Senior Director, Software Development Application - HCM & WFM Development

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.

As the Senior Director of HCM Engineering, you will lead and serve a 100+ organization of software engineers and engineering leaders who are building the future of Workday HCM. You will set the technical and organizational direction for this team as it delivers on the vision to reinvent how workers, managers and administrators interact with Workday.

You will be joining a leadership team that embodies Workday's values and leadership principles, and you will play a central role in shaping how this product area evolves.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and communicate a strategic roadmap for HCM Engineering, aligned with business goals and the broader HCM product vision

• Lead and grow an organization of high-performing engineering teams responsible for delivering and supporting Workday HCM.

• Collaborate with product management, Agent Factory, platform and customer support teams to define product requirements and ensure timely, high-quality delivery of features and enhancements

• Champion the product vision and partner with product management and other key teams to deliver on product goals

• Coordinate delivery across multiple teams, providing estimates and assessments for proposed development efforts and ensuring on-time, high-quality outcomes

• Build and maintain relationships with customers, partners, and industry experts to stay informed about the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in HCM.

• Grow and develop your teams — supporting workmates in building their careers, leveraging their strengths, and achieving their aspirations

• 8+ years of experience leading and developing large software development engineering organizations, including managing Directors and Senior Managers

• 10+ years of experience managing software development engineering teams, building high-performing teams, and driving software development outcomes

• 15+ years of experience in software development engineering, defining and implementing technical strategies for complex software products and platforms

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline; Master's degree preferred, or equivalent practical experience

• Mastery of Decision Making in the context of leading global engineering organizations — you evaluate complex, high-impact options with clarity, balancing risk assessment and long-term technical strategy to drive sound organizational decisions

• Recognized expertise in Engineering Leadership, with the ability to provide visionary direction and inspire innovation across a large engineering organization — you set the tone for technical excellence and foster an environment where teams do their best work

• Exceptional Influencing Skills, with experience driving organizational transformation and strategic technical adoption across senior leadership, cross-functional partners, and engineering teams — you build alignment through trust, clarity, and credibility

• Mastery of People Management principles, with a demonstrated ability to build and scale inclusive, high-performing software development organizations — you know how to motivate teams, develop engineering leaders, resolve challenges constructively, and foster a culture of continuous learning

• Deep expertise in Software Development and its strategic application, with experience guiding the architecture and delivery of complex, enterprise-scale platforms — you understand how to translate business and product goals into sound engineering strategies that drive innovation and results

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to deliver clear, compelling presentations to executive leadership and external partners and to adapt your style to different audiences

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. Recruiters can share more detail during the hiring process. 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. For more information regarding Workday’s comprehensive benefits, please click here.

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