AI Operations Lead, Localization

Workday, Inc.; Pleasanton (CA); Hybrid; USD 133,000 - 199,000; Full time

Job summary

Workday, Inc. is seeking a Localization Specialist focused on AI Ops to optimize global expansion by deploying language models for automation across the localization lifecycle. This role aims to speed up market entry while maintaining linguistic quality.

You will deploy AI workflows, refine prompts for translation, and integrate AI checks into existing pipelines, collaborating with engineering, product, ML, and legal teams to ensure global usability and trust.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of localization or translation operations experience, including 2+ years with AI/automation tools.
• 2+ years applying large language models or small language models to text processing or translation workflows.
• Degree in Computer Science or related field.

Responsibilities

• Deploy AI model workflows to automate content transformation and adaptation.
• Design and refine prompts for high-accuracy machine translation and cultural nuance.
• Integrate AI-driven localization checks into engineering pipelines and streamline workflows with orchestration tools.
• Use AI-based testing tools to validate UI consistency and automate linguistic quality evaluation.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Product, ML, Legal, and Responsible AI teams to improve usability and adoption.
• Support upskilling to build AI fluency across the globalization team.

Skills

Localization operations

AI tools experience

Scripting: Python/JavaScript

Education

Computer Science degree

Tools

Modelfront

Intento

Phrase

Jira

Job description

About the Team

The Globalization team is a central driver for our company's international expansion, using a technology-first approach to ensure our products and services are accessible and culturally relevant for customers across the globe. We serve as the Center of Excellence, partnering with product and engineering teams from initial concept to launch. We are dedicated to building a scalable, resilient globalization infrastructure – and we have fun doing it, working across cultures and disciplines every day.

About the Role

As a Localization Specialist focused on AI Ops, you optimize global expansion by deploying large and small language models to automate the localization lifecycle. You will focus on scaling international releases through AI-driven quality checks and linguistic model refinement. This role exists to reduce manual translation review work and speed up how quickly Workday can bring products to new markets and languages.

• Deploy AI model workflows to automate content transformation and adaptation using tools such as Modelfront and Intento.


• Design and refine prompts for high-accuracy machine translation and cultural nuance.


• Integrate AI-led localization checks into existing engineering pipelines and streamline workflows using orchestration tools or Phrase.


• Use AI-based testing tools to validate consistency in the user interface and automate linguistic quality evaluation, reducing reliance on manual review.


• Collaborate with stakeholders across Engineering, Product, Machine Learning, Legal, and Responsible AI teams to improve usability, trust, and adoption of AI systems globally.


• Support educational initiatives and team upskilling to build AI fluency and operational excellence across the globalization team.

Basic Qualifications

• 8+ years of related work experience in localization or translation operations, including 2+ years working directly with AI or automation tools in that context.


• 2+ years of hands‑on experience applying large language models or small language models to text processing or translation workflows.


• Degree in Computer Science or related field.

Other Qualifications

• Translation Management: Experience managing translation workflows and platforms such as Modelfront, Intento, or Phrase.


• Cultural Empathy: A track record of adapting content thoughtfully for different cultural and regional audiences.


• Process Optimization: Experience identifying and automating manual steps in a linguistic or content workflow, such as building AI-based quality checks.


• Cross‑Team Collaboration: Comfortable partnering with engineering, product, and legal teams to align AI‑driven localization work with broader goals.


• Project Delivery: Ability to manage multiple release timelines and localization deliverables at once.


• Experience with Python or JavaScript for scripting automated workflows is a plus.


• Experience connecting AI workflows to Translation Management Systems and Jira is a plus.

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.
Primary Location: USA.CA.Pleasanton Primary Location Base Pay Range: $132,700 USD - $199,100 USD
Additional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $112,100 USD - $199,100 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.

Equal Opportunity and Accommodation

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 [e-mail], as far in advance as possible.

Workday will never ask candidates to apply to jobs through websites that are not Workday Careers. Please be aware of sites that may ask for you to input your data in connection with a job posting that appears to be from Workday but is not. In addition, Workday will never ask candidates to pay a recruiting fee, or pay for consulting or coaching services, in order to apply for a job at Workday. Workday is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Workday are considered without regards to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Further, pursuant to applicable local ordinances, Workday will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We do not accept resumes from headhunters, placement agencies, or other suppliers that have not signed a formal agreement with us.