SOFTWARE ENGINEER

As a UW employee, you make a difference.

At the University of Washington (UW), your work changes lives—on our campuses, in our state, and around the world. UW employees bring energy, creativity, and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. The University of Washington is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. Your perspectives, experiences, and unique identity are valued and honored here. Together, we foster a work environment that is inclusive, equitable, and welcoming for all.

About UW-IT:

UW Information Technology (UW-IT) is the central IT organization for the University of Washington, serving all three campuses, UW Medicine, and global research efforts. UW-IT provides strategic direction, planning, and support for IT infrastructure and services, partnering with the UW community to enable innovation, discovery, learning, and service.

Within the Data & Applications Workday Operations organization, the HR/Payroll Application Management team supports the University’s cloud-based Workday system. This includes modules like Human Capital Management (HCM), Compensation, Academic, Talent, Benefits, Time Tracking, Absence, and Payroll. We deliver services that are timely, accurate, and responsive to the dynamic university environment.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a Software Engineer to join the HR/Payroll Application Management team to support and maintain Workday HR/Payroll functionality. You will collaborate with team members and stakeholders to troubleshoot system issues, configure and implement changes, validate updates, develop training materials, and serve as a functional owner for specific reports and integrations.

This role is integral to maintaining the integrity of UW’s HR/Payroll systems and ensuring smooth operations across the university.

Key Responsibilities:

Workday Configuration (40%)

Configure and maintain Workday HR/Payroll functionality, ensuring alignment with business processes.

Analyze business needs and support implementation of functional and technical solutions.

Collaborate with integration and reporting teams to ensure cross-functional consistency.

Participate in testing, validation, and continuous improvement efforts.

Operational Support (40%)

Provide day-to-day support, including resolving user inquiries and system issues.

Load and troubleshoot EIBs, support transaction processing, and manage system updates.

Participate in testing activities related to Workday feature releases and upgrades.

Ensure compliance with established standards and protocols.

Knowledge Management, Training & Communication (20%)

Maintain documentation, support training content creation, and contribute to knowledge bases.

Communicate updates and known issues clearly to users.

Collaborate with a diverse team to promote inclusivity and equitable practices.

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Information Science, Computer Science, or related field – or equivalent experience.

3+ years of experience with Workday or a similar Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

Familiarity with HR/Payroll domains (, HCM, Benefits, Absence, Payroll).

Strong analytical skills for business process review and systems troubleshooting.

Experience with tools such as Jira, Excel (lookups, pivot tables), or automated testing suites (, Kainos).

Understanding of data security and reporting in a SaaS environment.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.

Customer service mindset with ability to perform well in high-volume periods.

Experience supporting mission-critical production systems.

Desired:

Hands-on configuration experience in Workday.

Agile experience (Scrum or Kanban).

Prior experience in higher education or a shared services environment.

Familiarity with tools like Workday Extend or low-code/no-code platforms.

Experience with knowledge base and ticketing systems.

Conditions of Employment:

Hybrid role: on-site presence required in Seattle office at least two days per week.

Work may occasionally require non-standard hours, including twice-yearly Workday Release weekends and urgent production support.

A satisfactory outcome from a criminal history background check may be required prior to hire.