Storage Hardware Design Engineer

About This Role

Western Digital is hiring a Storage Hardware Design Engineer to develop NVMe SSDs, HDD read/write channel electronics, and NAND Flash controller hardware. Your work will define the storage performance and reliability of products deployed in cloud data centers, enterprise arrays, and consumer PCs worldwide.

Job Overview

• Job Title: Storage Hardware Design Engineer
• Company: Western Digital
• Location: San Jose, CA / Milpitas, CA / Rochester, MN / Longmont, CO / Irvine, CA
• Job Type: Full-time
• Experience Level: Entry to Mid-level (0–3 years)
• Salary Range: $38–$54/hr
• Posted Date: 2026-06-07
• Application Deadline: 2026-07-07

Role Context

Western Digital's hardware engineering spans HDD head and media design, read/write channel analog circuits, NAND flash interface electronics, and SSD controller ASIC design. Hardware engineers work in close teams tied to a specific product line — enterprise SSD, consumer HDD, or embedded flash — and drive development from concept through reliability qualification. The Rochester, MN site focuses on HDD mechanics and head electronics, while San Jose leads SSD controller ASIC development.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and characterize analog front-end circuits for storage read/write channels or NAND interfaces
• Develop test fixtures and measurement setups for PCB and ASIC bring-up
• Analyze signal integrity and jitter performance on high-speed storage interfaces (NVMe/PCIe, SATA)
• Support ASIC verification and post-silicon validation for storage controller chips
• Debug hardware failures and document root cause analysis reports
• Collaborate with firmware engineers on channel tuning and error correction optimization

Requirements & Skills

• BS/MS in Electrical Engineering
• Analog circuit or high-speed digital hardware design experience
• Familiarity with PCIe, NVMe, or SATA storage interface standards is a plus
• Signal integrity analysis skills using tools like HyperLynx or Sigrity
• Lab measurement skills for high-speed signals using oscilloscopes and bit error rate testers
• Interest in storage systems architecture and NAND Flash physics

Benefits & Work Conditions

• $38–$54/hr with WD equity awards and performance bonuses
• Hybrid schedule with lab access as needed
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with Western Digital match and employee stock purchase plan
• Tuition reimbursement and technical certification support

Who Should Apply

Engineers interested in the intersection of analog design and digital storage systems. Western Digital is one of only two vertically integrated HDD companies (with Seagate), giving hardware engineers exposure to the full stack from magnetic recording physics to PCIe SSD architecture in a single company.

About the Company

Western Digital is one of the world's two largest HDD manufacturers and a major NVMe SSD supplier, with products deployed across hyperscale data centers and consumer electronics. Its WD_BLACK SSD line and WD Red NAS drives are market leaders, and its enterprise SSD business serves Google, Amazon, and Microsoft directly.

How to Apply

Apply at Western Digital Jobs. Search "Hardware Engineer." Interview rounds cover analog and digital circuit fundamentals, signal integrity concepts, and a discussion of storage interface protocols relevant to the team's product area.