Software Engineer (Apps & Firmware)

Western Digital•San Jose, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

If you're looking for a role where your code doesn't just sit in a Git repo—this is it. Our team builds internal tools that power the development of world-class hard disk drives. You won't be designing the hardware itself—but you will be designing the software tools that help engineers make smarter, faster, data-driven decisions that shape the future of storage technology. In this role, you will design and develop software applications and data collection frameworks that analyze servo‑mechanical behavior and system performance in eHDDs. These applications run in Windows and Linux environments and scale from individual machines to large, multi‑device test setups. The tools you build help engineering teams evaluate designs, validate software and firmware changes, and accelerate development cycles through automation and visibility. This position works at the intersection of application software, embedded systems, and system‑level validation. You will work hands‑on with eHDDs, develop software that communicates directly with firmware and low‑level system interfaces, and gain exposure to how complex eHDD systems behave under software control. This role is part of WD's early career development program. WD's early career development program is ideal for individuals at the early stages of their professional career. Participants receive foundational training through structured onboarding, mentorship, and a curated development curriculum. The responsibilities of this role are typically aligned with candidates who have approximately 0–2+ years of relevant professional experience, though candidates of all experience levels are encouraged to apply.

Requirements

Currently enrolled or recently completed a MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Data Science, or a related field
Strong foundation in software engineering principles with hands‑on experience in C/C++ , Python and web based development
Comfort working with Comfortable working in Windows and Linux environments and both relational and non-relational databases
Completed coursework or hands-on projects involving GenAI, LLMs, or machine learning

Responsibilities

Design and build custom internal software tools that transform raw HDD development and production data into actionable insights, directly accelerating product innovation and time-to-market.
Architect and develop ETL systems, web-based applications, advanced analytics and ML Models and it's pipelines that empower product engineers to make data-driven decisions and push the boundaries of storage technology.
Work closely with hard disk drives and test environments, including preparing devices for validation and analysis workflows
Leverage modern frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, svelte), languages (Python, C/C++, Node.js), databases (MySQL, SingleStore, Redshift, Elasticsearch) and distributed systems (Kafka, Kubernetes) to solve complex engineering challenges and build scalable solutions.
Participate actively in architecture discussions, code reviews, and collaborative problem-solving sessions that strengthen both the codebase and your technical expertise.
Create comprehensive internal documentation and guides that democratize access to your tools, multiplying your impact across the engineering organization.
Thrive in an Hyrbid, fast-paced, highly collaborative team environment that values ownership, intellectual curiosity, and continuous learning—where your contributions directly influence the future of storage innovation.

Benefits

paid vacation time
paid sick leave
medical/dental/vision insurance
life, accident and disability insurance
tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts
employee assistance program
other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity
tuition reimbursement
transit
the Applause Program
employee stock purchase plan
the WD Savings 401(k) Plan