Principal Engineer, Storage Product Standards

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Samsung Semiconductor is seeking a Principal Engineer, Storage Product Standards with recognized influence across the global storage ecosystem to drive our next-generation Enterprise and Datacenter (DC) storage technology roadmap. This role focuses on driving industry standards within NVMe (including NVMe-oF) and the Open Compute Project (OCP) Storage Project, while leveraging SNIA frameworks to manage lifecycle, data attributes, and data orchestration. You will utilize your deep domain credibility and extensive industry network to advocate for our technical and strategic interests externally—ensuring strict alignment with major hyperscale cloud vendors—while directly bridging the gap with Samsung's internal R&D teams to maximize the market compliance, compatibility, and synergy of Samsung's cutting-edge memory and SSD solutions.

Location: Daily onsite presence at our San Jose headquarters in alignment with our Flexible Work policy with 10% of domestic travel.

Reports to: VP, Technical Marketing

What You’ll Do

• Technical Contribution: Propose, draft, and review technical specifications and proposals within NVMe and OCP working groups.
• Ecosystem Leadership: Act as a premier thought leader and key influencer within the broader storage community, serving in high-profile leadership positions (e.g., Committee Chair, Board Member, or Workgroup Lead) within NVMe, OCP, or SNIA boards.
• Industry Influence: Leverage an established technical network and a proven track record of influence within the storage industry to accelerate the adoption of favorable standards.
• Strategic Representation: Own technical voting seats and actively influence core NVMe and OCP committees to align industry standards with Samsung's core product capabilities, and technological strengths.
• IP and Innovation: Identify, draft, and secure patents for proprietary storage technologies during the early phases of the standardization process to protect Samsung's intellectual property.
• Samsung Product Alignment: Translate specific hyperscaler requirements—such as Microsoft’s Azure Cloud SSD specifications and Meta’s platform requirements—into actionable features for Samsung’s enterprise SSD controller and firmware architectures.
• Technology Roadmap Mapping: Analyze emerging standards and translate them into direct, actionable product requirements for internal R&D teams.
• Hyperscale-Samsung Collaboration: Jointly develop next-generation storage architectures (e.g., custom form factors like E1.S/E3, or advanced features like FDP) directly with architects from AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft, Meta, and Samsung's product planning units.
• SNIA Standards Implementation: Collaborate SNIA specification initiative into Samsung SSD management interfaces for unified datacenter storage orchestration.
• Compliance & Integration: Partner with to ensure hardware and firmware align strictly with standard OCP compliance tests and specific cloud vendor qualification suites.
• Competitive Intelligence: Monitor, evaluate, and report on competitor strategies, technical directions, and voting patterns within standardization committees.
• Outbound Technical Marketing and Customer Education: Create customer-facing technical whitepapers, solution briefs, and education materials for Eco/Standard activities. Build thought-leadership materials similar to leading ecosystem education efforts by major competitors.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field with 20+ years experience or a Master’s Degree with 18+ years experience or a Ph.D. with 15+ years experience
• Minimum of 10+ years of direct experience in the storage industry, including foundational hands-on experience with legacy HDD technology and systems alongside modern NAND flash and SSD development.
• Verified track record of strategic influence, technical contributions, or committee leadership within core storage industry bodies, consortiums, or major cross-industry vendor alliances.
• Hyperscaler Familiarity: Proven experience designing or standardizing storage solutions that satisfy OCP Datacenter NVMe SSD Specifications mandated by major cloud vendors (e.g., Meta, Microsoft).
• Protocol & Architecture Mastery: Deep technical knowledge of PCIe/NVMe protocols, specialized enterprise features like FDP (Flexible Data Placement) and telemetry, anchored by a foundational understanding of legacy enterprise storage protocols (SAS/SATA/SCSI).
• SNIA Knowledge: Practical understanding of SNIA frameworks for storage management and SNIA's enduring models for data security and data lifecycle tracking.
• Samsung Portfolio Synergy:Ability to quickly master and leverage Samsung's proprietary SSD technologies, flash translation layers (FTL), and custom controller roadmaps to guide standardization proposals.
• Exceptional written and verbal English communication skills, with a proven ability to lead technical debates, author formal specifications, and build consensus among external competitors, partners, and cloud clients.
• You’re inclusive, adapting your style to the situation and diverse global norms of our people.
• An avid learner, you approach challenges with curiosity and resilience, seeking data to help build understanding.
• You’re collaborative, building relationships, humbly offering support and openly welcoming approaches.
• Innovative and creative, you proactively explore new ideas and adapt quickly to change.

#LI-MD1

What We Offer
The pay range below is for all roles at this level across all US locations and functions. Pay within this range varies by work location and may also depend on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. We also offer incentive opportunities that reward employees based on individual and company performance.

This is in addition to our diverse package of benefits centered around the wellbeing of our employees and their loved ones. In addition to the usual Medical/Dental/Vision/401k, our inclusive rewards plan empowers our people to care for their whole selves. An investment in your future is an investment in ours.

Give Back With a charitable giving match and frequent opportunities to get involved, we take an active role in supporting the community.
Enjoy Time Away You’ll start with 4+ weeks of paid time off a year, plus holidays and sick leave, to rest and recharge.
Care for Family Whatever family means to you, we want to support you along the way—including a stipend for fertility care or adoption, medical travel support, and virtual vet care for your fur babies.
Prioritize Emotional Wellness With on-demand apps and free confidential therapy sessions, you’ll have support no matter where you are.
Stay Fit Eating well and being active are important parts of a healthy life. Our onsite Café and gym, plus virtual classes, make it easier.
Embrace Flexibility Benefits are best when you have the space to use them. That’s why we facilitate a flexible environment so you can find the right balance for you.

Base Pay Range

$219,000—$351,000 USD

Equal Opportunity Employment Policy

Samsung Semiconductor takes pride in being an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to fostering an environment where all individuals feel valued and empowered to excel, regardless of race, religion, color, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, or veteran status.

When selecting team members, we prioritize talent and qualities such as humility, kindness, and dedication. We extend comprehensive accommodations throughout our recruiting processes for candidates with disabilities, long-term conditions, neurodivergent individuals, or those requiring pregnancy-related support. All candidates scheduled for an interview will receive guidance on requesting accommodations.

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At Samsung Semiconductor, we use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the recruitment process to enhance efficiency. However, AI is used as a support tool, not a final decision-maker. All hiring decisions are made by our human recruiting team and hiring managers to ensure every candidate is evaluated fairly and holistically.

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At Samsung Semiconductor, we support innovation and technology. However, to ensure a fair and authentic assessment, we ask that candidates rely on their own knowledge and skills throughout the process. AI tools may be used for basic preparation, grammar, and research, but should not be used to generate or assist with submitted content or live interview responses. If we determine that AI is being used outside these guidelines, we reserve the right to pause or end the interview, and your candidacy may be disqualified.

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