance across all team deliverables
  • Work closely with Scrum team, architects, and Product Managers; collaborate with broader Planning teams for cross-boundary feature development and compliance requirements
  • Lead and mentor junior team members, fostering a culture of technical excellence, psychological safety, and continuous learning
  • Drive innovation across the organization by identifying and addressing bottlenecks and inefficiencies in both technical and non-technical processes
  • Advocate for transparent knowledge sharing and meticulous technical documentation within and across teams


About You

Basic Qualifications
  • 12+ years of backend software development experience, primarily in Java, with a deep understanding of advanced design patterns, concurrency, and scalable systems
  • 5+ years designing, building, and integrating robust RESTful APIs and microservices
  • 8+ years working with SQL: Strong ability to design, query, and optimize relational databases as part of scalable backend solutions
  • 3+ years of hands-on experience navigating and optimizing CI/CD and deployment subsystems, specifically Jenkins, TestRail, Kubernetes, and Docker
  • 5+ years of technical lead or architect experience within an Agile/Scrum environment, consistently delivering complex initiatives from conception to production

Other Qualifications
  • Hands-on experience with MCP (Model Context Protocol) server and tools development, or similar frameworks for integrating AI agents with external systems
  • Direct experience architecting and deploying AI-driven features, LLM integrations, or machine learning applications in a production environment
  • Background in building enterprise SaaS applications
  • Strong ability to translate highly technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and cross-functional leadership
  • Active contributions to open-source projects or participation in technical communities
  • Proficiency in Python, Scala, or other languages relevant to our stack


Workday Pay Transparency Statement

The annualized base salary ranges for the primary location and any additional locations are listed below. Workday pay ranges vary based on work location. As a part of the total compensation package, this role may be eligible for the Workday Bonus Plan or a role-specific commission/bonus, as well as annual refresh stock grants. Recruiters can share more detail during the hiring process. Each candidate's compensation offer will be based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, geography, experience, skills, job duties, and business need, among other things. For more information regarding Workday's comprehensive benefits, please click here.

Primary Location: USA.CO.Boulder

Primary Location Base Pay Range: $182,400 USD - $273,600 USD

Additional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $173,300 USD - $309,600 USD

Additional Considerations:

The application deadline for this role is the same as the posting end date stated as below:

06/30/2026

Our Approach to Flexible Work

With Flex Work, we're combining the best of both worlds: in-person time and remote. Our approach enables our teams to deepen connections, maintain a strong community, and do their best work. We know that flexibility can take shape in many ways, so rather than a number of required days in-office each week, we simply spend at least half (50%) of our time each quarter in the office or in the field with our customers, prospects, and partners (depending on role). This means you'll have the freedom to create a flexible schedule that caters to your business, team, and personal needs, while being intentional to make the most of time spent together. Those in our remote "home office" roles also have the opportunity to come together in our offices for important moments that matter.

About Workday

Workday, Inc. is a provider of enterprise cloud applications for finance and human resources. The Company delivers financial management, human capital management and analytics applications designed for various companies, educational institutions and government agencies. As part of its applications, the Company provides embedded analytics that capture the content and context of everyday business events, facilitating informed decision-making from wherever users are working. Its applications include Workday Financial Management, Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) and Other Applications. It also provides open, standards-based Web-services application programming interfaces, and pre-built packaged integrations and connectors. Workday, Inc. is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.
Learn more about Workday
Size
15,932 employees
Market Cap
$42.2 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$282.4 million
Founded
2005
5 Year Trend
+26.7%
Revenue
$4.3 billion
NASDAQ

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