Western Digital: Director Firmware Engineering — San Jose, CA, United States

About Western Digital

Western Digital develops and manufactures data-storage technology for data centres, cloud platforms and enterprise infrastructure. Its employer introduction connects this work with the need to retain, manage and access information generated by digital systems and AI applications. The business brings engineering and manufacturing together around the physical systems behind data storage. Its described purpose is to make growing volumes of information available over time, supporting the infrastructure on which other digital services depend.

The position and its setting

Western Digital lists Director Firmware Engineering in San Jose, CA, United States, under reference REF34738X. The details below separate the work described by the employer from essential conditions, preferred experience and practical preparation advice.

• Employment type: Full-time
• Employer listing date: 20 October 2026
• Business Function: Firmware
• Brands: Western Digital
• Work Location: Irvine Office

Responsibilities and work described

• 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
• Negotiations: with stakeholders about priority
• Ensures execution of identified hardware, firmware & associated tools strategy

Essential requirements and candidate background

• REQUIRED
• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent
• 10+ years of experience in embedded architecture and development
• 10+ years experience as a Embedded/Firmware technical leader
• Demonstrates a leadership and commitment to the result
• Communication, interpersonal and collaborative skills (including presentation skills) across Worldwide engineers in English

Education and qualification routes

• Degree / qualification: Masters degree or relevant certification desirable
• Degree / qualification: PhD or specialist or relevant certification with platform architecture highly desirable

Location, schedule and contract conditions

For this overseas or regional listing, confirm work authorisation and any location restrictions with the employer. The location does not establish visa sponsorship or permission to work remotely from India.

• Work arrangement: On-site
• Advertised location: San Jose, CA, United States

Benefits mentioned by the employer

• The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting
• This range may be modified in the future
• Be eligible to participate in Western Digital’s Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance
• 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
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable
• Videos to Watch
• This job is offline
• Screening Questions
• Not Published
• Aug 17, 2023
• English - English (US)

Pay and application dates

A verified salary figure is not established in this article. An online estimate for another Director Firmware Engineering vacancy is not an offer for reference REF34738X; use the employer’s own pay disclosure and recruitment communication.

A closing date is not confirmed in this article. Check the current employer page before submitting: an undated posting can change or be withdrawn.

How to apply to Western Digital

Applications follow the official employer page linked below. The source includes these application-specific points:

Open the official Western Digital posting below and match the title and reference REF34738X.

Compare your qualifications and experience with the essential conditions for the San Jose, CA, United States position, then read the preferred criteria separately.

Prepare an accurate CV and the supporting items requested in that employer’s application. Provide only information and documents you are authorised to share.

Use the employer’s application option, complete the required fields and review the submission. Retain the acknowledgement when one is provided. Job Alerts World does not receive the application.

• Accommodation requests: [email protected]

Practical preparation: firmware

For firmware work, describe the target, the behaviour being implemented and how it was tested on the relevant hardware. Interfaces, timing and debugging methods can help make the contribution concrete.

Relevant skills

• firmware
• stakeholder management
• communication
• commercial negotiations
• embedded systems