System Integration Test (SIT) Lab Program Manager

System Integration Test (SIT) Lab Program Manager Full-time Job Type (exemption status): Exempt position - Please see related compensation & benefits details below Business Function: Program Management Engineering Work Location: Rochester Office--LOC_HGST_PLR 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.

Why Join Us The SIT Lab is at the center of WD's product quality story. Our team validates WD's HDD products against the world's most demanding hyperscale and enterprise customers—ensuring that what ships is ready for the real world. As a Program Manager in our PMO, you'll work at the intersection of engineering, program management, and customer engagement, with visibility across WD's product roadmap and direct influence on the decisions that matter. You'll be part of a team that's actively transforming how we work through new tools, processes, and technologies—and you'll have the opportunity to help shape that transformation.

A SIT Lab Program Manager serves as the primary bridge between the SIT Lab and the broader cross-functional organization—owning the SIT Lab's validation plans for multiple development and sustaining programs, influencing program-level decisions, and driving the lab's readiness for product launches across WD's HDD portfolio. The ideal candidate operates with a high degree of independence, brings expert-level knowledge of SIT Lab processes and HDD storage technologies, and has a demonstrated ability to influence decisions and drive outcomes across organizational boundaries without formal authority. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Program Ownership & Communication Own the SIT Lab validation plan for assigned Development and Sustaining programs from staging through QSR Serve as the primary SIT Lab focal point for one or more Program Core Team(s) on all program-related matters Partner with the SIT Lab Technology Development team to prepare the SIT Lab for programs in the pipeline and coordinate all activities leading up to QSR Provide regular communication to SIT Lab teams on code releases, program timelines, and program-related updates Provide periodic milestone summary communications to SIT Lab management and Core Teams Actively participate in quarterly program reviews to help the team plan and manage roadmap demands, discuss continuous improvement initiatives, and conduct retrospectives Proactively identify program risks and issues and drive them to resolution in a timely manner Cross-Functional Influence Represent the SIT Lab in Core Team meetings across multiple programs Influence the SIT Lab validation plan for products in any phase of the product lifecycle Influence program-level decisions by understanding the broader development process and its dependencies on SIT Lab outputs Participate in and contribute to release discussions and phase gate decisions based on SIT Lab quality data and business needs Drive cross-functional influence across multiple departments to resolve issues, align on plans, and deliver on commitments Leadership & Organizational Contribution Regularly present program status, risks, and milestone summaries to SIT Lab staff and Quality Management; occasionally present to the Executive Leadership Team Lead and coordinate large-scale projects that have impact