Manager, Firmware Development

Western Digital•Rochester, MN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager, Firmware Development leads a team responsible for the design, development, integration, debugging, and delivery of embedded firmware for complex storage products. The role combines people leadership, technical judgment, execution discipline, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver high-quality firmware aligned with product, program, and business objectives. The manager sets direction, coaches engineers with varied experience, and manages priorities and performance. They partner with hardware, systems, validation, program management, quality, and manufacturing teams to develop robust firmware and resolve technical issues throughout the product lifecycle. The role also oversees team capability, development processes, resource planning, documentation, and communication of status, risks, dependencies, and technical decisions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
At least 7 years of embedded or firmware development experience, including meaningful experience leading engineering teams.
At least 1 year of people management or equivalent leadership experience, including performance management, coaching, and career development.
Strong technical foundation in embedded systems and firmware development using C/C++, including 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.
Demonstrated ability to manage engineers with a broad range of experience and skill levels.
Strong problem-solving, debugging, and root-cause analysis skills in complex system environments.
Effective written and verbal communication skills, including communicating technical and execution topics to engineering and management audiences.
Ability to build an inclusive, respectful team culture grounded in accountability, technical rigor, and consistent execution.
Ability to adapt leadership approaches to senior engineers, mid-level contributors, and early-career team members.
Ability to make timely, well-reasoned decisions considering technical, schedule, and business tradeoffs.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in a related technical field.
Experience with storage, data-path, controller, or other performance-sensitive embedded systems.
Experience with firmware development tools, lab debugging environments, emulation, simulation, and automated test frameworks.
Working knowledge of structured development methodologies, CI/CD practices, code review discipline, and quality-oriented release processes.
Experience operating in global, cross-functional product development organizations.

Responsibilities

Lead, develop, and retain firmware engineers working across architecture, design, implementation, integration, debugging, and sustaining activities.
Set team goals, priorities, and execution plans aligned with product roadmaps, schedules, and quality expectations.
Drive disciplined engineering practices, including design reviews, coding standards, defect management, test strategy, and release readiness.
Provide technical and organizational leadership for embedded firmware, including data structures, software algorithms, drivers, control paths, and hardware interfaces.
Guide debugging of complex issues across firmware, hardware, systems, and platform interactions; support root-cause analysis and corrective-action closure.
Partner with ASIC, hardware, systems, validation, manufacturing, reliability, and program teams to deliver complete solutions.
Balance near-term execution with longer-term improvements to team capability, development processes, tools, and the technical roadmap.
Review technical designs, development plans, and engineering analyses to ensure sound decisions, clear tradeoffs, and effective risk management.
Establish a collaborative, accountable team environment that supports engineers at different experience levels and enables their growth.
Manage resource planning, work allocation, hiring, onboarding, and succession planning for the firmware organization.
Communicate status, risks, dependencies, and key technical decisions to the Director of Firmware Development and other stakeholders.
Ensure lifecycle documentation is complete and maintained, including requirements, design artifacts, investigations, and release materials.
Develop talent through coaching, feedback, stretch assignments, and succession planning.
Raise issues early, escalate appropriately, and drive closure on critical dependencies and risks.

Benefits

Paid vacation time
Paid sick leave
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Life, accident, and disability insurance
Tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts
Employee assistance program
Voluntary benefits, including supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity coverage
Tuition reimbursement
Transit benefits
Applause Program
Employee stock purchase plan
WD Savings 401(k) Plan
Potential eligibility for short-term incentive or sales incentive awards, depending on role and performance
Potential eligibility for the annual long-term incentive program, including restricted stock units or cash equivalents