Principal Engineer, SSD Systems Design

Micron Technology•Longmont, CO

1d•$181,000 - $308,000

About The Position

The Principal Engineer leads SSD system design and architecture from concept through high-volume manufacturing. The role drives system definition, characterization strategies, and cross-functional execution to deliver products that meet customer, platform, and roadmap requirements. As a technical authority, the engineer resolves complex system challenges, influences product direction, mentors engineers, and advances engineering excellence through continuous improvement and AI-enabled innovation. Micron’s vision is to transform how the world uses information to enrich life for all. It develops memory and storage solutions that accelerate the transformation of information into intelligence. The company highlights values of People, Innovation, Tenacity, Collaboration, Customer Focus, and Speed. The position is full-time, with a stated US base salary range of $181,000 to $308,000 per year. Additional compensation may include benefits, bonuses, and equity. Micron describes medical, dental, and vision plan choices, income-protection programs, paid family leave, paid time off, and paid holidays. Individual pay depends on factors such as work location, skills, experience, tenure, and education or training.

Requirements

B.Sc. or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent.
More than 6 years of industry experience in SSD system design, architecture, or product development.
Deep expertise in SSD architecture, controller design, flash translation layer (FTL), wear leveling, NAND lifecycle management, and storage subsystems.
Strong knowledge of PCIe and NVMe protocols, SSD performance optimization, and system-level behavior.
Experience with system-level design, debugging, characterization, and validation across product development phases.
Hands-on expertise with laboratory instrumentation and board-level debugging.
Ability to lead technically through influence and drive alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.
Structured problem-solving and strategic decision-making for complex engineering challenges.
Clear executive-level communication and presentation skills.
Mentoring, coaching, and cross-functional collaboration capabilities.

Nice To Haves

Experience with SSD ASIC development, firmware integration, and system-level co-design.
Strong programming capability in Python, C++, Bash, or similar languages for automation and analysis.
Experience with system-level power and thermal optimization.
Experience leading global engineering teams and engaging directly with customers.

Responsibilities

Lead SSD system-level design definition, architecture reviews, and technical decision-making, ensuring alignment with product roadmaps and customer requirements.
Resolve complex technical issues across firmware, hardware, and system interactions using structured root-cause methods and data-driven debugging.
Define and implement characterization strategies for SSD performance, power, thermal behavior, and reliability throughout product development.
Serve as a primary technical contact for executive partners, customers, and global engineering teams, influencing technical direction and execution.
Lead cross-functional engineering activities to improve product quality, manufacturability, reliability, and customer readiness.
Lead lessons-learned reviews and continuous-improvement initiatives for SSD development methods and engineering effectiveness.
Mentor engineers and provide technical guidance to build organizational capability and technical depth.
Align architecture, firmware, hardware, validation, and product engineering teams to achieve program objectives.
Provide technical risk assessments, roadmap recommendations, and status updates to leadership stakeholders.
Integrate AI-assisted tools and insights into daily work to improve efficiency, quality, or effectiveness, using good judgment and following organizational standards and legal requirements.
Identify, test, and share AI-enabled improvements within the scope of work.