Principal Cyber Security Engineer, SOC Lead (US Federal)

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
Your work matters here. At Workday Government, we focus on outcomes that serve a larger mission. Our work supports U.S. federal agencies as they modernize and transform the full employee lifecycle experience and finance operations-so they can operate with greater clarity, accountability, and trust. As a Fortune 500 company and a proven enterprise cloud platform, Workday brings modern technology, responsible AI, and secure infrastructure to some of the most complex environments in the world. The work isn't theoretical. It's operational. It's high-impact. And it demands rigor, integrity, and long-term thinking.

From day one, you'll be part of a team that values collaboration, follow-through, and doing the right thing-especially when the stakes are high. Our culture is grounded in integrity, respect, and shared responsibility. We challenge each other to think clearly, act thoughtfully, and build solutions that stand up to real-world demands. Here, curiosity is matched with accountability. Ambition is paired with trust. You'll have the space to do your best work, the support to keep growing, and the backing of a company committed to long-term investment in both its people and the federal mission.
If you're looking to apply your experience to meaningful, mission-driven work-alongside colleagues who take pride in building things that last-you'll find that opportunity at Workday

About the Role

This role will support one or more direct or indirect contracts with the U.S. Federal Government which, due to federal government security requirements, mandates that all Workday personnel working on the contracts be United States citizens (naturalized or native).

The SOC Lead will provide technical and operational leadership for the Cyber Defense Security Operations Center supporting U.S. Government SaaS deployments, including air-gapped environments. This role is responsible for overseeing 24x7 monitoring operations, incident response coordination, escalation management, and continuous improvement of SOC processes and capabilities.
You will lead a team of SOC Analysts, ensure high-quality investigations, oversee detection engineering collaboration, and drive automation initiatives leveraging platforms such as Splunk and SOAR technologies (e.g., Tines). You will also interface with Red, Blue, Purple Teams and Threat Intelligence to maintain an integrated cyber defense posture.
This position requires a balance of operational leadership, deep technical expertise, and the ability to communicate risk effectively to leadership.

About You

This role may require a security clearance at the TS/SCI level. Applicants must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance.

Basic Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in cybersecurity operations, incident response, or threat detection
• 5+ years of experience leading or mentoring security operations personnel
• Deep experience operating and tuning SIEM platforms such as Splunk
• Experience managing incident response lifecycle activities aligned to NIST SP 800-61r3
• Experience supporting secure cloud environments and/or air-gapped networks
• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience

Other Qualifications

• Preferred DoD 8570/8140 compliant with at least IAT Level II certification, including a current Computing Environment (CE) credential and one approved specialty certification (e.g., CompTIA CySA+, GICSP, CASP+)
• Strong understanding of adversary TTPs and MITRE ATT&CK framework
• Experience with SOAR platforms (e.g., Tines) and security automation
• Proven ability to manage escalations and high-severity incidents
• Experience developing KPIs, SLAs, and operational metrics
• Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills under pressure
• Ability to coordinate cross-functional teams (Red, Blue, Engineering, Compliance)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience building and improving SOC playbooks and runbooks
• Certifications meeting DoD 8570 requirements

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.VA.Reston

Primary Location Base Pay Range: $184,800 USD - $277,200 USD

Additional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $167,200 USD - $300,000 USD

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 View email address on click.appcast.io.

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