External SSD Program Manager

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.

The Program Manager for External SSDs is responsible for overseeing both new product introductions (NPIs) and the ongoing sustaining activities for existing, in-market products. This role will ensure the seamless coordination of all product launch activities while also managing post-launch product improvements, updates, and lifecycle support. Working closely with cross-functional teams—such as operations, legal, support, web, creative production, industrial design, product management, and product marketing—this individual will ensure the successful introduction and sustained success of external SSD products. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

New Product Launch Coordination: 

• Lead the execution of all product launch activities for new external SSD products. 

• Develop comprehensive launch plans, including schedules, milestones, and deliverables, ensuring all cross-functional teams—operations, legal, marketing, industrial design, etc.—are aligned and working toward key deadlines. 

• Organize and lead cross-functional meetings to ensure clarity, address issues, and adjust strategies as needed to meet launch goals. 

• Act as the main point of contact for all internal teams during the new product introduction process, ensuring seamless communication and execution across departments. 

Sustaining Product Management: 

• Oversee sustaining activities for already shipping external SSD products by managing post-launch product life cycles 

• Collaborate with engineering, support, and operations teams to identify and implement necessary improvements, firmware updates, or product adjustments to enhance performance or address issues. 

• Work with marketing and sales to implement strategies that extend the lifecycle and relevance of existing products in the market. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration: 

• Serve as the primary interface between product management, industrial design, marketing, and other internal teams to ensure that both new and existing products meet customer expectations and market demands. 

• Collaborate with operations to ensure that all logistical aspects of product launches and ongoing production are efficient and cost-effective. 

• Partner with legal to ensure product compliance with all relevant regulations and standards, both during launch and for in-market products. 

• Coordinate with customer support to ensure that both new and existing products are fully supported with documentation, training, and technical resources. 

Project Management and Execution: 

• Manage detailed project timelines, ensuring all teams adhere to deadlines for both new product launches and sustaining activities. 

• Proactively identify potential risks or issues in both new and existing product workflows and work with cross-functional teams to mitigate them. 

• Ensure all product-related assets (e.g., web content, marketing materials, technical documentation) are updated and optimized for both new and existing products. 

Stakeholder Communication: 

• Regularly provide status updates to leadership on both new product launches and ongoing sustaining activities, including risks, milestones, and key performance indicators. 

• Act as the central communication hub for all teams involved in both the product launch and sustaining process, ensuring that all stakeholders are informed and aligned. 

REQUIRED:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or a related field. An advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) is a plus. 

• Experience: 5+ years of experience as a program manager or in a similar role, with expertise in managing both new product launches and sustaining activities for in-market products. 

• Proven ability to manage cross-functional teams and oversee complex product lifecycles from introduction through post-launch support. 

• Experience in the technology or consumer electronics industry, particularly in storage products like SSDs, is highly preferred. 

SKILLS:

• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple product initiatives simultaneously, including new launches and sustaining efforts. 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to work collaboratively across multiple teams. 

• Deep understanding of product lifecycle management, including sustaining activities, EOL planning, and continuous product improvement. 

• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive in managing both new product launches and the ongoing success of existing products. 

• Proficiency with project management platforms like Jira, Asana, or similar. 

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 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.

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 [email protected] 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 01/24/2025 (3 months from posting), 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.
• You will be eligible to participate in Western Digital’s Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, 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 Western Digital’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 Western Digital 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.