Senior Software Development Engineer

Workday•Pleasanton, CA

3d•$160,100 - $285,100•Hybrid

About The Position

Workday’s Platform Engineering organization works to scale the Workday application platform and improve performance, system efficiency, and developer productivity across enterprise applications and AI agents. The Senior Engineer will help evolve core architecture so AI agents can interact safely, securely, and seamlessly with the Workday platform, working with emerging technologies and owning mission-critical projects. The role leads the architecture, design, and implementation of complex enterprise systems, combining hands-on engineering with technical leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and mentorship. It includes designing scalable, high-performance software components and defining system architecture to support user experience and reliability. The engineer partners with engineering management and product managers on technical direction and priorities; supports release planning and delivery in an Agile environment; promotes code quality, integration, and testing practices; researches emerging technologies and develops prototypes; and mentors developers while advocating for platform capabilities.

Requirements

At least 8 years of professional experience in Object-Oriented Design and Programming (OOD/OOP).
Fluency in Java and strong proficiency applying core design patterns and architecture paradigms.
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience using a disciplined, methodical approach to building modular, layered software.
Ability to communicate architectural designs through UML or clear technical documentation.
Hands-on experience across the software development lifecycle, including source control, requirements specifications, unit and system testing, performance testing, and design reviews.
Track record of leading technical initiatives spanning multiple teams and delivering high-quality software on schedule in Agile environments.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Experience partnering effectively with Product Management to refine and focus feature scope.

Responsibilities

Design and build scalable, high-performance software components that integrate into larger frameworks.
Gather requirements and define system architecture to support user experience and system reliability.
Partner with engineering management and product managers to clarify requirements, set technical direction, and prioritize development.
Assess effort, risks, and priorities for release planning; collaborate on technical designs, estimates, and feature execution in an Agile environment.
Conduct peer code reviews and promote continuous integration and testing practices.
Maintain reliable task and bug management within each sprint.
Track emerging technologies, tools, and industry trends, and propose or execute prototypes and proof-of-concept projects for complex platform challenges.
Mentor junior and mid-level developers.
Communicate platform capabilities and advocate for platform technologies across cross-functional teams.