Manager 5, Program Management Engineering

Company Description

At WD, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible.

At our core, WD is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology. For decades, we’ve been doing just that—our technology helped people put a man on the moon and capture the first-ever picture of a black hole.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, HDDs, and platforms for business, creative professionals, and consumers alike under our Western Digital®, WD®, and WD_BLACK™.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest-growth organizations in the world. From enabling systems to make cities safer and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and hyperscale cloud providers, to meeting the massive and ever-growing data storage needs of the AI era, WD is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. Together, we can build the future of data storage.

Job Description

The Program Manager will lead the technical and operational readiness for a new manufacturing facility, driving equipment installation, process setup, qualification, and production ramp. This role ensures the factory achieves safe, efficient, and high-quality output through strong cross-functional coordination and engineering leadership.

Key Responsibilities

1. Factory Start-Up & Ramp Execution
• Lead end-to-end engineering activities for new factory setup (facility readiness, equipment installation, and commissioning)
• Drive qualification processes  to ensure production readiness
• Establish and execute ramp plan to meet output, yield, and quality targets
• Identify and mitigate technical risks during start-up phase

2. Process & Equipment Engineering
• Define, develop, and optimize manufacturing processes
• Oversee equipment selection, installation, calibration, and validation
• Ensure process capability (CPK), cycle time, and efficiency targets are achieved
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and yield

3. Cross-Functional Coordination
• Act as primary engineering interface with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Facilities, and EHS
• Align timelines and deliverables across teams to meet ramp milestones
• Support supplier engagement and technical issue resolution

4. Team Leadership & Capability Building
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing engineering team
• Define roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations
• Coach engineers on problem-solving, root cause analysis, and technical skills
• Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and collaboration

5. Quality & Compliance
• Ensure compliance with internal standards and external regulations
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA)
• Support audits and ensure documentation readiness

6. Safety & Risk Management
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure adherence to EHS requirements
• Conduct risk assessments for new processes and equipment
• Ensure safe startup and operation of all systems

⸻

Key Deliverables / KPIs
• On-time factory readiness and successful production ramp
• Yield, throughput, and cycle time targets achieved
• Equipment uptime and process capability metrics
• Zero major safety incidents
• Team capability development and retention

Qualifications

Required :

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, or related)
• 8–12+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, with startup/ramp experience preferred
• Proven track record in equipment installation, qualification, and process development

Preferred : 

• Experience in working cross functional departments.

Skills

• Strong leadership experience managing engineering teams
• Experience in high-volume manufacturing environments (e.g., electronics, semiconductor, HDD media, etc.)

Additional Information

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 jobs.accommodations@wdc.com 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.

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 compliance@wdc.com.