System Integration Test (SIT) Lab Program Manager

Job description

Why Join Us The SIT Lab is at the center of WD's product quality story. Our team validates WD's HDD products against the world's most demanding hyperscale and enterprise customers—ensuring that what ships is ready for the real world. As a Program Manager in our PMO, you'll work at the intersection of engineering, program management, and customer engagement, with visibility across WD's product roadmap and direct influence on the decisions that matter. You'll be part of a team that's actively transforming how we work through new tools, processes, and technologies—and you'll have the opportunity to help shape that transformation. About the Role A SIT Lab Program Manager serves as the primary bridge between the SIT Lab and the broader cross-functional organization—owning the SIT Lab's validation plans for multiple development and sustaining programs, influencing program-level decisions, and driving the lab's readiness for product launches across WD's HDD portfolio. The ideal candidate operates with a high degree of independence, brings expert-level knowledge of SIT Lab processes and HDD storage technologies, and has a demonstrated ability to influence decisions and drive outcomes across organizational boundaries without formal authority. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Program Ownership & Communication Own the SIT Lab validation plan for assigned Development and Sustaining programs from staging through QSR Serve as the primary SIT Lab focal point for one or more Program Core Team(s) on all program-related matters Partner with the SIT Lab Technology Development team to prepare the SIT Lab for programs in the pipeline and coordinate all activities leading up to QSR Provide regular communication to SIT Lab teams on code releases, program timelines, and program-related updates Provide periodic milestone summary communications to SIT Lab management and Core Teams Actively participate in quarterly program reviews to help the team plan and manage roadmap demands, discuss continuous improvement initiatives, and conduct retrospectives Proactively identify program risks and issues and drive them to resolution in a timely manner Cross-Functional Influence Represent the SIT Lab in Core Team meetings across multiple programs Influence the SIT Lab validation plan for products in any phase of the product lifecycle Influence program-level decisions by understanding the broader development process and its dependencies on SIT Lab outputs Participate in and contribute to release discussions and phase gate decisions based on SIT Lab quality data and business needs Drive cross-functional influence across multiple departments to resolve issues, align on plans, and deliver on commitments Leadership & Organizational Contribution Regularly present program status, risks, and milestone summaries to SIT Lab staff and Quality Management; occasionally present to the Executive Leadership Team Lead and coordinate large-scale projects that have impact within and outside the SIT Lab Actively participate in transformational initiatives that shape the long-term strategy and success of the SIT Lab Participate in cross-functional continuous improvement projects and process improvement initiatives Formally lead and mentor other team members within the SIT Lab PMO and broader organization Contribute to the SIT Lab's technical direction and identify opportunities to improve processes and systems What We're Looking For Technical Knowledge Excellent understanding of HDD storage technologies—interface protocols, recording technology, firmware architecture, and storage sub-components Advanced understanding of firmware architecture and firmware features Mastery of defect tracker usage and best practices Expert ability to understand, facilitate, and communicate risk assessment discussions Expert ability to prepare and deliver executive-level summaries and program communications Program Management Expert understanding and application of effective program management methods and processes Demonstrated ability to own and manage complex, multi-customer validation programs end-to-end with minimal direction Proven ability to proactively identify program risks and drive resolution across organizational boundaries Ability to lead and coordinate large-scale projects with cross-functional impact Domain Knowledge Expert understanding of WD customer segments and markets Expert understanding of the HDD storage landscape and WD's technology and roadmap Strong understanding of functional areas within and outside the SIT Lab Advanced understanding of the future of storage technologies and industry trends Leadership & Influence Demonstrated ability to influence decisions and outcomes across multiple departments without formal authority Experience formally leading and mentoring others Ability to contribute to organizational strategy and identify areas for process improvement Comfortable presenting to senior and executive leadership Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field 10+ years of related experience in program management, product validation, or a related engineering role within the HDD or data storage industry Demonstrated expertise in HDD storage technologies and product validation processes Proven track record of managing complex programs across multiple customers and organizational boundaries Preferred Qualifications Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field Experience in a SIT Lab or Quality organization within WD or a comparable data storage company Familiarity with WD's product development lifecycle, Core Team structure, and qualification processes Experience leading cross-functional transformation or continuous improvement initiatives WD is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person’s gender identity, gender expression, and gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, 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 " Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal ” poster. Our pay transparency policy is available here . WD 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. WD 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 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. #LI-TD1 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. 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 WD’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 WD'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 WD 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 WD and its subsidiaries will never request payment as a condition for applying for a position or receiving an offer of employment. Should you encounter any such requests, please report it immediately to WD Ethics Helpline or email . 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.