Mid / Senior Software Development Engineer - ML Ops (US Federal)

Workday, Inc.; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 164,000 - 246,000; Full time

Job summary

Workday Government in Reston, VA seeks a Senior SDE to design and deliver scalable ML runtime features. You will collaborate with data scientists and ML engineers to bring ML capabilities to production.

This role requires 7+ years in DevOps and Python, Docker/Kubernetes, and cloud experience; on-site in the DMV area; TS/SCI clearance preferred. We offer a collaborative culture with rigorous standards and an on-call rotation.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional experience in DevOps engineering, infrastructure automation, and CI/CD pipeline development.
• 7+ years of experience with Python programming and container orchestration platforms (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, STEM field, or equivalent practical experience.

Responsibilities

• Developing frameworks, automation, and tooling to foster a culture of efficiency and innovation.
• Apply technologies like Kubernetes, Docker, and Python to enhance developer scalability in creating innovative ML Runtime Inference applications.
• Implementation and operation of distributed systems and software development including the conception, specifying, designing, programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing involved in creating and maintaining applications, frameworks, or other software components.
• Developing products and services that empower developers to streamline their interactions with the ML platform.
• Working with public clouds (such as IAAS, AWS, GCP) and applying capacity management principles.
• Deploying and orchestrating containers in production environments, including technologies like Containers, Kubernetes, Service Mesh, ArgoCD and related tools.
• Actively engage with Tech Leads and ML Engineers across teams to elaborate on requirements and drive technical solutions.
• Own and develop features from end to end including infrastructure as code.
• Research, evaluate, prototype and drive adoption of new ML tools with reliability and scale in mind.
• Strong dedication to proactively addressing and resolving issues, automating processes, and empowering engineers to self‑service their operational needs for improved productivity.
• Availability for on‑call support on a rotational basis.

Skills

DevOps engineering

Python programming

CI/CD pipelines

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or STEM field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Terraform

ArgoCD

Jenkins

Git

Grafana

Prometheus

Job description

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.

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 highly impactful. 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.

About the Role

Employees may be required to be on site at client locations in the DC, MD, and VA (DMV) area. The Workday ML Runtime team is seeking an energetic and determined Software Engineer to design, implement, and deliver highly scalable features for our Machine Learning Runtime platform. As a member of this fast‑paced group you will have a unique and rewarding opportunity to shape and contribute towards microservices that power Workday Machine Learning features in production. You will partner with Data Scientists, ML Engineers, and other Software Engineers to create the technology that brings these features to life.

Key Responsibilities

• Developing frameworks, automation, and tooling to foster a culture of efficiency and innovation.
• Apply technologies like Kubernetes, Docker, and Python to enhance developer scalability in creating innovative ML Runtime Inference applications.
• Implementation and operation of distributed systems and software development including the conception, specifying, designing, programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing involved in creating and maintaining applications, frameworks, or other software components.
• Developing products and services that empower developers to streamline their interactions with the ML platform.
• Working with public clouds (such as IAAS, AWS, GCP) and applying capacity management principles.
• Deploying and orchestrating containers in production environments, including technologies like Containers, Kubernetes, Service Mesh, ArgoCD and related tools.
• Actively engage with Tech Leads and ML Engineers across teams to elaborate on requirements and drive technical solutions.
• Own and develop features from end to end including infrastructure as code.
• Research, evaluate, prototype and drive adoption of new ML tools with reliability and scale in mind.
• Strong dedication to proactively addressing and resolving issues, automating processes, and empowering engineers to self‑service their operational needs for improved productivity.
• Availability for on‑call support on a rotational basis.

About You

This role may require a security clearance at the TS/SCI w/CI Poly level. Applicants must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance. An active TS/SCI w/CI Poly is preferred. 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).

Basic Qualifications (P4 Sr. SDE)

• 7+ years of professional experience in DevOps engineering, infrastructure automation, and CI/CD pipeline development.
• 7+ years of experience with Python programming and container orchestration platforms (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, STEM field, or equivalent practical experience.

Other / Preferred Qualifications

• MLOps & Domain Experience: Hands‑on experience designing, deploying, and scaling Machine Learning runtime platforms and inference pipelines in partnership with ML teams.
• Tooling & Infrastructure: Proficiency with Infrastructure as Code (e.g., Terraform), Git SCM workflows, and GitOps/CD engines (e.g., ArgoCD, Jenkins).
• Observability: Experience building end‑to‑end monitoring, metrics, and alerting pipelines using telemetry stacks like Grafana or Prometheus.
• Architecture & Code Quality: Strong understanding of distributed systems, SaaS microservices, Object‑Oriented Design (OOD), and automated testing methodologies (unit, integration, e2e).
• Leadership & Operations: Proven experience leading technical initiatives and mentoring team members; willingness to participate in a rotating on‑call schedule.

Basic Qualification (P3 SDE)

• 5+ years of professional DevOps experience, including infrastructure automation and CI/CD pipeline development.
• 5+ years of experience with Python programming and containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, STEM field, or equivalent practical experience.

Other Qualifications

• MLOps Experience: Hands‑on experience deploying, monitoring, and scaling Machine Learning runtime environments or pipelines alongside ML teams.
• Tooling & Infrastructure: Experience with Infrastructure as Code (e.g., Terraform), Git workflows, and GitOps/CD engines (e.g., ArgoCD, Jenkins).
• Observability: Experience building monitoring, metrics, and alerting systems using telemetry stacks such as Grafana or Prometheus.
• Software Fundamentals: Solid understanding of Object‑Oriented Design (OOD), distributed systems, and SaaS microservice architectures.
• Quality & Operations: Familiarity with automated testing frameworks (unit, integration, e2e) and willingness to participate in a rotating on‑call schedule.

Workday Pay Transparency Statement

• Primary Location: USA.VA.Reston
• Primary Location Base Pay Range: $163,800 USD - $245,800 USD
• Additional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $148,200 USD - $264,000 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. 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.

We do not accept resumes from headhunters, placement agencies, or other suppliers that have not signed a formal agreement with us. We encourage job seekers to join our Talent Community, but we do not host job posts through external sites or non-Workday sites. If you are reviewing a job posting that claims to be from Workday but you have questions about its authenticity, please review the posting details and contact Workday directly. Workday’s pay transparency policy and equity policies are publicly available for review. We are a proud 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, 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. We may provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals during our application process, including but not limited to the necessary accommodations for qualified veterans, persons with disabilities, or other protected groups under applicable law.