Lead Workday Engineer (People Tech & AI)

About Zscaler Zscaler accelerates digital transformation to ensure our customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. As an AI-forward enterprise, we are constantly pushing the envelope, leveraging the world’s largest security data lake to power our cloud-native Zero Trust Exchange platform. This innovation protects our customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Here, impact in your role matters more than title and trust is built on results. We say, impact over activity. We seek innovators who actively use AI to amplify their impact and who thrive in an environment where we leverage intelligent systems to stay ahead of evolving threats. We believe in transparency and value constructive, honest debate—we’re focused on getting to the best ideas, faster. We build high-performing teams that can make an impact quickly and with high quality. To do this, we are building a culture of execution centered on customer obsession, collaboration, ownership, and accountability. We value high-impact, high-accountability with a sense of urgency where you’re enabled to do your best work and embrace your potential. If you’re driven by purpose, thrive on solving complex challenges, and want to be part of the team that’s helping to secure the AI age, we invite you to bring your talents to Zscaler and help shape the future of cybersecurity. Role We are looking for a Lead Workday Engineer (People Tech & AI), for a hybrid location based in San Jose 3 days a week, reporting to the Director, Enterprise Systems Programming in the IT/Corporate Apps department. In this role, you will lead the evolution of our HR tech stack by blending deep Workday expertise with AI-driven development. You will leverage AI-assisted coding and agentic workflows to build automated solutions that solve complex People & Culture challenges and help us build seamless, intelligent employee experiences across our entire HR landscape. What you’ll do (Role Expectations) Own the full lifecycle of cross-platform People & Culture solutions, bridging systems like Workday, ServiceNow HRSD, and broader HR tooling to architect secure, scalable, and seamless employee experiences Spearhead the evaluation, design, and implementation of AI-driven HR solutions and leverage AI applications, AI-assisted coding practices, and multi-agent orchestration to accelerate development, optimize data mapping, and build robust automated workflows Serve as the senior subject matter expert and strategic partner to HR, Payroll, and IT executives, translating complex technical concepts and AI capabilities into actionable business value, ensuring optimal user experiences and cross-platform synergy Drive AI and P&C technology investments by developing data-driven business cases with clear ROI, defining key success metrics for adoption, and creating compelling presentations to communicate strategy and impact to executive leadership Develop and execute comprehensive implementation plans using agile methodologies, and design robust test plans and scripts to ensure all Workday integrations and custom AI applications are delivered on time, high-quality, and bug-free Who You Are (Success Profile) You thrive in ambiguity, are comfortable building the path as you walk it, and see ambiguity not as a hindrance but as the raw material to build something meaningful. You are a learner who has a true growth mindset and never stops developing yourself, actively seeking feedback to become a better partner and a stronger teammate, and you love what you do with purpose. You are a pragmatic builder who is obsessed with creating, iterating, and shipping, and you aren't afraid to roll up your sleeves to build the first version yourself, balancing the drive for technical excellence with the need to deliver value to users quickly. You champion simplicity, are skilled at distilling complex problems, user needs, and technical concepts into clear, simple, and actionable plans, and you are a precise communicator who brings clarity and focus to every interaction. You are resilient and adaptable, viewing change as an opportunity and setbacks as temporary, maintaining composure and focus in high-pressure situations to guide yourself and your team through complexity with a steady, positive hand. What We’re Looking for (Minimum Qualifications) 8+ years of software engineering or systems integration experience, including at least 4 years of proven architectural-level understanding of the Workday Integrations framework (Payroll Integrations, Core Connectors, EIBs, Workday Studio, and advanced reporting like BIRT or Custom RaaS APIs) Demonstrated experience integrating AI tools, Large Language Models (LLMs), or MCP frameworks into enterprise workflows Practical experience with AI prompting techniques and AI-assisted development practices for faster deployment of complex logic Proven ability to lead agile teams, manage vendor relationships, and thrive in a rapidly evolving, high-growth environment Demonstrated ability to build business cases, justify investments, and measure ROI of P&C technology solutions What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications) Previous experience integrating modern ATS platforms like Greenhouse or managing ServiceNow HRSD modules with complex, AI-enabled agentic flows Deep knowledge of Workato or similar middleware, experience running IT operations for custom P&C applications, and familiarity with hyperscaler infrastructure such as AWS, GCP, or Azure Hands-on experience deploying AI agents within distinct HR processes, coupled with a strong background in UX and design thinking to ensure seamless, intuitive employee adoption #LI-YC2 #LI-Hybrid Zscaler’s salary ranges are benchmarked and are determined by role and level. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations and could be higher or lower based on a multitude of factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. The base salary range listed for this full-time position excludes commission/ bonus/ equity (if applicable) + benefits. Base Pay Range $133,000—$190,000 USD At Zscaler, we are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve and the customers we work with. We foster an inclusive environment that values all backgrounds and perspectives, emphasizing collaboration and belonging. Join us in our mission to make doing business seamless and secure. Our Benefits program is one of the most important ways we support our employees. Zscaler proudly offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families throughout their life stages, including: Various health plans Time off plans for vacation and sick time Parental leave options Retirement options Education reimbursement In-office perks, and more! Learn more about Zscaler’s Future of Work strategy, hybrid working model, and benefits here. By applying for this role, you adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and Zscaler policies, including those related to security and privacy standards and guidelines. Zscaler is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We strive to create a workplace where employees are treated with respect and have the chance to succeed. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or related medical conditions), age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. See more information by clicking on the Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal link. Pay Transparency Zscaler complies with all applicable federal, state, and local pay transparency rules. Zscaler is committed to providing reasonable support (called accommodations or adjustments) in our recruiting processes for candidates who are differently abled, have long term conditions, mental health conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy-related support.