Application Guide

How to Apply for Engineering Manager - Admin Pillar

at Workiva

🏢 About Workiva

Workiva specializes in integrated ESG reporting, helping organizations achieve transparent climate impact tracking and compliance. Their unique value lies in streamlining complex regulatory reporting through their platform, making them a leader in the growing ESG technology space. Working here means contributing to solutions that directly address climate transparency and corporate accountability.

About This Role

This Engineering Manager role leads the Admin Pillar team responsible for authentication, authorization, and administrative platform services at Workiva. You'll oversee mission-critical identity management systems that ensure secure access across their ESG reporting platform while partnering with Product and Security teams to deliver compliant solutions. Your work directly impacts platform security, user trust, and regulatory compliance for ESG reporting.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves reviewing system metrics for authentication services, meeting with Product and Security leaders to align on compliance requirements, mentoring engineers on identity platform challenges, and planning improvements to authorization systems. You'll balance technical oversight of mission-critical services with team development and cross-functional collaboration to ensure secure, compliant platform operations.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for Workiva

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Workiva Is Looking For

  • Has 4+ years in distributed systems or identity platforms with specific experience in authentication/authorization protocols (OAuth, SAML, OpenID Connect)
  • Possesses 2+ years managing engineering teams focused on platform foundational services or security infrastructure
  • Demonstrates experience collaborating with Product and Security teams to deliver compliant solutions in regulated environments
  • Shows understanding of high-availability requirements for mission-critical authentication systems and can articulate past experiences maintaining service reliability

📝 Tips for Applying to Workiva

1

Highlight specific experience with identity management platforms or authentication services in distributed systems, not just general backend development

2

Quantify your impact on system availability or security improvements in previous roles, especially for mission-critical services

3

Research Workiva's ESG reporting platform and mention how your experience aligns with their compliance-focused mission

4

Prepare examples of collaborating with Product and Security teams to deliver secure, compliant solutions

5

Tailor your resume to emphasize both your technical depth in authentication/authorization AND your people management experience leading platform teams

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience with authentication/authorization protocols and how it applies to secure ESG reporting platforms', 'Specific examples of mentoring engineers on platform foundational services or security infrastructure teams', "How you've partnered with Product and Security teams to deliver compliant solutions in regulated environments", 'Your approach to maintaining high availability for mission-critical systems like identity management']

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Workiva's specific ESG reporting products and how authentication/authorization supports their compliance features
  • → Recent news about Workiva's platform expansion or security certifications relevant to regulated industries
  • → The regulatory landscape for ESG reporting (SEC climate rules, EU CSRD) and how it impacts platform security requirements
  • → Workiva's engineering blog or tech talks about their platform architecture or security practices

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design or improve authentication services for a compliance-focused platform like Workiva's ESG reporting system?
2 Describe your experience implementing or maintaining OAuth, SAML, or other authorization protocols in distributed systems
3 How do you balance technical debt reduction with feature delivery when managing platform foundational services?
4 Walk me through how you've collaborated with Security teams to address compliance requirements in previous roles
5 What metrics would you track to ensure high availability and performance of authentication systems, and how would you improve them?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on general management experience without demonstrating deep technical knowledge of authentication/authorization systems
  • Not understanding the compliance implications of identity management in regulated environments like ESG reporting
  • Failing to provide specific examples of collaborating with Security teams or delivering compliant solutions

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Workiva!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →