Principal HRIS Analyst

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Workplace flexibility

Employee clubs (e.g., photography, yoga)

Health and finance workshops

Job summary

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. is seeking an experienced HRIS Analyst, Principal to join their HR Analytics team in Cambridge, MA. This pivotal role involves delivering Workday HCM expertise across the enterprise while collaborating with HR Business Partners, Compensation, and IT.

The ideal candidate will have 10 years of HR systems experience and the ability to translate business needs into Workday solutions, leading initiatives and ensuring user adoption. The position offers a competitive salary package in a supportive and innovative work environment.

Qualifications

• 10 years HR systems experience required.
• Experience with end-to-end Workday HCM implementation desired.
• Workday certifications preferred (HCM Core, Compensation, Reporting).

Responsibilities

• Lead Workday initiatives from requirements through go-live support.
• Administer core Workday HCM domains.
• Develop and maintain standard & ad-hoc reports to support decision making.

Skills

Configuring Workday HCM

Problem-solving

Project management

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, HR, or related discipline

Tools

Workday HCM

Workday Reporting

Workday Integrations

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.

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.

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, Benefits).
• Experience with an end‑to‑end Workday HCM implementation desired.
• 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 & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, HR, or related discipline required. 10 years HR systems experience required.

Additional Requirements

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

Location

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139‑3563

Compensation

US base salary range for this full‑time position is $100,000.00 – $275,000.00. This range 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. Base salary only; 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. 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].