Western Digital
Manufacturing
Manager5,ProgramManagement
Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for mid candidates.
“Manager 5, Program Management at Western Digital. Skills: Factory start-up, Ramp execution, Process engineering, Cross-functional coordination, Team leadership. Lead engineering activities for new factory setup. Drive qualification processes”
What You'll Achieve.
On-time factory readiness; Successful production ramp; Yield targets achieved; Throughput targets achieved; Cycle time targets achieved; Equipment uptime metrics; Process capability metrics; Zero major safety incidents; Team capability development; Team retention
Industry & Context.
Problem-solving; Root cause analysis
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, 8–12+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, Startup/ramp experience preferred, Proven track record in equipment installation, Proven track record in qualification, Proven track record in process development
Nice to Have
Experience in working cross functional departments, Leadership experience managing engineering teams, Experience in high-volume manufacturing environments
What You'll Do.
Lead engineering activities for new factory setup
Drive qualification processes
Identify technical risks
Mitigate technical risks
Define manufacturing processes
Develop manufacturing processes
Optimize manufacturing processes
Oversee equipment selection
Oversee equipment installation
Oversee equipment calibration
Oversee equipment validation
Implement continuous improvement initiatives
Act as engineering interface
Support supplier engagement
Support technical issue resolution
Build engineering team
Lead engineering team
Develop engineering team
Define responsibilities
Define performance expectations
Foster culture of ownership
Foster culture of accountability
Foster culture of collaboration
Ensure compliance with standards
Ensure compliance with regulations
Drive root cause analysis
Drive corrective actions
Drive preventive actions
Ensure documentation readiness
Promote safety culture
Ensure adherence to EHS requirements
Conduct risk assessments
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Cross-functional coordination; Interface with Operations; Interface with Quality; Interface with Supply Chain; Interface with Facilities; Interface with EHS
Process & Methodology
Ramp plan execution, Timeline alignment, Deliverable alignment
Full Job Description
At WD, 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, WD 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 and capture the first-ever picture of a black hole. We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, HDDs, and platforms for business, creative professionals, and consumers alike under our Western Digital®, WD®, and WD_BLACK™. We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest-growth organizations in the world. From enabling systems to make cities safer and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and hyperscale cloud providers, to meeting the massive and ever-growing data storage needs of the AI era, WD is fueling a brighter, smarter future. Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. Together, we can build the future of data storage. The Program Manager will lead the technical and operational readiness for a new manufacturing facility, driving equipment installation, process setup, qualification, and production ramp. This role ensures the factory achieves safe, efficient, and high-quality output through strong cross-functional coordination and engineering leadership. Key Responsibilities 1. Factory Start-Up & Ramp Execution • Lead end-to-end engineering activities for new factory setup (facility readiness, equipment installation, and commissioning) • Drive qualification processes to ensure production readiness • Establish and execute ramp plan to meet output, yield, and quality targets • Identify and mitigate technical risks during start-up phase 2. Process & Equipment Engineering • Define, develop, and optimize manufacturing processes • Oversee equipment selection, installation, calibration, and validation • Ensure process capability (CPK), cycle time, and
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