Principal HRIS Analyst

Draper; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

Draper in Cambridge, MA is seeking an HRIS Analyst, Principal to deliver Workday HCM expertise across the enterprise.

You will partner with HR partners, Compensation, Talent Acquisition, Benefits, Learning & Development, Finance, Payroll, and IT to translate business needs into Workday solutions, configure core modules, troubleshoot integrations, and provide high-quality reporting and a seamless user experience.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience configuring Workday HCM (Core HR, Benefits, Compensation, Advanced Compensation, Talent, Learning, Recruiting, Absence).
• Deep knowledge of Workday features, security, reporting, data model.
• Proven ability to translate stakeholder needs into functional requirements for Workday integrations.
• Strong reporting and integration experience with Workday required.

Responsibilities

• Lead Workday initiatives from requirements through post-go-live support.
• Administer Core HR, Benefits, Compensation, Advanced Compensation, Talent, Learning, Recruiting, Absence.
• Configure tenant setup, security roles, and user access provisioning.
• Develop standard and ad-hoc reports, dashboards, and Discovery Boards.
• Perform data audits, health checks, and security reviews; suggest improvements.
• Translate HR requirements into specs, designs, and security models.
• Coordinate UAT, regression testing, and change-control for Workday releases.
• Create process docs, job aids, and training guides as needed.
• Serve as primary Workday point of contact for escalation and support.
• Provide integration support between Workday and third-party systems.

Education

Bachelors degree in Information Systems, HR, or related discipline

Tools

Workday Studio

Discovery Boards

Prism Analytics

Job description

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross‑fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary

The HRIS Analyst, Principal is a pivotal member of the HR Analytics team that delivers Workday HCM expertise across the enterprise. In this role you partner with HR Business Partners, Compensation, Talent Acquisition, Benefits, Learning & Development, Finance, Payroll, and IT to translate business needs into Workday specific solutions, configure and maintain core modules, troubleshoot integrations, and provide high quality reporting and a seamless user experience. You also help drive Workday project work streams, support new functionality roll outs, and champion user adoption, acting as a go‑to internal Workday expert while sharing ownership of initiative success.

Duties / Responsibilities

• Lead Workday initiatives (new release updates, process improvements, major or minor enhancements, new module implementation) from requirements gathering through design, configuration, testing, migration, and post‑go‑live support.
• Administer core Workday HCM domains – Core HR, Benefits, Compensation, Advanced Compensation, Talent, Learning, Recruiting, and Absence.
• Configure, maintain, and troubleshoot tenant configuration, business‑process design, security‑role management, and user‑access provisioning.
• Develop and maintain standard & ad‑hoc reports, dashboards, hubs, and Discovery Boards to support data‑driven decision making.
• Perform regular system health checks, data audits, and security reviews to identify and resolve data anomalies, performance issues, or integration errors, and proactively suggest improvements.
• Translate HR business requirements into functional specifications, workflow designs, and security models; serve as the liaison between HR SMEs and internal/ external technical teams.
• Coordinate UAT, regression testing, and change‑control processes for all Workday releases and enhancements.
• Create and maintain process documentation, job aids, and/or training guides as needed for new functionality.
• Serve as a primary Workday point of contact for internal stakeholder issue escalation, resolution, and ongoing support.
• Provide support for integrations between Workday and third‑party systems (e.g. ADP, benefits vendors, background check providers, etc.).

Skills / Abilities

• Hands‑on experience configuring Workday HCM (Core HR, Benefits, Compensation, Advanced Compensation, Talent, Learning, Recruiting, Absence).
• Deep knowledge of Workday features/functionality, business process framework, organization structures, security, domain specific setup, reporting, and data model.
• Proven ability to uncover stakeholder needs, translate them into precise functional requirements, and advise on best‑practice Workday configurations and integrations.
• Strong proficiency with Workday Reporting and knowledge of Workday Integrations required. Experience with Discovery Boards, Prism Analytics, and Workday Studio/Integration Cloud a plus.
• Experience leading or co‑leading a Workday release or module implementation (e.g., Core HR, Recruiting, Compensation, Advanced Compensation, Learning, Talent, or Benefits).
• Workday certifications (preferred: HCM Core, Compensation, Reporting).
• Solid grasp of HR metrics, compliance requirements, and best practice HR processes.
• Strong analytic, problem solving, project management, communication, and collaboration skills.

Education

• Bachelors degree in Information Systems, HR, or related discipline required

Experience

• 10 years HR systems experience required

Additional Job Description

Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Salary

US base salary range: $100,000.00 – $275,000.00
Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Benefits

Draper supports many programs to improve work‑life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off‑site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities.

Job Location

City: Cambridge
State: Massachusetts
Postal Code: 02139‑3563

EEO Statement

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [e-mail].