Sr Director or Director, Machine Learning Engineering, Agent Factory

Workday; Toronto; Hybrid; USD 259,000 - 461,000; Full time

Job summary

Workday is seeking a Director of Machine Learning to lead the ML team in developing scalable products and AI agents. This senior role requires extensive industry experience, strong leadership abilities, and technical proficiency in machine learning and cloud technologies. Join us to transform the future of enterprise software.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years industry experience in machine learning, with 3-5 years in leadership.
• Strong academic background with research experience in ML.
• Expertise in ML algorithms and cloud technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the vision and strategy for the ML organization.
• Oversee all phases of the ML software development lifecycle.
• Inspire and grow the machine learning team.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Python

AWS

Azure

GCP

Spark

Hadoop

Tensorflow

PyTorch

Job description

Your work days are brighter here.

At Workday, it all began with a conversation over breakfast. When our founders met at a sunny California diner, they came up with an idea to revolutionize the enterprise software market. And when we began to rise, one thing that really set us apart was our culture. A culture which was driven by our value of putting our people first. And ever since, the happiness, development, and contribution of every Workmate is central to who we are. Our Workmates believe a healthy employee-centric, collaborative culture is the essential mix of ingredients for success in business. That’s why we look after our people, communities and the planet while still being profitable. Feel encouraged to shine, however that manifests: you don’t need to hide who you are. You can feel the energy and the passion, it's what makes us unique. Inspired to make a brighter work day for all and transform with us to the next stage of our growth journey? Bring your brightest version of you and have a brighter work day here.

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About the Team

We believe if you do what you love, you’ll love what you do. There’s a lot to love at Workday. Part of a global, high-growth technology company, our Workday team has the opportunity of developing the next generation of Workday’s groundbreaking collaborative products supporting a customer base of more than 31 million strong. You will tackle sophisticated problems and influence teams across Workday as you build enterprise software. Thrive in our fun, people-first culture that builds an environment focused on your success and ability to do your best work. Join us as we change the way millions of people work!

About the Role

The Machine Learning team is seeking a strategic and technical Director of Machine Learning to join the Agent Factory org and directly participate in crafting, implementing, and delivering highly scalable Machine Learning products and AI agents for Workday. As a leader of this fast-paced group you will have a unique opportunity to expand the team and build services that power Workday ML features in production. In this role, you will lead and partner with Machine Learning Engineers, Software Engineers, and Product Managers to build the technology that brings these features to life.

• Set the vision and strategy for the ML organization that builds our HCM and FIN focused services.

• Take part in all phases of the ML software development lifecycle, including requirements analysis, data selection, methodological exploration, technical design, software construction, quality assurance, and integration with the Workday ecosystem.

• Scope and craft new machine learning products and features in conjunction with product management.

• Participate in the agile development process, including scheduling and estimation of machine learning software project tasks

• Act as service owner and support events like upgrades, feature requests, and infrastructure changes

• Lead your team in designating the main effort from among contending team priorities

• Inspire your team and enable their career growth

• Identify and remove roadblocks for your team’s success

• Build strong relationships with partner teams both upstream and downstream of your service

About You

Basic Qualifications

• A master's or Ph.D. degree in computer science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or a related field. A strong academic background with research experience in machine learning is highly desirable

• Minimum of 8-10 years of industry experience in machine learning, with at least 3-5 years in a leadership or managerial role.

• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python and experience with complex data pipelines and ML libraries.

• Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and distributed computing frameworks (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).

• Expertise in generative AI, ML algorithms, and frameworks such as Hugging Face, Tensorflow, PyTorch, etc.

• Up to date knowledge in state of the art LLMs, RAG, and Agentic frameworks.

Other Qualifications

• Strong understanding of deep learning architectures, natural language processing, computer vision, and other relevant areas of machine learning.

• Proven track record of successfully leading and delivering complex machine learning projects at scale.

• Excellent communication and facilitation skills

• Consistent track of leading a multi-functional team

• Experience presenting effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences

• Background in a fast-paced and complex environment

• Experience with cloud technologies and modern cloud-native architectures.

Posting End Date: 06/18/2025
If hired in Colorado,click here for information about Workday's comprehensive benefits in Colorado:https://workdaybenefits.com/us/welcome-to-workday-benefits/prospective-workmates.
The application deadline for this role is the same as the posting end date stated.

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.PleasantonPrimary Location Base Pay Range: $307,200 USD - $460,800 USDAdditional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $259,200 USD - $460,800 USD If performed in Colorado, the pay range for this job is $272,800 - $409,200 USD based on min and max pay range for that role if performed in CO.

The application deadline for this role is the same as the posting end date stated as below:

06/18/2025

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.

Are you being referred to one of our roles? If so, ask your connection at Workday about our Employee Referral process!