Principal Software Development Engineer

Your work days are brighter here.

We’re obsessed with making hard work pay off, for our people, our customers, and the world around us. As a Fortune 500 company and a leading AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, we’re shaping the future of work so teams can reach their potential and focus on what matters most. The minute you join, you’ll feel it. Not just in the products we build, but in how we show up for each other. Our culture is rooted in integrity, empathy, and shared enthusiasm. We’re in this together, tackling big challenges with bold ideas and genuine care. We look for curious minds and courageous collaborators who bring sun-drenched optimism and drive. Whether you're building smarter solutions, supporting customers, or creating a space where everyone belongs, you’ll do meaningful work with Workmates who’ve got your back. In return, we’ll give you the trust to take risks, the tools to grow, the skills to develop and the support of a company invested in you for the long haul. So, if you want to inspire a brighter work day for everyone, including yourself, you’ve found a match in Workday, and we hope to be a match for you too.

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:

05/08/2026

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.

Pursuant to applicable Fair Chance law, Workday will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Workday is an Equal Opportunity Employer including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.

At Workday, we are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive hiring experience where all candidates can fully demonstrate their skills. If you require assistance or an accommodation at any point, please email [email protected].

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