Director of Data & AI Platforms and DevOps, Workday
CA$151.8-227.8k
More information about location
Enterprise AI platform for managing HR and finance
Job no longer available
Enterprise AI platform for managing HR and finance
1001+ employees
Job no longer available
CA$151.8-227.8k
More information about location
1001+ employees
Company mission
To leverage the power of AI to elevate humans and supercharge work, moving business forever forward.
Role
Who you are
- 15+ years of experience in data engineering or data warehousing
- 8+ years in a senior leadership role managing teams
- 8+ years leading and inspiring large, diverse teams
- Strong understanding of data architecture principles, data modeling techniques, and data integration patterns
- Proficiency in data warehousing technologies (e.g., Snowflake, Redshift), data lake solutions (e.g., Databricks, AWS EMR), and ETL/ELT tools (e.g., Fivetran, dbt)
- Hands-on experience with cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or GCP, and their data services
- Experience with containerization and orchestration technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
- Strong understanding of AI/ML concepts and experience with MLOps platforms and tools
- Familiarity with GenAI technologies and their potential applications in business
- Knowledge of data governance frameworks, data security best practices, and compliance regulations
- Familiarity with integrating security practices throughout the data lifecycle, including infrastructure as code, automated security testing, and vulnerability management
- Experience with implementing SRE principles like monitoring, alerting, incident management, and automation to ensure high availability and reliability of data platforms
- Extensive experience with modernizing legacy data platforms by leveraging cloud-native technologies, microservices architecture, and data mesh concepts
- Other Qualifications:
- Strong Communication & Collaboration Skills, exceptional ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, build consensus, and influence stakeholders at all levels
- Excellent Problem-Solving & Analytical Skills, proven ability to identify and solve complex data challenges, analyze data patterns, and drive data-driven decision-making
- Strategic Thinking & Business Acumen, ability to align data and AI initiatives with broader business goals and demonstrate the value of data-driven decision-making
- Open to 50% flex-hybrid reporting to our Toronto office
What the job involves
- The Enterprise Data Services (EDS) 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 science, engineering, and analytics, 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 EDS enable the transformation of complex data sets into actionable insights that fuel strategic decisions and position Workday at the forefront of the technology industry. EDS is a global team distributed across the U.S., Canada and India
- We are searching for a visionary and experienced Director to spearhead the strategy, development, and operation of our data ecosystem
- You will be a transformative leader, responsible for building and scaling a world-class data and AI infrastructure that empowers data-driven decision making across all departments
- You will lead a talented team of engineers, architects, and system administrators, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement
- This role demands a deep understanding of Cloud Engineering, Data Engineering, AI/ML operations, Generative AI, Data Management, and enterprise reporting, coupled with strong leadership and communication skills
- You will be a champion for data modernization, leveraging cutting-edge technologies and methodologies like cloud computing, data mesh, and serverless architecture
- You will also be a key driver in integrating DevSecOps and Site Reliability Engineering principles into our data platforms, ensuring the security, reliability, and scalability of our data platform
- Develop and execute a comprehensive data and AI platform strategy aligned with business objectives and industry best practices
- Define the roadmap for data platform modernization, incorporating cloud-native technologies, microservices architecture, and data mesh concepts
- Champion the adoption of new technologies and methodologies to improve platform efficiency, performance, and capabilities
- Stay abreast of the latest trends and advancements in Data Engineering, AI/ML, and data platform technologies, including DevSecOps, SRE, GenAI and data platform modernization
- Communicate the vision and strategy for the data and AI platform to stakeholders across the organization, including senior leadership
- Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of engineers, architects, and administrators
- Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, continuous learning, and knowledge sharing within the team
- Conduct performance reviews, provide constructive feedback, and identify development opportunities for team members
- Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of a robust, secure, and scalable data infrastructure, including integration platforms, to ensure seamless data flow across the organization
- Architect and implement data solutions, including data warehouses, data lakes, data pipelines, and data APIs, with a focus on scalability and performance
- Ensure the optimal performance, availability, and scalability of the data platform, collaborating with IT infrastructure teams to leverage cloud services and advanced technologies
- Implement and maintain data security protocols, collaborating with data governance teams and addressing any gaps
- Lead the implementation and optimization and efficient deployment, monitoring, and maintenance of AI/ML and GenAI platforms in production environments
- Integrate GenAI platforms to deliver AI-powered insights and advanced analytics capabilities, driving innovation across business operations, particularly in R&D and Commercial functions
- Collaborate closely with IT and Data Analytics teams to ensure that platforms effectively support their use cases while adhering to established standards
- Manage the modernization and deployment of enterprise reporting platforms that provide real-time business intelligence and data visualization
- Ensure these platforms are designed to support business stakeholders in monitoring performance, identifying risks, and making data-driven decisions, all supported by robust data engineering practices
- Drive the adoption of these platforms and provide training and support to business users
- Integrate security practices throughout the data lifecycle, including infrastructure as code, automated security testing, and vulnerability management
- Implement SRE principles like monitoring, alerting, incident management, and automation to ensure high availability and reliability of data and AI platforms
- Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for the data platform, including availability, performance, security, and cost
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of data operations
- Partner with business leaders, product managers, and engineering teams across different departments to understand data requirements and provide data-driven insights
- Effectively communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, including senior management
- Present data platform updates, roadmaps, and performance metrics to stakeholders and senior leadership
- Manage relationships with external vendors to ensure they meet internal security, compliance, and performance expectations
- Lead efforts in demand management, resource planning, and functional outsourcing to deliver high-quality data engineering and integration solutions efficiently and within budget
- Drive continuous improvement in operational processes, ensuring alignment with business priorities while managing technical debt
Our take
Workday is a cloud-based software vendor that provides management of workforces and finances. The company uses a single database for workforce management and financial management to offer integration and optimize business intelligence across companies. It has added to the packages and tools it offers over the years, providing analytic options that allow companies to combine third-party data with information collected by Workday.
The company has also grown through acquisitions and partnerships to broaden its capabilities.. Most recently, in 2025 it purchases Sana, an AI-driven enterprise knowledge and learning platform, to create a "new front door for work". This acquisition allows Workday to integrate Sana's AI-powered search, agents, and learning capabilities with its own data and workflows, allowing employees to access information, automate tasks, and complete their day entirely within Workday.
Through a combination of strategic acquisitions and in-house development, WOrkday has built a comprehensive suite of HR, financial, and enterprise tools. By focusing on innovation and AI-driven workflows, the company continues to push productivity and decision-making for organizations worldwide. Building on this track record, Workday is very much positioned for even more growth, reinforcing its status as a leader in shaping the future of work.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
16% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 5 rounds)
Oct 2011
$85m
SERIES F
Apr 2009
$75m
SERIES E
Total funding: $215.3m
Company HQ
Pleasanton, CA
Leadership
Aneel Bhusri
(Co-Founder & Executive Chair)Annel began his career at Morgan Stanley as a Corporate Finance Analyst. He then spent nearly 6 years at PeopleSoft as a Senior VP before co-founding Workday in 2005, where he has served as the CEO ever since.
Carl Eschenbach
(CEO)Carl joined Workday in 2022 as Co-CEO, becoming CEO in 2024. He has also been a Partner at Sequoia Capital since 2016. Previously, he spent 14 years at VMware as President and COO and 3 years at Inktomi Corporation as the VP of North America Sales.
Peter Bailis
(CTO)Prior to joining Workday in 2025, People was a VP of Engineering at Google. He also previously founded Sisu Data, where he served as the CEO for over 5 years.
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