HDD Servo Processing Subsystem Architecture Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Company Description

WD is building the infrastructure behind the AI-driven data economy.

As AI scales, so does data. Every interaction, every model, every system generates data that must be stored, managed, and made accessible over time. That’s where we come in.

We combine deep engineering expertise with global-scale manufacturing to deliver the storage systems that make AI possible, powering hyperscale data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise infrastructure worldwide.

This isn’t theoretical work. It’s real systems, at real scale, people solving some of the hardest challenges in technology today.

We’re looking for people who want to build, solve, and operate at that level.

Join us and let’s shape the future of data.

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced HDD Servo Processing Subsystem Architecture Lead to join our organization in San Jose, CA, United States. In this pivotal role, you will drive the strategic vision and execution of the servo real-time compute platform architecture—encompassing firmware architecture, instruction set architecture (ISA), and SoC microarchitecture—to enable next-generation HDD products with multiple concurrent data streams and multi-actuator control. You will be accountable for defining a coherent, scalable platform strategy that balances technical feasibility with economic viability across program schedules, power envelopes, and cost constraints. This position offers the opportunity to shape the future of storage technology while leading cross-functional teams across multiple locations and technical disciplines.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define and maintain a future-state servo real-time compute architecture and ISA that scales from single to multiple concurrent data streams and supports concurrent control of multiple actuators and heads, with explicit guidance to SoC and servo teams on power, area, and performance trade-offs
• Co-lead SoC microarchitecture decisions affecting servo compute, including core count and placement, memory hierarchy, interconnect design, and dynamic control accelerators, ensuring that FPGA prototype work and accelerator designs map cleanly into production-ready firmware and tools models
• Own servo compute resource management and budgeting, including instruction/data memory allocation, processor cycle and path-length limits, and regression thresholds; drive adherence through continuous integration practices to prevent late-stage resource conflicts 
• Lead the co-design of firmware platform architecture, including core control-loop implementations, multi-cluster and multi-actuator orchestration, and cross-generation stability, ensuring deterministic real-time performance across multiple SoC generations
• Drive evolution of the servo compute tooling ecosystem—including internal compiler, real-time compute platform simulator, Renode-based system simulation, debug and diagnostics tools, and profiling/debug flows—to support multi-cluster, multi-stream characterization and debugging by servo, manufacturing, and validation teams
• Coordinate across geographically distributed teams (servo firmware (FW), SoC architecture/design, recording subsystem/algorithms, servo tools, manufacturing FW, and test) to align platform decisions with program risk, schedules, yield, and customer experience objectives
• Deliver a major multi-stream and multi-actuator capability that meets control performance and power targets on a new SoC generation, demonstrating the viability of the defined architecture and ISA
• Strengthen the organizational pipeline by evolving servo compute training, standards, and review processes into a broader platform curriculum, enabling more engineers to safely contribute to platform-level code and architectural changes
• Conduct technical reviews and provide architectural guidance to engineering teams throughout the product development lifecycle, ensuring alignment with platform strategy and resource constraints
• Analyze and optimize servo loop performance through modeling, simulation, and real-world validation using tools such as MATLAB and Simulink, with focus on multi-actuator control scenarios and high-bandwidth data paths
• Develop and document architectural standards, design guidelines, and best practices for servo subsystem development, including guidance on HAMR, laser, spacing, and read/write channel control parameter mapping to the compute platform
• Mentor and develop junior engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, platform thinking, and continuous improvement in servo compute architecture
• Communicate technical concepts, architectural trade-offs, and strategic recommendations to senior management and cross-functional stakeholders

Qualifications

REQUIRED

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or an equivalent degree and professional experience
• Master's degree or relevant professional certification (e.g., in embedded systems, real-time architecture) desirable
• PhD or specialist certification with demonstrated expertise in real-time, multi-core computing platform architecture highly desirable
• 10+ years of professional experience in embedded architecture and development, with specific focus on real-time control, storage technology, or related servo control applications
• 5+ years of experience as a project technical leader or in senior technical leadership roles, demonstrating strong leadership and commitment to delivering results
• Deep expertise in digital signal processing and real-time systems development
• Demonstrated experience with FPGA and/or ASIC design for servo processing applications

SKILLS

• Advanced programming skills in C/C++ and experience with hardware description languages (HDL)
• Proficiency with MATLAB, Simulink, and other modeling and simulation tools
• Deep expertise with specialized simulation and development tools including Renode, Verilator, and LLVM
• Solid understanding of hardware-software co-design and system-level integration
• Strong proficiency in servo control theory, including loop design, stability analysis, and performance optimization highly desirable
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams across geographically distributed locations and manage complex technical projects
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with meticulous attention to detail
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaborative skills, including strong presentation abilities, with demonstrated capability to work effectively across worldwide engineering teams in English
• Experience with product development lifecycle and design for manufacturability principles
• Familiarity with industry standards and best practices in storage technology
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment

 

Additional Information

WD 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 stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster. Our pay transparency policy is available HERE

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 View email address on ziprecruiter.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.

Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 08/04/2026 , although we reserve the right to close the application process sooner if we hire an applicant for this position before the application deadline. If we are not able to hire someone from this role before the application deadline, we will update this posting with a new anticipated application deadline.

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Compensation & Benefits Details

• An employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
• The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting.  We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York.  This range may be modified in the future.
• If your position is non-exempt, you are eligible for overtime pay pursuant to company policy and applicable laws.  You may also be eligible for shift differential pay, depending on the shift to which you are assigned.

• You will be eligible to be considered for bonuses under  either WD’s Short Term Incentive Plan (“STI Plan”) or the Sales Incentive Plan (“SIP”) which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance, depending on your role and your performance. You may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to WD's Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.

• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical/dental/vision insurance; life, accident and disability insurance; tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program; other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity; tuition reimbursement; transit; the Applause Program; employee stock purchase plan; and the WD Savings 401(k) Plan.
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.

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 View email address on ziprecruiter.com.