Vice President, Platform Engineering
Western Digital
San Jose, CA, United States Posted November 3, 2026
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Job Description
The VP of Engineering for Platforms will lead the engineering organization responsible for designing, developing, and scaling next-generation, high-density hardware storage architectures. This role owns the execution of the storage platform roadmap—spanning ultra-dense JBODs and storage servers. You will manage a cross-functional department of hardware, firmware, and manufacturing operations engineers to deliver reliable, highly serviceable, and cost-efficient hardware storage solutions optimized for hyperscale datacenters and modern AI workloads.
Core Responsibilities
Strategic Execution: Drive the development lifecycles of next-generation high-capacity storage enclosures from initial concept through architecture, board bring-up, validation, and global high-volume manufacturing.
Engineering Leadership: Build, manage, and mentor a high-performance team of engineering directors, managers, and principal architects across electrical, mechanical, firmware, and operations domains.
Manufacturing Operations & CM Governance: Oversee the manufacturing engineering and operations teams responsible for transitioning designs from the lab to the factory floor. Own product delivery through Contract Manufacturing (CM) execution, ensuring seamless handoffs, yields, and quality controls and acting as the executive escalation point.
NPI & Mass Production Lifecycle: Drive early-stage prototype NPI (New Product Introduction) builds, factory bring-up, and engineering validation tests (EVT/DVT/PVT), while establishing the processes required to scale smoothly into high-volume mass production.
Vendor & Supply Chain Management: Lead technical engagements and design reviews with silicon suppliers, component vendors, and CM partners to enforce Design for Manufacturability (DFM), assembly (DFA), and cost-reduction targets.
Operational Excellence: Oversee the departmental budget, capital allocation for lab instrumentation, headcount planning, factory tooling costs, and organizational risk mitigation strategies.
Customer knowledge: Demonstrate deep understanding of customers and their data center ecosystems to inform technical product development.
️ Technical & Operations Domain Expertise
High-Speed Bus Interfaces: Directional oversight on complex multi-layer PCB design incorporating cutting-edge signaling interfaces like PCIe Gen 6/7, SAS (12G/24G), SATA, and high-speed SERDES.
Chassis & Power Engineering: Ensuring physical architectures successfully balance high disk/flash densities with strict thermal dynamics, airflow constraints, and robust Power Distribution Networks (PDN).
Industrial & Manufacturing Scaling: Deep understanding of manufacturing test development, structural test metrics, assembly line optimization, and scaling supply chain logistics for complex electromechanical assemblies.
Required Skills
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