Sr. Software Engineer (Distributed Systems)

Senior Software 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 Role

As a Senior Software Engineer, you will play a key role in designing and scaling Workday's Dev core services platform. You will lead the architecture of critical distributed subsystems, drive technical execution within the team, and collaborate closely with cross-functional partners to deliver robust solutions.

This role requires deep hands-on expertise in distributed systems and microservices, along with a proven track record of translating complex product requirements into scalable code. You will tackle sophisticated technical challenges, champion engineering best practices, and help mentor team members to ensure high-velocity, reliable delivery.

What You'll Do

• Design, build, and evolve secure, scalable, and decoupled core product microservices alongside responsive, intuitive frontend user experiences.
• Implement and maintain resilient distributed systems that support mission-critical product features, ensuring strong performance, reliability, and code quality.
• Translate complex product requirements into functional software solutions, breaking down ambiguous technical challenges into clear deliverables.
• Apply and advocate for best practices in domain-driven design, robust API contract management, comprehensive testing, and end-to-end observability.
• Leverage and champion AI-assisted engineering tools (such as Cursor or Claude Code) and modern coding techniques to accelerate delivery and improve code quality.
• Enhance the overall developer experience on the Workday Extend platform by building scalable software solutions that align with modern full-stack paradigms.
• Collaborate closely with product managers and designers to refine requirements and ensure seamless integration between backend capabilities and user interfaces.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to mid-level and junior engineers, conducting constructive code reviews and fostering a culture of continuous learning.
• Actively contribute to team discussions regarding technical debt reduction, architectural modernizations, and the adoption of cutting-edge development tools.

About You

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a strong focus on designing, building, and maintaining robust backend microservice architectures and distributed systems.
• 5+ years of hands-on backend experience with object-oriented or functional programming languages, specifically Java or Scala.
• 2 + Proven full-stack experience, including hands-on development of modern frontend user interfaces using modern JavaScript frameworks (e.g., React, Angular, or Vue).
• 5 + years of experience delivering and supporting cloud-based production services.
• 5+ years of experience building, operating, and optimizing products within cloud environments, with a strong preference for AWS/ GCP.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience with containerization and orchestration technologies, specifically Docker and Kubernetes.
• Demonstrated proficiency with AI-assisted development tools (Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or similar), including the ability to direct, review, and validate AI-generated code.
• 1 + years experience with modern architectural standards, including Model Context Protocol (MCP), to support a spec-driven development approach

Other Qualifications

• Advanced Backend Programming: Strong proficiency in Java or Scala, with a deep understanding of core design patterns, clean code practices, and distributed systems.
• High Availability & Distributed Architecture: Proven ability to design and maintain resilient, highly available distributed subsystems, ensuring strong operational performance and reliability.
• API Development & Spec-Driven Development: Deep expertise in API development and contract management, alongside a good understanding of modern architectural standards and protocols (such as Model Context Protocol (MCP)) to support a spec-driven development approach.
• Algorithmic Thinking & Complex Problem Solving: Strong algorithmic thinking and analytical skills, with a proven track record of translating complex product requirements into optimized, scalable code.
• Full-Stack Competency: Strong working knowledge of modern frontend architectures and state management patterns (e.g., in React or TypeScript), allowing for seamless full-stack feature delivery.
• Passion for Service Ownership: A strong technical stewardship mindset, taking pride in end-to-end service ownership, test automation, and the operational health of your services in production.
• AI Integration & Productivity: Hands-on experience integrating AI capabilities into software solutions, coupled with a high proficiency in utilizing AI-augmented development workflows to accelerate delivery.
• CI/CD & Automation: Experience building and maintaining modern CI/CD pipelines, automated end-to-end (E2E) testing frameworks, and cloud-native monitoring/observability tools.
• Product Collaboration: Proven ability to partner closely with Product Managers, UX designers, and engineering peers to refine requirements and break down complex features into actionable sprint tasks.
• Effective Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical tradeoffs clearly to both technical teammates and non-technical stakeholders.
• Agile Execution: Success navigating and delivering high-quality software features within fast-paced, collaborative, and agile engineering environments.
• Cloud Infrastructure & Efficiency: Lead cloud infrastructure efficiency and cost optimization initiatives, particularly across large-scale AWS & GCP deployments, ensuring architectural decisions balance high performance with financial scalability.