Functional Architect - Workday Payroll

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

As part of the Product & Compliance team dedicated to our Government Industry Vertical within the Product & Technology Organization, you will play a crucial role in driving our growth strategy within this key market. Our mission is to accelerate the adoption and success of Workday solutions within government agencies by fostering seamless collaboration across product development, compliance, and go-to-market teams.

The charter includes compliance with Federal security standards (e.g. Fedramp - IL2/IL4, Secret, Top Secret, etc.) in addition to ensuring coverage of Federal OPM mandates and bespoke requirements across HCM, Payroll, Benefits, Workforce Management, Financials required to power the Federal Government etc. The goal is to have both a near term view and a long term view of the business while tracking updates and changes in the Federal business landscape.

About the Role

Workday is seeking a highly motivated and proactive Functional Architect to become a trusted advisor within our Product & Compliance team, dedicated to the Government Industry Vertical. In this pivotal role, you will collaborate closely with Federal customers to deeply understand their unique business requirements, with a focus on OPM guidelines and Federal regulations. You will be responsible for architecting and leading the end-to-end functional design of effective Workday Payroll solutions, encompassing migration strategies, system configuration, and necessary customization from existing Federal systems.

This is a high-impact role where your expertise will directly contribute to modernizing critical government systems and improving services for millions of citizens!

Responsibilities

Reporting to the VP of Product & Compliance, you will be responsible for leading the functional design and architecture of Workday solutions for our Federal customers. This includes:

• Eliciting and documenting detailed business requirements and translating them into effective Workday configurations

• Analyzing and mapping current state configurations and business processes from systems like Oracle HCM or PeopleSoft to Workday

• Collaborating effectively with Federal HR, Payroll, and IT partners to ensure a shared understanding and alignment on Workday design principles, Federal HR regulations, and OPM guidelines.

• Developing comprehensive plans and documentation for data migration, including data cleansing, transformation rules, and validation strategies.

• Designing and implementing rigorous pre-flight test scenarios to guarantee the accuracy of migrated data and the functionality of the Workday system in alignment with Federal standards.

About You

You thrive in a highly regulated, critically important environment where attention to detail and regulatory compliance are paramount. You're comfortable bridging the gap between business users and technical teams, and you're passionate about improving public-sector systems through modern cloud technologies. The ideal candidate is a standout colleague who embodies Workday's core values.

Basic Qualifications

• 12+ years of proven expertise in system configuration and implementation, understanding customization options, and the ability to identify feature gaps and platform limitations

• 8+ years of experience with Workday's core HCM, Payroll, Benefits, and potentially Financials modules

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Business Administration, Human Resources, Information Systems, or a related technical team

• US Citizenship and ability to acquire/maintain a security clearance

Other Qualifications

• Experience working within U.S. Federal Government HCM regulations and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidelines

• Demonstrable ability to effectively gather, meticulously document, and accurately translate complex business needs across HR and Finance functions into actionable Workday requirements.

• Ability to architect effective, scalable, and compliant Workday solutions

• Significant experience in the practical configuration of various Workday modules.

• Ability to contribute to the development of functional testing strategies and understand the principles and planning involved in data migration projects.

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: USA.VA.McLean (Tyson's Corner)
 

Primary Location Base Pay Range: $184,800 USD - $277,200 USD
 

Additional US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $167,200 USD - $294,000 USD

Additional Considerations:

If performed in Colorado, the pay range for this job is $176,000 - $264,000 USD based on min and max pay range for that role if performed in CO.

The application deadline for this role is the same as the posting end date stated as below:
 

05/04/2026

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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