Manager, Firmware Development

Company DescriptionWD 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.

Job Description Position Summary The Manager, Firmware Development leads a team of firmware engineers responsible for the design, development, integration, debug, and delivery of embedded firmware for complex storage products. This role combines people leadership, technical judgment, execution discipline, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure high-quality firmware delivery aligned with product, program, and business objectives.

The Manager will manage engineers with varying levels of firmware development experience, building team capability through clear direction, coaching, prioritization, and performance management. The role partners closely with hardware, systems, validation, program management, quality, and manufacturing teams to develop robust firmware solutions and resolve technical issues across the product lifecycle.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Lead, develop, and retain a team of firmware engineers working across architecture, design, implementation, integration, debug, and sustaining activities.

Set clear goals, priorities, and execution plans for the team, ensuring alignment with product roadmaps, schedule commitments, and quality expectations.

Drive firmware development using disciplined engineering practices, including design reviews, coding standards, defect management, test strategy, and release readiness.

Provide technical and organizational leadership for embedded firmware development, including data structures, software algorithms, drivers, control paths, and hardware interfaces.

Guide the team in debugging complex issues across firmware, hardware, system, and platform interactions; support root-cause analysis and corrective action closure.

Partner cross-functionally with ASIC, hardware, systems, validation, manufacturing, reliability, and program teams to deliver complete solutions.

Balance near-term execution with longer-term improvements in team capability, development processes, tools, and technical roadmap.

Review technical designs, development plans, and engineering analyses to ensure sound decisions, clear tradeoffs, and effective risk management.

Establish a high-accountability, collaborative team environment that supports engineers at different experience levels and enables growth in technical depth and ownership.

Manage resource planning, work allocation, hiring, onboarding, and succession planning for the firmware organization.

Communicate status, risks, dependencies, and key technical decisions clearly to the Director of Firmware Development and other stakeholders.

Ensure documentation is complete and maintained throughout the firmware development lifecycle, including requirements, design artifacts, investigations, and release materials.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field; advanced degree preferred.
7+ years of embedded or firmware development experience, with meaningful experience leading engineering teams.
1+ years of…