Senior Technologist, Development Engineering

Company Description

At Western Digital, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible.

At our core, Western Digital is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology. For decades, we’ve been doing just that. Our technology helped people put a man on the moon.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest growth organizations in the world. From energizing the most competitive gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Binge-watch any shows, use social media or shop online lately? You’ll find Western Digital supporting the storage infrastructure behind many of these platforms. And, that flash memory card that captures and preserves your most precious moments? That’s us, too.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, storage devices and platforms for business and consumers alike. Our data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital®, G-Technology™, SanDisk® and WD® brands.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. It’s You & Western Digital. Together, we’re the next BIG thing in data.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• As part of a talented and motivated team that is Agile in nature, you will get an opportunity to work and collaborate on unique and challenging problems that allow you to learn and grow in multiple disciplines.
• Design, develop, implement, verify, maintain, and enhance next-generation Self-Servo-Write firmware for high reliability, high quality, high yield, and low test time, focusing on sensing, monitoring, and control relating to one or more of the following areas:
  1. Fly-height, preamps, read/write process related to heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) heads,
  2. And/or Servo/Servo-Write channel functionalities,
  3. And/or power drivers and motors (including thermal actuators, VCMs, PZT actuators, and spindle motors)
• Develop firmware and Matlab tools to bring up, maintain and enhance the functionality of either new or existing preamps, SoCs, read channels, and/or power drivers, and recording head and media combinations.
• Work with product development teams at various stages to resolve key technical issues affecting quality, yield, and test time.
• Collaborate with other organizations (both within the company and with outside vendors) to design and develop new SoCs and new features for the read channel and/or power driver and preamps
• Validate drive hardware platform used to perform Self-Servo-Write function, including SoC, power driver, motors, mechanics, and new heads.
• Collaborate with servo control and system experts to develop key metrics for data collection and statistical analysis.
• Act as a role model to others by sharing ideas, solutions, and information, and serve as a mentor for junior engineers.

Qualifications

REQUIRED:

• Ph.D./MS/BS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering or related fields with 7+ years of experience in developing real-time embedded firmware or software
• Knowledge of digital and analog electronics
• Real-time development background in C/C++ (object-oriented design experience is a strong plus)

PREFERRED: 

• The ability to use firmware debug tools and lab equipment to design and troubleshoot, as well as some MATLAB knowledge, is essential
• Experience with Control Systems, Hardware Design, or Digital Signal Processing is preferred.
• Prior experience in hard disk drive / magnetic recording is a plus.

SKILLS: 

• Good teamwork, strong analytical and communication skills, and an Agile / Lean mindset are important

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