Principal HRIS Analyst, People Technology - Workday

An overview of this role

As a Principal Human Resources Information Systems Analyst, People Technology - Workday, you'll shape the systems strategy behind how GitLab scales its global, all-remote workforce. In this role, you'll set the direction for Workday and the broader people technology ecosystem, turning business needs into durable system design, compliant processes, and scalable integrations. You'll partner closely with leaders across People, Finance, Talent Acquisition, and IT to guide complex programs from concept through adoption, while helping GitLab build a people technology foundation that supports speed, clarity, and informed decision-making.

This is a high-impact role for someone who can look beyond immediate fixes and define what comes next. You'll report through the People Technology organization and guide work across functions through influence, using deep Workday expertise, compliance knowledge, and systems thinking to improve reliability, reduce manual work, and expand team capability over your first year. You'll also help bring an AI-forward approach to people technology by identifying practical ways automation and AI can remove friction and improve how the team operates.

What You’ll Do

• Define the long-range strategy for HRIS and translate business direction into a clear roadmap for Workday and related people systems.
• Coordinate cross-functional programs across People, Finance, Talent Acquisition, IT, and other partners from discovery and design through delivery, adoption, and ongoing improvement.
• Architect scalable integrations across the people technology ecosystem to improve reliability, reduce manual effort, and strengthen system connectivity.
• Drive complex Workday configuration across Human Capital Management, compensation, benefits, talent, performance, security, and related areas.
• Own the approach to Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) information technology general controls (ITGC) for People systems, building controls that enable compliance and efficient execution.
• Facilitate design discussions with senior stakeholders and executives, turning ambiguous requirements into clear options, tradeoffs, and implementation plans.
• Develop reporting, dashboards, and data-informed frameworks that help leaders interpret trends and assess options.
• Promote practical uses of automation and AI within people technology workflows to improve delivery, problem-solving, and team effectiveness.

What You’ll Bring

• Deep expertise in Workday across core people modules such as Human Capital Management, compensation, benefits, time tracking, talent, performance, and security.
• Experience coordinating end-to-end people technology programs that span multiple business functions and require coordination across distributed stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of Workday integration design, including Enterprise Interface Builder (EIB) and cross-system integration patterns that enable scale and resilience.
• Experience operating in a public company environment with working knowledge of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) information technology general controls (ITGC) and compliant system practices.
• Ability to partner with senior leaders and executives, guide design sessions, and communicate system recommendations, tradeoffs, and impact clearly.
• Comfort working through ambiguity, identifying future needs, and creating structure that helps teams execute effectively.
• Interest in applying AI and automation to improve workflows, accelerate problem-solving, and expand how people technology teams work.
• Experience using structured problem-solving to ask clarifying questions, evaluate tradeoffs, and apply transferable experience from consulting, in-house systems work, or both.

About the team

The People Technology team builds and maintains the systems foundation that helps GitLab scale as a global, all-remote company. We work across core people systems, integrations, reporting, and compliance, partnering asynchronously with stakeholders in multiple regions to improve reliability, usability, and insight across the tools that enable the People organization. We are focused on creating scalable, resilient solutions that reduce friction for teams, strengthen compliance, and make it easier for GitLab team members and leaders to do their best work.

How GitLab will support you

• Benefits to support your health, finances, and well-being
• Flexible Paid Time Off
• Team Member Resource Groups
• Equity Compensation & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Growth and Development Fund
• Parental leave
• Home office support

Please note that we welcome interest from candidates with varying levels of experience; many successful candidates do not meet every single requirement. Additionally, studies have shown that people from underrepresented groups are less likely to apply to a job unless they meet every single qualification. If you're excited about this role, please apply and allow our recruiters to assess your application.