Director Firmware Engineering

Posted Yesterday
Be an Early Applicant
San Jose, CA, USA
In-Office
199K-265K Annually
Expert/Leader
Big Data • Cloud • Hardware • Software
The Role
Leads geographically distributed teams developing HDD real-time motion control, servo-control firmware, hardware, firmware architecture, instruction set architecture, and associated development tools. Defines designs and technical strategy with stakeholders, prioritizes initiatives, coordinates hardware and firmware development, and ensures execution against business and technical objectives. Requires extensive embedded architecture and firmware leadership experience, strong communication, and collaboration skills.
Summary Generated by Built In
Company Description

WD is building the infrastructure behind the AI-driven data economy.

As AI scales, so does data. Every interaction, every model, every system generates data that must be stored, managed, and made accessible over time. That’s where we come in.

We combine deep engineering expertise with global-scale manufacturing to deliver the storage systems that make AI possible, powering hyperscale data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise infrastructure worldwide.

This isn’t theoretical work. It’s real systems, at real scale, people solving some of the hardest challenges in technology today.

We’re looking for people who want to build, solve, and operate at that level.

Join us and let’s shape the future of data.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

  • Works closely with all stakeholders in the implementation of HDD real time motion and parameter control microarchitecture, instruction set architecture, firmware architecture & tool chain associated with Business situation
  • Works closely with all stakeholders in the implementation of HDD firmware related to servo control associated with Business situation
  • Participates in Team meeting and leads hardware, firmware & associated tooling development with enough communication for geographically distributed international development team to support business and technical objectives
  • Define the hardware, firmware & associated tools designs together with stakeholders and development teams
  • Negotiate with stakeholders about priority
  • Ensures strong execution of identified hardware, firmware & associated tools strategy

Qualifications

REQUIRED 

  • Bachelor's Degree or equivalent. Masters degree or relevant certification desirable.  PhD or specialist or relevant certification with platform architecture highly desirable
  • 10+ years of experience in embedded architecture and development.
  • 10+ years experience as a Embedded/Firmware technical leader

SKILLS

  • Demonstrates a strong leadership and commitment to the result
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal and collaborative skills (including presentation skills) across Worldwide engineers in English

Additional Information

Additional information

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person’s gender identity, gender expression, and gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law poster.

Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.

Western Digital is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at [email protected] to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

Compensation & Benefits Details

  • An employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
  • The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting.  We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York.  This range may be modified in the future.
  • You will be eligible to participate in Western Digital’s Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance.  Depending on your role and your performance, you may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to Western Digital’s Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
  • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical/dental/vision insurance; life, accident and disability insurance; tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program; other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity; tuition reimbursement; transit; the Virgin Pulse Program; the Applause Program, employee stock purchase plan, and the Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan.
  • Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.

Videos to Watch

-

This job is offline

•

Screening Questions

Not Published

•

Aug 17, 2023

•

English - English (US)

Published sources

 

-

Custom candidate sources

 

 

Add sources to create tracker URLs. Post your job using URLs to start tracking candidates.

You do not need tracker URLs for jobs you post directly from SmartRecruiters - we'll track it for you automatically.

#LI-TD1

Compensation & Benefits Details

  • An employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
  • The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting.  We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York.  This range may be modified in the future.
  • If your position is non-exempt, you are eligible for overtime pay pursuant to company policy and applicable laws.  You may also be eligible for shift differential pay, depending on the shift to which you are assigned.
  • You will be eligible to be considered for bonuses under either WD’s Short Term Incentive Plan (“STI Plan”) or the Sales Incentive Plan (“SIP”) which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance, depending on your role and your performance. You may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to WD's Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.

  • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical/dental/vision insurance; life, accident and disability insurance; tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program; other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity; tuition reimbursement; transit; the Applause Program; employee stock purchase plan; and the WD Savings 401(k) Plan.
  • Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.

Notice To Candidates: Please be aware that WD and its subsidiaries will never request payment as a condition for applying for a position or receiving an offer of employment. Should you encounter any such requests, please report it immediately to WD Ethics Helpline or email [email protected].

Skills Required

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent
  • 10+ years of experience in embedded architecture and development
  • 10+ years of experience as an embedded or firmware technical leader
  • Strong leadership and commitment to results
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal, collaborative, and presentation skills in English
  • Master's degree or relevant certification
  • PhD, specialist qualification, or relevant certification with platform architecture experience

Western Digital Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Western Digital and has not been reviewed or approved by Western Digital.

  • Strong & Reliable Incentives — Strong & Reliable Incentives: Incentive structures in variable‑pay roles are portrayed as well‑designed, and annual or quarterly bonuses are commonly part of total compensation.
  • Healthcare Strength — Healthcare Strength: Company materials highlight comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and mental‑health resources, complemented by options like HSA/FSA and disability coverage.
  • Parental & Family Support — Parental & Family Support: Caregiving support across life stages and children’s behavioral health resources are featured, with programs such as Bright Horizons referenced for U.S. employees.

Western Digital Insights

Am I A Good Fit?
beta
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.

The Company
HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
25,132 Employees

What We Do

At Western Digital we create data storage solutions that power the technology of today and inspire the innovations of tomorrow.

Similar Jobs

In-Office
Berkeley, CA, USA
577 Employees
230K-294K Annually
In-Office
Mountain View, CA, USA
90 Employees

Afero Logo Afero

Engineering Director, Firmware

Internet of Things • Security
Hybrid
Los Altos, CA, USA
29 Employees
250K-280K Annually

Similar Companies Hiring

Revel Thumbnail
Aerospace • Hardware • Robotics • Software
Marina Del Rey, California
70 Employees
Unusual Machines, Inc. Thumbnail
Hardware • Robotics
Orlando, FL
300 Employees
Blee Thumbnail
Artificial Intelligence • Marketing Tech • Software
New York, New York
30 Employees

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account