Senior/Principal Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE)

Workday, Inc.; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Workday, Inc. is seeking a Senior or Principal Forward Deployed Engineer to bridge hands-on software development with high-impact customer technical strategy.

You will collaborate with enterprise customers at the executive level to architect, deploy, debug, and optimize Workday’s AI agents and developer platform within live environments. You will work across the full deployment lifecycle, partnering with customers to resolve complex configurations and ensure successful outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Architect, deploy, debug, and optimize Workday’s AI agents and developer platform solutions inside live customer environments.
• Partner with enterprise customers, often at the executive level, to align technical strategy with business goals.
• Deliver hands-on software development and guidance across the full deployment lifecycle.

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

Forward Deployed Engineering sits at the intersection of Product, Engineering, and customer execution across Agent Factory, Sana, Products, and the Developer Platform. When Workday launches new AI agents and products, early deployments surface complex real‑world challenges—from unstructured tenant data and intricate configurations to edge‑case enterprise workflows. FDE pods deploy directly into active customer engagements to resolve technical friction, debug complex setups, and build lightweight integrations. Crucially, FDEs serve as the primary feedback engine for Product and Engineering: field insights, recurring customer friction, and configuration patterns are converted directly into scalable, out‑of‑the‑box product capabilities. It's a team where deep technical skill meets real customer impact, every day.

About the Role

As a Senior or Principal Forward Deployed Engineer, you'll bridge hands‑on software development with high‑impact customer technical strategy — taking on the most complex, ambiguous engagements where no existing playbook applies. You will partner with enterprise customers, often at the executive level, to architect, deploy, debug, and optimize Workday’s AI agents and developer platform solutions inside live customer environments. You'll work across the full deployment lifecycle alongside AI Deployment Architect<|reserved_200016|><|start|>assistant<|channel|>analysis<|message|>We need to evaluate the given job description to produce JSON with