Senior Engineer – SIT Lab (Customer Validation)

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Lead the verification of compatibility between Western Digital storage drives and enterprise customer systems, serving as a technical owner on qualification status and readiness decisions • Work closely and proactively with development engineering and customer technical support to ensure product design quality, driving cross-functional alignment and advocating for resolution of systemic issues that impact customer satisfaction • Independently configure complex multi-drive systems for test, then expertly monitor, analyze, and interpret drive logs, system logs, and bus signals to assess test status, identify trends, and escalate risk appropriately • Isolate, analyze, and document test failures with depth and precision, conducting root cause analysis and influencing corrective action across engineering teams • Architect, develop, and maintain test scripts and automation frameworks that improve team efficiency, reduce manual effort, and scale across multiple programs and platforms • Create test schedules, write clear and concise reports, and confidently communicate written and verbal status to stakeholders — including customers, management, and cross-functional partners at varying technical levels • Mentor junior engineers and co-ops, sharing technical expertise and best practices to elevate overall team capability • Proactively identify gaps in test coverage, lab processes, or tooling and drive improvements without waiting to be directed REQUIRED • BS degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science • 3+ years of related professional experience systems integration test development, with demonstrated growth in scope and technical ownership • Deep, hands-on experience validating complex enterprise computer systems, including multi-device configurations • Exceptional organization and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent programs and shifting priorities • Proven ability to perform detailed failure analysis and independently lead investigations into complex system hardware and software issues with minimal guidance • Strong and polished verbal and written communication, with the ability to tailor messaging to both technical and non-technical audiences PREFERRED • Application-level scripting (Python, Perl, Tcl, etc.), including development of reusable frameworks or parsers used across programs • Strong working knowledge of storage interface protocols (SATA, SAS, NVMe), including an understanding of protocol-level behavior relevant to failure analysis • Application-level programming (Java, C++, C#, etc.) with a track record of delivering tools or automation that benefited the broader team • Experience installing, operating, and troubleshooting Windows and Linux server storage systems in enterprise or lab environments • Demonstrated ability to speak confidently about complex technical topics with customers and stakeholders, including presenting findings, defending qualification decisions, and representing the team externally Senior-level contributors are expected to operate with a high degree of independence, take ownership of program outcomes, actively develop others, and bring continuous improvement thinking to everything they do. Western Digital 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 stereotypical