Sr. Software Engineer (Distributed Systems)

HR Tech Job; Atlanta (GA); Hybrid; USD 169,000 - 253,000; Full time

Job summary

Workday is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design and scale Dev core services, leading architecture for distributed subsystems and driving core platform initiatives. You will mentor a small team, collaborate with PMs, designers, and engineers, and leverage AI tools to accelerate delivery in a fast-paced environment.

The role emphasizes building secure, scalable microservices, front-end experiences, and cloud-based production systems on AWS/GCP, with a strong focus on performance and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 8+ years of software engineering experience with backend microservice architectures and distributed systems; 5+ years in Java or Scala.
• 2+ years of full‑stack experience building modern frontend UIs with JavaScript frameworks (React/Angular/Vue).
• 5+ years delivering and operating cloud‑based production services, with strong preference for AWS or GCP.
• 5+ years with containerization and orchestration technologies, specifically Docker and Kubernetes.
• 1+ year working with Model Context Protocol (MCP) for spec‑driven development.
• 1+ year of expert‑level AI‑augmented development (Cursor/Claude Code/GitHub Copilot).

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and evolve secure, scalable microservices and intuitive frontend experiences that power mission‑critical product features.
• Own major platform initiatives end‑to‑end translating ambiguous technical and product concepts into clean software.
• Champion API design, testing, observability, and architectural modernization to reduce technical debt.
• Leverage AI‑assisted engineering tools to accelerate delivery and raise code quality.
• Lead and unblock a small, high‑velocity team (1–3 developers) with mentorship and code reviews.

Skills

Backend microservices

Distributed systems

Java/Scala

Frontend UI

AWS/GCP

Docker/Kubernetes

MCP (Model Context Protocol)

AI-augmented development

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering

Tools

Cursor

Claude Code

GitHub Copilot

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

Developer Platform team empowers our customers to expand the business capabilities of Workday by building on our existing technologies with AI capabilities. The mission of the Core Platform Service team is to establish the foundation for Workday Extend providing best in class services such as Event Messaging Platform, Identity Management and Provision services. This team builds critical backend infrastructure services for Workday Extend including security components, inter-service control and communication components using open source and latest technologies.

We work on scalable microservices and distributed systems, leveraging AI-driven development tools and modern coding practices. Our mission is to solve complex technical challenges, accelerating product velocity while ensuring our core services remain resilient and secure.

About the Role

As a Senior Software Engineer, you will play a key role in designing and scaling Workday’s Dev core services platform. We are looking for a product-minded engineer with a startup mentality—someone who can wear multiple hats, thrive in ambiguous environments, and act as an owner to drive core platform initiatives from conception to completion. You will lead the architecture of critical distributed subsystems, drive technical execution within the team, and collaborate closely with cross-functional partners to deliver robust solutions.

This role requires deep hands‑on expertise in distributed systems and microservices, along with a proven track record of translating complex product requirements into scalable code. You are not just building software to a specification; you possess a deep curiosity about how your components integrate into the broader business ecosystem, a relentless focus on customer adoption, and mastery of AI-driven engineering tools to drastically reduce delivery cycles. You will tackle sophisticated technical challenges, champion engineering best practices, and help mentor team members to ensure high-velocity, reliable delivery.

What You’ll Do

• Design, build, and evolve secure, scalable microservices and intuitive frontend experiences that power mission‑critical product features with strong performance and reliability.

• Own major platform initiatives end‑to‑end translating ambiguous technical and product concepts into clean, functional software with clear accountability.

• Champion best practices in domain‑driven design, API contract management, testing, observability, and architectural modernization to reduce technical debt and elevate code quality.

• Leverage AI‑assisted engineering tools and autonomous coding agents (e.g., Cursor, Claude Code) as an expert power‑user to accelerate delivery and raise baseline quality.

• Lead and unblock a small, high‑velocity team (1–3 developers), providing technical guidance, mentorship, and constructive code reviews to foster a culture of continuous learning.

About You

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

• 8+ years of software engineering experience with a strong focus on backend microservice architectures and distributed systems; 5+ years in Java or Scala.

• 2+ years of full‑stack experience building modern frontend UIs with JavaScript frameworks (e.g., React, Angular, or Vue).

• 5+ years delivering and operating cloud‑based production services, with strong preference for AWS or GCP.

• 5+ years with containerization and orchestration technologies, specifically Docker and Kubernetes.

• 1+ year working with modern architectural standards including Model Context Protocol (MCP) for spec‑driven development.

• 1+ year of expert‑level AI‑augmented development (e.g., Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot), with a demonstrated ability to direct, prompt, audit, and validate agentic‑generated code.

Other Qualifications

• Previous experience as a technical founder or early‑stage engineer at a startup (<50 headcount) is highly preferred.

• Deep backend proficiency in Java or Scala, with strong command of design patterns, distributed systems, and high‑availability architecture.

• Expert API development and contract management skills, including familiarity with modern protocols (e.g., MCP) to support a spec‑driven development approach.

• Strong full‑stack competency with modern frontend frameworks (React/TypeScript), algorithmic thinking, and a track record of translating complex requirements into scalable code.

• Service ownership mindset: end‑to‑end accountability for operational health, test automation, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud‑native observability.

• Hands‑on experience integrating AI capabilities into software products and using AI‑augmented workflows to accelerate delivery.

• Proven ability to lead cloud infrastructure cost optimization initiatives across large‑scale AWS/GCP deployments, balancing performance with financial scalability.

• Strong collaborator and communicator — able to partner with PMs, designers, and engineers to break down features into sprint tasks and clearly articulate technical tradeoffs to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

• Experience with Developer Platforms, DevTools, or core engineering platforms is a plus.

Workday 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. Each candidate’s compensation offer will be based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, geography, experience, skills, job duties, and business need, among other things.

Primary Location: USA.GA.AtlantaPrimary Location Base Pay Range: $168,500 USD - $252,700 USDAdditional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $160,100 USD - $285,100 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.

Pursuant to applicable Fair Chance law, 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].

Are you being referred to one of our roles? If so, ask your connection at Workday about our Employee Referral process!