System Integration Test (SIT) Lab Program Manager at Western Digital in Rochester, MN, United States

Job description

• The SIT Lab is at the center of WD's product quality story. Our team validates WD's HDD products against the world's most demanding hyperscale and enterprise customers—ensuring that what ships is ready for the real world. As a Program Manager in our PMO, you'll work at the intersection of engineering, program management, and customer engagement, with visibility across WD's product roadmap and direct influence on the decisions that matter. You'll be part of a team that's actively transforming how we work through new tools, processes, and technologies—and you'll have the opportunity to help shape that transformation.
• A SIT Lab Program Manager serves as the primary bridge between the SIT Lab and the broader cross-functional organization—owning the SIT Lab's validation plans for multiple development and sustaining programs, influencing program-level decisions, and driving the lab's readiness for product launches across WD's HDD portfolio. The ideal candidate operates with a high degree of independence, brings expert-level knowledge of SIT Lab processes and HDD storage technologies, and has a demonstrated ability to influence decisions and drive outcomes across organizational boundaries without formal authority.

Responsibilities

• Program Ownership & Communication
• Own the SIT Lab validation plan for assigned Development and Sustaining programs from staging through QSR
• Serve as the primary SIT Lab focal point for one or more Program Core Team(s) on all program-related matters
• Partner with the SIT Lab Technology Development team to prepare the SIT Lab for programs in the pipeline and coordinate all activities leading up to QSR
• Provide regular communication to SIT Lab teams on code releases, program timelines, and program-related updates
• Provide periodic milestone summary communications to SIT Lab management and Core Teams
• Actively participate in quarterly program reviews to help the team plan and manage roadmap demands, discuss continuous improvement initiatives, and conduct retrospectives
• Proactively identify program risks and issues and drive them to resolution in a timely manner
• Cross-Functional Influence
• Represent the SIT Lab in Core Team meetings across multiple programs
• Influence the SIT Lab validation plan for products in any phase of the product lifecycle
• Influence program-level decisions by understanding the broader development process and its dependencies on SIT Lab outputs
• Participate in and contribute to release discussions and phase gate decisions based on SIT Lab quality data and business needs
• Drive cross-functional influence across multiple departments to resolve issues, align on plans, and deliver on commitments
• Leadership & Organizational Contribution
• Regularly present program status, risks, and milestone summaries to SIT Lab staff and Quality Management; occasionally present to the Executive Leadership Team
• Lead and coordinate large-scale projects that have impact within and outside the SIT Lab
• Actively participate in transformational initiatives that shape the long-term strategy and success of the SIT Lab
• Participate in cross-functional continuous improvement projects and process improvement initiatives
• Formally lead and mentor other team members within the SIT Lab PMO and broader organization
• Contribute to the SIT Lab's technical direction and identify opportunities to improve processes and systems

Requirements

• What We're Looking For
• Technical Knowledge
• Excellent understanding of HDD storage technologies—interface protocols, recording technology, firmware architecture, and storage sub-components
• Advanced understanding of firmware architecture and firmware features
• Mastery of defect tracker usage and best practices
• Expert ability to understand, facilitate, and communicate risk assessment discussions
• Expert ability to prepare and deliver executive-level summaries and program communications
• Program Management
• Expert understanding and application of effective program management methods and processes
• Demonstrated ability to own and manage complex, multi-customer validation programs end-to-end with minimal direction
• Proven ability to proactively identify program risks and drive resolution across organizational boundaries
• Ability to lead and coordinate large-scale projects with cross-functional impact
• Domain Knowledge
• Expert understanding of WD customer segments and markets
• Expert understanding of the HDD storage landscape and WD's technology and roadmap
• Strong understanding of functional areas within and outside the SIT Lab
• Advanced understanding of the future of storage technologies and industry trends
• Leadership & Influence
• Demonstrated ability to influence decisions and outcomes across multiple departments without formal authority
• Experience formally leading and mentoring others
• Ability to contribute to organizational strategy and identify areas for process improvement
• Comfortable presenting to senior and executive leadership
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field
• 10+ years of related experience in program management, product validation, or a related engineering role within the HDD or data storage industry
• Demonstrated expertise in HDD storage technologies and product validation processes
• Proven track record of managing complex programs across multiple customers and organizational boundaries
• Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field
• Experience in a SIT Lab or Quality organization within WD or a comparable data storage company
• Familiarity with WD's product development lifecycle, Core Team structure, and qualification processes
• Experience leading cross-functional transformation or continuous improvement initiatives

Skills

Required

• Influence without formal authority
• Communication
• Leadership
• Mentoring
• Risk assessment
• Presentation to executive leadership
• HDD storage technologies
• Interface protocols
• Recording technology
• Firmware architecture
• Storage sub-components
• Defect tracker usage

Benefits

• An employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
• The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York. This range may be modified in the future.
• If your position is non-exempt, you are eligible for overtime pay pursuant to company policy and applicable laws. You may also be eligible for shift differential pay, depending on the shift to which you are assigned.
• You will be eligible to be considered for bonuses under either WD’s Short Term Incentive Plan (“STI Plan”) or the Sales Incentive Plan (“SIP”) which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance, depending on your role and your performance. You may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to WD's Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including 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; and the WD Savings 401(k) Plan.
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.