Principal UX Designer

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

We are a team that lives and breathes what it means to create user experiences in an agentic era; we recognize our role in effecting change that leads to great business outcomes and high customer value through extraordinary user experience. We believe the most effective UX organizations are those who build strong, trust based relationships with our cross-functional partners. We recognize that we are the team that helps Workday deliver outstanding experiences, rooted in how people think, feel, and work.

About the Role

A Principal-Level UX Designer who partners directly with the VP of Research, Analytics and Design to architect an AI-driven transformation for a large, multidisciplinary team. You will eliminate friction and build a scalable structure that allows the organization to move faster, while ruthlessly prioritizing design mastery so that the tools we use, and the products we build, are beautiful, intuitive, and a joy to experience.

The Dual Mandate

1. Internal Transformation: Build the AI-Savvy Design Team

You will translate team pain points into a scalable, modern operating structure. You aren't just teaching AI concepts; you are actively building the tools.

• Build Agentic Tools & Workflows: Deeply understand how design teams operate at scale in the age of AI. You will personally design and build custom agents, tools, and workflows that drive massive efficiency and speed for our internal team.

• Elevate Internal Craft: Infuse design mastery into our internal tools. We believe the tools we use and the processes we build should be as enjoyable, elegant, and inspiring as the software we ship.

2. External Execution: Scale Agentic Workday Products

You will step into the trenches as an elite practitioner to lead product design execution for high-stakes, complex initiatives.

• Lead Product Execution: Apply your deep understanding of agentic experiences, AI workflows, and data to the core Workday product suite.

• Design Experiences We Love: Deliver uncompromised design mastery across Workday’s diverse user types and scenarios. Turn complex enterprise requirements into trusted, high-caliber experiences that users genuinely want to and enjoy using every day.

What We Are Looking For

• A Builder: You don’t just design UI; you build the agents and tools themselves. You have a highly technical grasp of how to leverage AI to automate and accelerate design workflows.

• Obsession with Design Mastery: You possess elite product design execution skills. You refuse to let "enterprise" be an excuse for clunky UX; you hold a high bar for visual elegance, interaction precision, and overall delight.

• Scale & Systems Thinking: Proven experience defining scalable operating structures, eliminating friction, and transforming workflows for large, cross-functional teams.

About You

Basic Qualification 

• 12+ years experience as a UX Designer, or UX Operations, defining design vision for product areas based on user research, leading design initiatives, or leading design operations for larger studios.

• 5+ years of experience working on a design team that specifically leverages AI-powered features and workflows.

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, HCI with design focus, or related field; Master's degree preferred or equivalent practical experience.

Other Qualification

• Principal-level understanding of Business Competence and the ability to strategically align UX design vision with a company's goals.

• Proven ability to lead Cross-Functional Teamwork at a strategic level, effectively collaborating with and influencing PM and Engineering stakeholders on major design initiatives.

• Mastery in Decision Making in complex and strategic design and product matters, balancing user needs, business goals, and [insert specific long-term strategic factors].

• Deep knowledge of Design operational principles and the ability to establish and role out operational models..

• Understanding of the Product Development Lifecycle and the ability to champion and integrate user-centered design as a core principle throughout all its stages.

• Proven ability in Relationship Building with executive stakeholders, fostering strategic partnerships and influencing organizational direction through communication and design.

• Strong understanding of Stakeholder Influence and the ability to effectively present design vision and advocate for user needs with [insert specific executive stakeholders].

• Mastery in Storytelling to communicate design vision, user insights, and strategic recommendations effectively to executive leadership and diverse audiences using [insert specific advanced methods].

• Deep Technical Acumen, understanding AI  and it’s impact on UX operations and design strategy.

• Deep mastery of User Experience (UX) Design principles and methodologies.

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.BC.Vancouver

Primary CAN Base Pay Range: $145,900 - $218,900 CAD

Additional CAN Location(s) Base Pay Range: $145,900 - $218,900 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 accommodations@workday.com.

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