Senior Cybersecurity Engineer (US Federal)

Workday, Inc.; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 239,000; Full time

Job summary

Workday Government in Reston, VA, seeks a Senior Engineer to build and operate a Kubernetes-based platform with a focus on automation, observability, and security tooling. The role may require TS/SCI poly considerations and US citizenship for federal contracts.

You will contribute to scalable infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, and secure deployment practices while collaborating across teams in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience with large scale cloud infrastructure, DevOps, Security, and software development engineering.
• Bachelor's degree in a computer related field or equivalent work experience.
• Infrastructure as code with Terraform and related tooling.
• CI/CD pipelines and tools like Argo CD.
• Experience securing infrastructure on AWS in production environments.
• Knowledge of encryption, authorization schemas and security auditing frameworks.
• Programming skills in at least one language.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities; excellent communication and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement Kubernetes platform solutions, including infrastructure automation, CI/CD pipelines, observability, and security tooling.
• Build and maintain core platform components for high availability, scalability, and security.
• Automate provisioning and configuration management for cloud infrastructure.
• Provide troubleshooting and support for platform-related issues across teams.
• Maintain security standards and ensure compliance with industry frameworks.
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for platform components and processes.
• Collaborate with engineers across locations and time zones; stay current with platform trends.

Skills

Security engineering

Kubernetes platform

Cloud infrastructure

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer related field

Tools

Terraform

Argo CD

AWS

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. We look for curious minds and courageous collaborators who bring sun‑drenched optimism and drive. Whether you're building smarter solutions, supporting customers, or creating a space where everyone belongs, you’ll do meaningful work with Workmates who’ve got your back. In return, we’ll give you the trust to take risks, the tools to grow, the skills to develop and the support of a company invested in you for the long haul. So, if you want to inspire a brighter work day for everyone, including yourself, you’ve found a match in Workday, and we hope to be a match for you too.

About the Team

Our 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 high-impact. 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. If you’re looking to apply your experience to meaningful, mission‑driven work—alongside colleagues who take pride in building things that last—you’ll find that opportunity at Workday.

About the Role

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). May be required to be on site at client locations in the DC, MD, and VA (DMV) area.

We are looking for a highly motivated and Senior Engineer to join our growing Infrastructure and Platform Engineering team. You will play a critical role in building, scaling, observing and maintaining our Kubernetes‑based platform and enabling our engineering organization to deliver capabilities and incremental products quickly and reliably. You will have the opportunity to work with cutting‑edge technologies, solve complicated problems, and contribute to the foundation of our infrastructure. This role requires a strong technical background, a passion for automation, and a collaborative mindset. As a Security Engineer, you will be responsible for building, deploying/operating security tooling, developing security standards and implementing technical controls in support of the platforms and infrastructure used in Workday. You have a growth mindset and will be part of a team promoting a diverse and inclusive environment where you and your workmates are happy, energized and engaged, and who are excited to come to work every day.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement: Build, develop, and implement solutions for our Kubernetes platform, including infrastructure automation, CI/CD pipelines, and observability and security tools.
• Build and maintain: Build and maintain core platform components, ensuring high availability, scalability, and security.
• Automate and optimize: Automate infrastructure provisioning, configuration management, and application deployments using tools like Terraform and Argo CD.
• Troubleshooting and support: Provide support and solving for platform‑related issues, working closely with peer development teams to resolve problems.
• Security and compliance: Implement and maintain security standard methodologies for the platform, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
• Documentation and knowledge sharing: Build and maintain comprehensive documentation for platform components and processes.
• Actively participate in knowledge sharing within the team.
• Collaborate effectively with other engineers and development teams across multiple locations and time zones.
• Stay up‑to‑date with the latest technologies and trends in the platform engineering space.

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

• 5+ years of hands‑on experience working with large scale cloud infrastructure, DevOps, Security, and software development engineering skills.
• Bachelor's degree in a computer related field or equivalent work experience.

Other Qualifications

• Infrastructure as code: Proficiency in infrastructure automation tools like Terraform.
• CI/CD: Experience with building, maintaining, and consuming CI/CD pipelines and tools like Argo CD.
• Experience securing infrastructure hosted on cloud service providers like AWS in a production environment.
• Knowledge of network, application and platform security tools and concepts.
• Knowledge of common encryption functions and authorization schemas.
• Experience with security auditing and compliance frameworks.
• Understanding of application, system, and security threats, attack techniques and mitigating controls.
• Programming skills: Proficiency in at least one programming language.
• Problem‑solving: Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Communication: Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Preferred

• Strong understanding of Kubernetes and containerization.
• C#, Python, Ruby, Rust, or Go programming language proficiency.
• Experience working in air‑gapped cloud regions.

Preferred (certifications)

• DoD 8570/8140 compliant with at least IAT Level II certification, including a current Computing Environment (CE) credential and one approved specialty certification (e.g., CompTIA CySA+, GICSP, CASP+).

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.VA.Reston
• Base Pay Range: $159,600 USD - $239,400 USD
• Additional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $144,400 USD - $258,000 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.

EEO and Diversity Statement

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. At Workday, we are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive hiring experience where all candidates can fully demonstrate their skills. If you require assistance or an accommodation at any point, please email [e-mail]. 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. Workday prohibits taking adverse action against any candidate or employee for reporting a possible violation of this policy, requesting one or more work accommodation, 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.