Software Engineer - Context and Semantics (AI)

Workday; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Workday in Pleasanton, CA is seeking a Software Development Engineer in Context and Semantics to help power our AI Agents and enterprise data integration. You will join a backend-focused team building scalable data infrastructure and connect large language models to complex data stores.

You will implement RAG pipelines, vector database integrations, and query federation services while upholding security, reliability, and fast data access across the platform.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of backend software engineering experience.
• 2+ years of hands-on programming in Java, Python, Scala, or Go.
• 1+ year of exposure to AI/ML concepts, LLM APIs, vector databases, or RAG architectures.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test scalable backend microservices, APIs, and data pipelines powering the context and semantic layer for AI Agents.
• Build and maintain enterprise RAG pipelines, including embedding workflows, document chunking strategies, and vector database integrations (e.g., Pinecone, Milvus, Elasticsearch).
• Develop distributed query execution features (e.g., Trino) to retrieve enterprise data securely for LLMs.
• Implement orchestration logic and context‑management components using AI frameworks (e.g., LlamaIndex, LangChain) for multi‑turn agent interactions.
• Ensure code adheres to data privacy, tenant isolation, and RBAC standards.
• Write unit and integration tests; participate in code reviews and maintain high reliability and monitoring.
• Collaborate with Senior Engineers, Product Managers, and leads to translate requirements into code.

Skills

Backend development

Java/Python/Scala/Go

AI/ML concepts

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/Software Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Trino/LDQ

Pinecone

Milvus

Elasticsearch

LlamaIndex

LangChain

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.

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

The Data Cloud organization is at the forefront of Workday’s next major wave of innovation, driven by a bold mandate to build the industry’s first true Platform for Agents. We are a high-energy, ambitious team that balances Workday's deep foundational expertise with fresh, forward-thinking perspectives to accelerate our pace of delivery and unlock massive new commercial value. By leveraging Workday’s unique business context, trusted data, and identity guardrails, we are building the critical engine that will power the future of AI and agentic workflows across the enterprise. Within this organization, the Context and Semantics Engineering team acts as the brain trust responsible for making our AI "enterprise-aware". We build the semantic layers, knowledge graphs, query federation engines, and dynamic context systems that ground generative AI in real-world HR and Finance data. By bridging the gap between raw enterprise data and large language models (LLMs), our team ensures that Workday’s autonomous agents can reason accurately, securely, and with deep contextual awareness at a global scale.

About The Role

As a Software Development Engineer in Context and Semantics, you will be a core backend builder helping to develop the data and context infrastructure powering Workday’s AI Agents. Working alongside senior engineers and technical leads, you will write clean, scalable code that connects large language models to complex enterprise data stores.

In this role, you will implement components for advanced RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) pipelines, integrate vector databases, and help build query federation services (e.g., Trino/LDQ) that route requests between transactional and analytical systems. We are looking for an energetic, curious, and detail-oriented backend software engineer who is eager to solve complex data challenges and build cutting‑edge AI platform features at scale.

• Feature Development & Coding: Design, develop, and test scalable backend microservices, APIs, and data pipelines powering the context and semantic layer for AI Agents.
• RAG & Vector Search Implementation: Help build and maintain enterprise RAG pipelines, including embedding workflows, document chunking strategies, and vector database integrations (e.g., Pinecone, Milvus, Elasticsearch).
• Query & Semantic Integration: Support the development of distributed query execution features (leveraging technologies like Trino) to retrieve enterprise data securely for LLMs.
• LLM & Agentic Workflows: Implement orchestration logic and context‑management components using modern AI frameworks (e.g., LlamaIndex, LangChain) to support multi‑turn agent interactions.
• Data Security & Governance: Ensure all code adheres to strict enterprise standards around data privacy, tenant isolation, and Role‑Based Access Control (RBAC).
• Operational Excellence: Write thorough unit and integration tests, participate in code reviews, and help maintain high system reliability, low latency, and robust operational monitoring.
• Collaborative Execution: Partner closely with Senior Engineers, Product Managers, and team leads to break down technical requirements into well‑executed code deliverables.

About You

Basic Qualificatio ns:

• 3+ years of professional software engineering experience focusing on backend development, microservices, or data systems.
• 2+ years of strong hands‑on programming skills in Java, Python, Scala, or Go.
• 1+ year of demonstrated coursework, personal projects, or professional exposure to AI/ML concepts, LLM APIs, Vector Databases, or RAG architectures.

Other Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or an equivalent technical field.
• Solid foundation in computer science fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, distributed systems concepts, and API design (REST/gRPC).
• Familiarity with SQL, relational databases, or distributed data processing engines (e.g., Trino, Presto, Spark).