Western Digital: Manager, Firmware Development — Rochester, MN, 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 Manager, Firmware Development in Rochester, MN, United States, under reference REF34853E. 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: 21 October 2026
• Business Function: Firmware
• Brands: Western Digital
• Work Location: Rochester Office

Responsibilities and work described

• Position Summary
• The Manager, Firmware Development leads a team of firmware engineers responsible for the design, development, integration, debug, and delivery of embedded firmware for complex storage products
• This role combines people leadership, technical judgment, execution discipline, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure high-quality firmware delivery aligned with product, program, and business objectives
• The Manager will manage engineers with varying levels of firmware development experience, building team capability through clear direction, coaching, prioritization, and performance management
• The role partners closely with hardware, systems, validation, program management, quality, and manufacturing teams to develop robust firmware solutions and resolve technical issues across the product lifecycle
• Lead, develop, and retain a team of firmware engineers working across architecture, design, implementation, integration, debug, and sustaining activities
• Set clear goals, priorities, and execution plans for the team, ensuring alignment with product roadmaps, schedule commitments, and quality expectations
• Drive firmware development using disciplined engineering practices, including design reviews, coding standards, defect management, test strategy, and release readiness
• Delivery: technical and organizational leadership for embedded firmware development, including data structures, software algorithms, drivers, control paths, and hardware interfaces
• Technical guidance: the team in debugging complex issues across firmware, hardware, system, and platform interactions; support root-cause analysis and corrective action closure
• Partner cross-functionally with ASIC, hardware, systems, validation, manufacturing, reliability, and program teams to deliver complete solutions
• Balance near-term execution with longer-term improvements in team capability, development processes, tools, and technical roadmap
• Review: technical designs, development plans, and engineering analyses to ensure sound decisions, clear tradeoffs, and effective risk management
• Establishment: a high-accountability, collaborative team environment that supports engineers at different experience levels and enables growth in technical depth and ownership
• Management: resource planning, work allocation, hiring, onboarding, and succession planning for the firmware organization
• Communicate status, risks, dependencies, and key technical decisions clearly to the Director of Firmware Development and other stakeholders

Essential requirements and candidate background

• 7+ years of embedded or firmware development experience, with meaningful experience leading engineering teams
• 1+ years of people management or equivalent leadership experience, including performance management, coaching, and career development
• Technical foundation in embedded systems and firmware development using C/C++; experience with low-level software, device control, drivers, and hardware/software integration
• Experience leading teams through full product development cycles from concept through release and sustaining support
• Manage engineers with a broad range of experience and skill levels
• Problem-solving, debugging, and root-cause analysis skills in complex system environments
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate technical and execution topics to both engineering and management audiences

Education and qualification routes

• Degree / qualification: Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field; advanced degree preferred

Preferred experience and additional strengths

• Experience: storage, data-path, controller, or other performance-sensitive embedded systems
• Experience: firmware development tools, lab debug environments, emulation, simulation, and automated test frameworks
• Knowledge: structured development methodologies, CI/CD practices, code review discipline, and quality-oriented release processes
• Experience operating in global, cross-functional product development organizations
• Leadership Expectations
• Builds an inclusive, respectful team culture grounded in accountability, technical rigor, and consistent execution
• Adapts leadership approach to support senior engineers, mid-level contributors, and early-career team members effectively
• Makes timely, well-reasoned decisions with appropriate consideration of technical, schedule, and business tradeoffs
• Raises issues early, escalates appropriately, and drives closure on critical dependencies and risks
• Develops talent intentionally through coaching, feedback, stretch assignments, and succession planning

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: Hybrid
• Advertised location: Rochester, MN, 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
• 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 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
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable
• 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]

Pay and application dates

A verified salary figure is not established in this article. An online estimate for another Manager, Firmware Development vacancy is not an offer for reference REF34853E; 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 REF34853E.

Compare your qualifications and experience with the essential conditions for the Rochester, MN, 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: C++

C++ experience should identify the system and the constraints you worked within. Memory use, timing, interfaces, debugging or portability may be useful discussion points when they actually formed part of your work.

Relevant skills

• C++
• CI/CD
• embedded systems
• firmware
• manufacturing
• risk management
• stakeholder management
• root-cause analysis
• electrical engineering
• communication