Principal Engineer, SSD Validation

1000 Micron Technology, Inc.; Longmont (CO); On-site; USD 154,000 - 303,000; Full time

Job summary

Micron Technology, Inc. in Colorado seeks a Principal Engineer to shape validation strategy and coverage for Data Center SSDs. You will translate customer requirements into actionable plans and drive AI-assisted coverage across programs.

Lead validation initiatives, mentor engineers, and collaborate with architecture, firmware, system and product teams to improve validation effectiveness and decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Data Science, or related field.
• 8+ years in Data Center SSD, storage systems, validation or related disciplines.
• Experience with data analytics, automation, AI-assisted tools, or ML techniques.

Responsibilities

• Define validation strategies and coverage architectures for next-gen DC SSDs.
• Develop scalable validation methodologies to improve coverage and reduce risk.
• Translate requirements into validation objectives and coverage criteria.
• Lead assessments and identify validation gaps across features and workloads.
• Create workload-driven validation models and characterization strategies.
• Drive AI-assisted validation initiatives and adaptive coverage planning.
• Apply analytics and AI to improve validation planning and failure analysis.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to align validation with risk and priorities.
• Present strategic validation guidance to leadership and engineers.
• Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across the validation community.

Skills

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analytics

AI-assisted tooling

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's or PhD preferred

Job description

Our vision is to transform how the world uses information to enrich life for all. Micron Technology is a world leader in innovating memory and storage solutions that accelerate the transformation of information into intelligence, inspiring the world to learn, communicate and advance faster than ever. Our vision is to transform how the world uses information to enrich life for all. Micron Technology is a world leader in innovating memory and storage solutions that accelerate the transformation of information into intelligence, inspiring the world to learn, communicate and advance faster than ever.

Position Overview

As a Principal Engineer within the Validation Strategy & Test Architecture organization, you will define and drive the future of validation strategy, coverage architecture, and next-generation validation solutions for Micron's Data Center SSD portfolio. This role focuses on identifying validation gaps, developing scalable coverage methodologies, evaluating emerging technologies, and improving validation effectiveness through strategic, data-driven approaches. You will work closely with architecture, firmware, system, product, and validation teams to translate customer requirements, product architectures, field learnings, and technology roadmaps into actionable validation strategies and reusable coverage solutions. The role will also help drive adoption of AI-assisted engineering capabilities, leveraging Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), Agentic AI, and advanced analytics to improve coverage analysis, requirements understanding, engineering productivity, and validation decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Define validation strategies and coverage architectures for next-generation Data Center SSD technologies and customer deployments.
• Develop scalable validation methodologies that improve coverage quality, execution efficiency, and risk assessment across multiple programs.
• Analyze customer requirements, product specifications, and architecture designs to derive validation requirements and coverage objectives.
• Lead coverage assessments and identify validation gaps across features, workloads, and system-level interactions.
• Develop customer use-case-driven validation models and workload characterization strategies.
• Drive next-generation validation initiatives through technology evaluation, innovation, and proof-of-concept development.
• Apply AI-assisted techniques, Generative AI, and LLMs to improve requirements analysis, coverage assessment, technical knowledge discovery, and validation planning.
• Leverage data analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence to improve coverage analysis, failure investigation, and validation planning.
• Collaborate across engineering organizations to align validation strategy with product risk, customer expectations, and business priorities.
• Present technical recommendations and strategic direction to engineering and executive leadership.
• Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across the validation community.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of experience in Data Center SSD, storage systems, firmware, validation, systems engineering, or related technical disciplines.
• Strong understanding of Data Center SSD architecture, NAND technologies, storage protocols, firmware algorithms, and enterprise storage systems.
• Proven experience developing validation strategies, qualification methodologies, coverage assessments, or architecture-level validation solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex technical requirements and translate them into effective validation approaches.
• Experience leveraging data analytics, automation, AI-assisted tools, or machine learning techniques to solve engineering challenges.
• Strong technical communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proven ability to drive technical initiatives across multiple engineering organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Experience with hyperscale, cloud, and enterprise Data Center SSD deployments.
• Knowledge of NVMe, FDP, Dual Port, QLC, OCP SSD, virtualization, storage performance, reliability, and data center storage ecosystems.
• Experience with coverage modeling, risk assessment, workload characterization, and validation architecture.
• Familiarity with requirements management, traceability, and coverage management methodologies.
• Experience applying data analytics, AI/ML, automation, or software engineering techniques to engineering workflows.
• Experience with Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), Agentic AI, AI-assisted engineering tools, or advanced analytics.
• Demonstrated success influencing technical strategy at an organizational level.

About the Team

The Validation Strategy & Test Architecture team is responsible for defining the "what" and "why" of validation. The organization develops validation strategies, coverage architectures, gap analysis methodologies, and future-ready validation solutions that can be adopted across Data Center SSD programs. The team focuses on improving validation effectiveness, identifying emerging risks, evaluating new technologies, and enabling scalable validation practices across the broader engineering organization. A key focus area is leveraging AI-assisted engineering, advanced analytics, automation, and emerging AI technologies to improve coverage analysis, engineering insight, and validation efficiency.

Compensation

The US base salary range that Micron Technology estimates it could pay for this full-time position is: $154,000.00 - $303,000.00 a year. Additional compensation may include benefits, bonuses and equity. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target base pay for new hire salaries of the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional job-related factors, including knowledge, skills, experience, tenure and relevant education or training. The pay scale is subject to change depending on business needs. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits.

Benefits

As a world leader in the semiconductor industry, Micron is dedicated to your personal wellbeing and professional growth. Micron benefits are designed to help you stay well, provide peace of mind and help you prepare for the future. We offer a choice of medical, dental and vision plans in all locations enabling team members to select the plans that best meet their family healthcare needs and budget. Micron also provides benefit programs that help protect your income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury, and paid family leave. Additionally, Micron benefits include a robust paid time-off program and paid holidays. For additional information regarding the Benefit programs available, please see the Benefits Guide posted on micron.com/careers/benefits.

Equal Opportunity

Micron is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Micron Prohibits the use of child labor and complies with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and other international and industry labor standards.

Micron does not charge candidates any recruitment fees or unlawfully collect any other payment from candidates as consideration for their employment with Micron.

To learn more about Micron, please visit micron.com/careers.