Manager, Sustaining Program Management

At Western Digital, 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, Western Digital 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.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest growth organizations in the world. From energizing the most competitive gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Binge-watch any shows, use social media or shop online lately? You’ll find Western Digital supporting the storage infrastructure behind many of these platforms. And, that flash memory card that captures and preserves your most precious moments? That’s us, too.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, storage devices and platforms for business and consumers alike. Our data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital®, G-Technology™, SanDisk® and WD® brands.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. It’s You & Western Digital. Together, we’re the next BIG thing in data.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Manager, Sustaining Program Management serves as the focal point for overall sustaining product health — driving execution across customer requirements, product cost, quality, and engineering KPIs. This role operates cross-functionally without direct reports, leading through influence, collaboration, and accountability to deliver against business and customer objectives.

Customer & Product Management

• Obtain customer-specific product requirements, assess and recommend engineering solutions, and drive timely execution to meet customer commitments
• Define and drive product recipe ramp and depletion strategy aligned to customer and WD business needs
• Support customer critical qual sample with 1st time right mindset, understand the customer qual objective, requirement , lesson learnt from previous qual/ programs. Able to support production with equivalent quality level as customer qualification sample

Cost Management

• Serve as the accountable focal point for overall sustaining product cost
• Collaborate with Finance to define optimized product cost strategy and drive execution

Engineering KPI & Roadmap Alignment

• Collaborate with KPI owners to align and rationalize roadmaps ensuring consistent product strategy and execution
• Monitor overall engineering KPI performance and support KPI owners to close gaps vs. plan

Quality Management

• Partner with the Quality team to define and prioritize product improvement strategies
• Monitor quality KPI performance and support functional teams to address gaps vs. plan
• In the event of quality or operational excursions, execute the SSO process and lead the core team through containment, disposition, root cause analysis, and corrective actions that meet optimized business objectives

REQUIRED:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or related field
• Strong business acumen — P&L (profit & lost statement), supply chain, cost, and quality fundamentals
• Executive-level communication and cross-functional influence skills
• Experience in HDD, semiconductor, or storage industry preferred
• Previous experience as an Program Manager or Engineering related
• Fluent in English communication

PREFERRED:

• HDD Fundamental Knowledge
• HDD Process & Technology
• HDD Quality Management
• Operational Management

SKILLS:

• People Management & Development
• Strategic Planning
• Risk & Crisis Management
• Problem-Solving & Decision-Making
• Strong Interpersonal Skills — proactive, accountable, and dynamic

Note: This position has no direct subordinates. Leadership is exercised through cross-functional influence and program accountability.

Reports To: Director, Program Management

Key Stakeholders: BU, Finance, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing

Western Digital 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.

Western Digital 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.

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.

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 .