Western Digital Electrical Firmware Development Engineering Master/PhD NCG 

United States, California, San Jose 

14704303

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. Together, we can build the future of data storage.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

As a Servo Track Write (STW) development engineer, you will be involved in aspects of STW technology development, including:

1. Designing, developing, implementing, verifying, and maintaining next-generation STW firmware. This will focus on sensing and servo control related to read-channel functionalities or preamps, power drivers, and motors (such as thermal actuators, VCMs, PZT actuators, and spindle motors).
2. Developing firmware and Matlab tools to bring up, maintain, and enhance the functionality of new or existing SoCs, read channels, and/or power drivers.
3. Collaborating with other organizations, both within the company and with external vendors, to design and develop new SoCs and features for the servo channel/signal processing and/or power driver & preamps.
4. Validating the drive hardware platform used to perform the Self-Servo-Write function, including SoC, power driver, motor, and mechanics.
5. Analyzing large amounts of data collected from hard disk drive manufacturing processes, extracting critical parameters, and visualizing them to help engineers identify trends, issues, and potential root causes of failures or degradations, or used for system design, optimization, decision-making, or prediction. This includes developing optimization and robust feedback motion control systems and parameter optimization for product quality and yield improvement.
6. Documenting, sharing, and exchanging ideas, solutions, and information.

Required:

• At least a master’s degree, preferably a Ph.D., in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields, with experience and a strong interest in developing real-time embedded firmware or software.
• Candidates who do not meet the degree requirements but have demonstrated strong research and development capabilities directly related to the work will also be considered.
• Experience with Control Systems or Digital Signal Processing is preferred.
• Basic knowledge of interfacing firmware, digital hardware, and analog electronics.
• Experience or expertise using Matlab.
• Real-time development background in C/C++ (object-oriented design experience is a strong plus).

Preferred:

• Experience with ARM processors, RTOS, Assembly, and Lua.
• The ability to use firmware debug tools and lab equipment for design and troubleshooting.
• A hardware design background is also valuable.

Skills:

• Good teamwork, strong analytical and communication skills, and an Agile/Lean mindset are important.

Compensation & Benefits Details

• 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.
• You will be eligible to participate in Western Digital’s Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, 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 Western Digital’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 Western Digital 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.