Director – AI Engineering Operations & Data Engineering

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 Enterprise Data and AI Technologies & Architecture (EDATA) organization is a dynamic and evolving team that is spearheading Workday’s growth through trusted data excellence, innovation, and architectural thought leadership. Equipped with an array of skills in data & AI platforms and architecture, data science, engineering, machine learning and AI strategy & product management, this team orchestrates the flow of data across our growing company while ensuring data accessibility, accuracy, and security. With a relentless focus on innovation and efficiency, Workmates in EDATA enable the transformation of complex data sets into actionable insights that fuel strategic decisions and position Workday at the forefront of the technology industry.

EDATA is a global team distributed across the U.S., Canada and India.

About the Role

Workday is seeking a Director, AI Engineering Operations & Data Engineering who will be a critical leader within the Enterprise Data & AI Technologies and Architecture (EDATA) organization at Workday. This role oversees the strategic direction and execution of both our core Data Engineering & Integrations function and a newly formed AI Engineering Operations function. You'll ensure the scalable, reliable, and efficient flow of data and the seamless deployment and operation of our AI models, serving as a key partner to our internal business stakeholders.

This role requires a leader with deep expertise in modern data architectures/frameworks, cloud-native platforms (AWS, Snowflake, Databricks, etc.), and the emerging field of MLOps/AIOps. You must be adept at building and managing high-performing engineering teams, driving complex technical roadmaps, and building both technical and business relationships across the organization.

Job Duties:

Leadership & Strategy

• Define and champion the vision, strategy, and roadmap for Data Engineering, Integrations, and AI Engineering Operations.

• Lead, mentor, and grow a diverse team of data engineers, integration specialists, and AI/MLOps engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, reliability, and ownership.

• Partner with the VP of EDATA and other EDATA Directors (Data Platforms, Data SRE, AI Strategy, etc.) to ensure a cohesive and well-governed enterprise data and AI ecosystem.

Data Engineering & Integrations

• Oversee the design, development, and maintenance of robust, scalable, and high-performance ETL/ELT data pipelines utilizing platforms like Snowflake and Databricks.

• Ensure data quality, integrity, and security standards are strictly enforced within all data pipelines and integrations.

• Manage the strategy and execution of all enterprise data integrations, connecting core business systems (e.g., Sales, Finance, HR) to the central data platforms.

AI Engineering Operations (AIOps/MLOps)

• Establish and lead the new AI Engineering Operations function, defining its processes, best practices, and technology stack.

• Implement and manage the MLOps lifecycle, including model training orchestration, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) for models, and automated testing.

• Design and provision the production environment for AI models, ensuring scalability, low-latency inference, and seamless integration with end-user applications.

• Collaborate with Data Platforms, Data Science & Innovation and AI Architecture to industrialize experimental models into reliable, production-ready services.

Operational Excellence

• Work closely with Data SRE (Change Management, QA, Monitoring) to implement best practices for pipeline and model observability, alerting, and incident response.

• Ensure the team adheres to architectural standards (defined by the Data & Analytics Architecture team) and security policies (defined by the Data & Analytics Security Architecture team).

• Manage project portfolios, resource allocation, and budget for both Data Engineering and AI Engineering Operations.

About You

Basic Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in data engineering, software engineering, or a related technical field.

• 10+ years of expertise with major cloud platforms (AWS, Snowflake, Databricks) and their ecosystems.

• 7+ years of experience managing and leading high-performing engineering teams, including managers.

• Proven experience in designing and scaling complex, enterprise-level ETL/ELT pipelines.

• Experience building and leading an MLOps/AI Engineering Operations function.

• Deep familiarity with MLOps tools and methodologies (e.g., MLflow, Kubeflow, Sagemaker/Azure ML/GCP Vertex AI equivalents).

• Strong understanding of Data and AI Architecture principles and a commitment to secure, governed data practices.

• Proven track record of developing and implementing data engineering and AI Engineering Ops strategies and frameworks in a corporate environment.

Other Qualifications:

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

• Leadership and team management experience, with the ability to inspire and develop talent.

• Experience working with cross-functional teams and managing complex projects.

• Deep understanding of AI technologies, machine learning models, and data analytics.

• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Business Administration, or a related field. PhD 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. 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.

Primary Location: CAN.ON.TorontoPrimary CAN Base Pay Range: $159,800 - $239,800 CADAdditional CAN Location(s) Base Pay Range: $159,800 - $239,800 CAD

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 [email protected].

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