Principal Engineer, Development Engineering

Western Digital; Rochester; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in Rochester seeks an experienced professional to verify the compatibility of storage drives in customer systems. This role requires extensive experience in managing projects and validating complex systems, with strong communication skills being essential. The ideal candidate will have a BS degree in a relevant field, with preferred experience in programming and storage systems. Join us to help shape the future of data solutions.

Benefits

Paid vacation time

Medical/dental/vision insurance

Employee assistance program

Qualifications

• 10+ years of related professional experience
• 10+ years of experience managing projects
• Demonstrated ability to perform detailed failure analysis

Responsibilities

• Verify compatibility of storage drives in enterprise customer systems
• Create test schedules and communicate status
• Monitor and analyze drive logs and system logs

Skills

Strong verbal and written communication skills

Experience validating complex computer systems

Detail-oriented analysis

Customer facing experience

Education

BS degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

Storage interface protocols (SAS / SATA)

Windows server systems

Linux server systems

Job description

Company Description

At Western Digital, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible.

At our core, Western Digital is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology. For decades, we’ve been doing just that. Our technology helped people put a man on the moon.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest growth organizations in the world. From energizing the most competitive gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Binge-watch any shows, use social media or shop online lately? You’ll find Western Digital supporting the storage infrastructure behind many of these platforms. And, that flash memory card that captures and preserves your most precious moments? That’s us, too.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, storage devices and platforms for business and consumers alike. Our data‑centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital®, G‑Technology™, SanDisk® and WD® brands.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. It’s you & Western Digital. Together, we’re the next BIG thing in data.

Job Description

• Verify the compatibility of Western Digital storage drives in enterprise customer systems
• Create test schedules, write reports, and communicate written and verbal status to stakeholders
• Work closely with development engineering and customer technical support to ensure the quality of the product's design and to verify that the product works flawlessly in the customer's systems
• Configure systems for test, then monitor and analyze drive logs, system logs, bus signals, etc. to determine test status
• Isolate, analyze, and document test failures as they occur
• Develop and maintain test scripts and automation

Qualifications

Required

• BS degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Computer Science
• 10+ years of related professional experience
• 10+ years of experience managing projects
• Experience validating complex computer systems in a hands‑on environment
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to perform detailed failure analysis and independently investigate system hardware and software issues
• Experience with storage interface protocols (SAS / SATA)
• Customer facing experience

Preferred

• Application‑level programming (Java, C++, C#, etc.)
• Application‑level scripting (Python, Perl, Tcl, etc.)
• Experience installing and operating Windows and Linux server storage systems
• Ability to speak about complex technical topics with customers and stakeholders
• Industry specification knowledge

Additional Information

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate based on race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, genetic information, civil air patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non‑discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law poster.

Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.

Western Digital is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at [e-mail] to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

Compensation & Benefits Details

• An employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, performance, contribution and results, geographic location, shift, internal and external equity, and business and organizational needs.
• The salary range is the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of 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 Western Digital’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 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.

Notice to Candidates

Please be aware that Western Digital and its subsidiaries will never request payment as a condition for applying for a position or receiving an offer of employment. Should you encounter such requests, please report it immediately to Western Digital Ethics Helpline or email [e-mail].