Advanced HDD Technology Designs and Integration (Hardware/Firmware Engineer)

Western Digital; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 98,000 - 130,700; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hands-on experience with breakthrough HDD technologies

Mentorship from industry experts

Collaborative and inclusive culture

Job summary

Western Digital in Irvine, California is looking for a Hardware/Firmware Engineer to work on advanced HDD technologies. This full-time position is part of WD's early career development program, focusing on professional growth and mentorship.

Responsibilities include designing and developing next-generation HDD products, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and contributing to innovative engineering solutions. Candidates should possess a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field and be proficient in programming languages like C/C++ and Python.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in electrical engineering fundamentals.
• Experience with Python or MATLAB for scripting and data analysis.
• Proficiency in C/C++ programming, including debugging and testing.

Responsibilities

• Develop enabling technologies for next-generation HDD products.
• Optimize and integrate emerging technologies into new products.
• Collaborate with multi-functional teams for product delivery.

Skills

C/C++ programming

Python or MATLAB for scripting

Electrical Engineering fundamentals

Embedded systems knowledge

Laboratory instrumentation familiarity

Communication skills

Education

Master's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Job description

Advanced HDD Technology Designs and Integration (Hardware/Firmware Engineer)

• Full-time
• Job Type (exemption status): Exempt position - Please see related compensation & benefits details below
• Salary Range: 98,000.00-130,700.00
• Business Function: R&D Engineering
• Work Location: Irvine Office--LOC_WDT_USCA01

WD is building the infrastructure behind the AI‑driven data economy.

As AI scales, so does data. Every interaction, every model, every system generates data that must be stored, managed, and made accessible over time. That’s where we come in.

We combine deep engineering expertise with global-scale manufacturing to deliver the storage systems that make AI possible, powering hyperscale data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise infrastructure worldwide.

This isn’t theoretical work. It’s real systems, at real scale, people solving some of the hardest challenges in technology today.

We’re looking for people who want to build, solve, and operate at that level.

Join us and let’s shape the future of data.

Responsibilities

• Development of enabling emerging technologies for next-generation Hard Disk Drive (HDD) products.
• Advanced HDD system design, optimization, and integration of emerging technologies into new product platforms.
• Contribute to the development of next‑generation Heat‑Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) technology, applying innovative engineering solutions to challenging system design problems.
• Participate in the design, development, integration, and validation of hardware and firmware solutions.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams, including hardware engineers, firmware engineers, validation teams, and system architects, to define requirements and deliver products aligned with project objectives.
• Develop clean, efficient, and maintainable code in C/C++ and other relevant programming languages.
• Perform system‑level debugging, root cause analysis, and issue resolution to improve product performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Develop Python‑based automation tools for testing, log analysis, data processing, and validation activities.
• Contribute to technical documentation, architecture reviews, design specifications, and code reviews throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Leverage AI‑assisted development and coding tools to improve engineering productivity, code quality, and debugging efficiency.

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.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Strong foundation in electrical engineering fundamentals, including electromagnetics, electronic circuits, signal integrity, and power integrity analysis.
• Proficiency in C/C++ programming, including debugging and testing.
• Experience with Python or MATLAB for scripting, test automation, and data analysis.
• Familiarity with laboratory instrumentation and signal measurement tools such as oscilloscopes.
• Solid understanding of embedded systems and hardware‑software interaction.
• Academic knowledge of microcontrollers, peripherals, and communication interfaces (e.g., UART).
• Familiarity with firmware testing methodologies and test‑driven development practices.
• Interest in or experience with AI‑assisted software development and engineering productivity tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience or academic background related to HDD systems, HAMR technology, magnetic recording systems, lasers, or optoelectronics is a plus.

What We Offer

• Hands‑on experience developing breakthrough HDD technologies, including prototype system design, optimization, bring‑up, functional verification, failure analysis, and manufacturing support.
• Opportunity to contribute to cutting‑edge HAMR and advanced storage technology innovations.
• Exposure to challenging real‑world hardware, firmware, and systems engineering projects.
• Mentorship and technical guidance from experienced industry experts and engineering leaders.
• A collaborative, innovative, and inclusive culture that supports continuous learning and professional growth.

WD is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, medical condition, civil status, or any other legally protected characteristic. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal" poster. Our pay transparency policy is available here.

Compensation & Benefits Details

• The employee’s pay within the salary range may be based on factors such as relevant education, experience, skills, performance, geographic location, and business needs.
• Non‑exempt employees, if applicable, are eligible for overtime pay pursuant to company policy and applicable laws. Shift differential pay may also apply.
• Employees may be eligible for bonuses under the Short Term Incentive Plan (STI Plan) or the Sales Incentive Plan (SIP). Eligibility for the Long‑Term Incentive (LTI) program, which includes restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, is determined by role and performance.
• Benefits include paid vacation, paid sick leave, medical/dental/vision insurance, life, accident and disability insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, employee assistance program, 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.

WD Ethics Helpline and [e-mail] are available for reporting any concerns.