Principal Software Development Engineer - Data Cloud

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

The Data Cloud organization is at the forefront of Workday’s next major wave of innovation, driven by a bold mandate to build the industry’s first true Platform for Agents. We are a high-energy, ambitious team that balances Workday's deep foundational expertise with fresh, forward-thinking perspectives to accelerate our pace of delivery and unlock massive new commercial value. By leveraging Workday’s unique business context, trusted data, and identity guardrails, we are building the critical engine that will power the future of AI and agentic workflows across the enterprise.

About the Role

As part of Workday’s Data Platform Engineering org, you will be responsible for building and enhancing Workday's Data Cloud. You will lead a top-notch team to architect and build features in our distributed ingestion, query processing, transaction processing, storage engines. You're an engineer who is passionate about data management and distributed data processing frameworks and algorithms. Performance, scalability, and reliability of these algorithms are constantly on your mind and looking to stay involved in these areas. You have the chops to build the infrastructure that powers high-performance data crunching on large volumes of data while ensuring simplicity and ease-­of­-use of the overall product. You enjoy the thrill of coming up with brilliant ideas and can articulate their value­-prop to partners but are most satisfied when you turn these ideas into solid high­ quality implementations that make customers successful.

About You

You are an engineer who takes pride in your work.  Furthermore, you:

• Understand the importance of doing what is right for the customer
• Are passionate about software development and think and code in terms of well-defined abstractions
• Enjoy coming up with novel solutions and can clearly articulate their value to stakeholders
• Are excited about leading an engineering team
• Have a strong interest in learning, teaching and developing data management and distributed data processing systems and algorithms
• Are a fast learner who enjoys exploring new technical areas, languages, and frameworks 

Basic Qualifications

• 10+ years using any of the following programming languages: Java, Scala, C++, Go, or Rust
• 5+ years development experience in relevant domain areas (e.g. database internals, distributed system application, JVM performance tuning, Cloud/SaaS Services, etc.)
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or relevant field or MS in Computer Science or a relevant field

Other Qualifications

• Background in data warehousing, database system internals and/or distributed systems ​
• Expertise in distributed data processing engines or data management systems
• A strong understanding of SQL
• Expertise in Cloud Computing Services (e.g., GCP, AWS), Kubernetes, and/or Linux
• Expertise in one or more of: Apache Spark and Spark SQL internals, Apache Iceberg and zero-copy architectures, Apache Polaris, Trino, MySql, PostgreSQL, DuckDB

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.CA.Pleasanton

Primary Location Base Pay Range: $222,900 USD - $334,300 USD

Additional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $187,100 USD - $334,300 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.

Workday is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals during our application process, in order to perform one or more essential functions of their job, as well as regarding the use of AI tools for employment decision-making to any degree. Please see below for more details including how to request an accommodation as a qualified veteran, due to a disability or for religious reasons, or as otherwise provided under applicable law.

Workday prohibits taking adverse action against any candidate or employee for reporting a possible violation of this policy, requesting one or more work accommodations, exercising a privacy right, or cooperating in an investigation in accordance with applicable law. Any employee who retaliates against a candidate or employee for doing so may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, to the fullest extent allowable under applicable law.

If you require a reasonable accommodation, you may email [email protected], as far in advance as possible.

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