Manager, Firmware Development

Western Digital•Rochester, MN

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, disciplined execution, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver high-quality firmware aligned with product, program, and business objectives. The manager develops engineers with varied experience through clear direction, coaching, prioritization, and performance management. The role partners with hardware, systems, validation, program management, quality, manufacturing, and other teams to create robust firmware solutions and resolve technical issues across the product lifecycle. It also oversees team resources and execution while improving team capability, development processes, tools, and the technical roadmap. The position communicates status, risks, dependencies, and technical decisions to the Director of Firmware Development and other stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
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 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.
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.

Nice To Haves

An 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 debug 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 in global, cross-functional product development organizations.

Responsibilities

Lead, develop, and retain firmware engineers 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 firmware development 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 firmware, hardware, system, and platform issues; support root-cause analysis and corrective-action closure.
Partner with ASIC, hardware, systems, validation, manufacturing, reliability, and program teams to deliver complete solutions.
Balance immediate execution with longer-term improvements in team capability, processes, tools, and technical roadmap.
Review technical designs, development plans, and engineering analyses to support sound decisions, tradeoffs, and risk management.
Establish a collaborative, accountable team environment that supports engineers at different experience levels and 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.
Build an inclusive and respectful team culture grounded in accountability, technical rigor, and consistent execution.
Adapt leadership to support senior, mid-level, and early-career team members; develop talent through coaching, feedback, stretch assignments, and succession planning.
Make timely, well-reasoned decisions that account for technical, schedule, and business tradeoffs; raise issues early, escalate appropriately, and drive closure on critical dependencies and risks.

Benefits

Paid vacation time
Paid sick leave
Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Life insurance
Accident insurance
Disability insurance
Flexible spending and health savings accounts
Employee assistance program
Supplemental life and AD&D coverage
Legal plan
Pet insurance
Critical illness coverage
Accident coverage
Hospital indemnity coverage
Tuition reimbursement
Transit benefits
Applause Program
Employee stock purchase plan
WD Savings 401(k) Plan
Potential eligibility for bonuses under the Short Term Incentive Plan or Sales Incentive Plan
Potential eligibility for the annual Long-Term Incentive program, which may include restricted stock units or cash equivalents
Restricted stock unit awards may be available to eligible new hires