Senior Director Of IT Devops - Manufacturing Technology

Senior Director Of DevOps

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.

Position Overview

We are seeking a visionary Senior Director of DevOps to lead our manufacturing technology transformation, driving smart automation, data-driven operations, and cloud modernization across our manufacturing enterprise. This strategic role will spearhead the convergence of IT and OT systems, implementing cutting-edge DevOps practices specifically tailored for manufacturing environments.

Key Responsibilities

Platform Engineering for Smart Automation and Engineering Data Collection & Statistical Process Control

• Lead development of unified manufacturing platforms integrating IoT, AI/ML, and automation systems
• Architect comprehensive data collection systems from manufacturing equipment and sensors
• Design and implement platform engineering solutions for real-time manufacturing data processing
• Establish Statistical Process Control (SPC) frameworks with automated data collection and analysis
• Oversee edge computing solutions for manufacturing floor operations
• Implement automated data validation, cleansing, and standardization processes
• Design dashboards and analytics platforms for manufacturing KPIs and metrics
• Lead implementation of machine learning models for process optimization
• Drive adoption of advanced analytics for yield improvement and defect reduction

End-to-End Manufacturing Data Transformation

• Orchestrate complete data pipeline transformation from shop floor to executive dashboards
• Design data lakes and warehouses optimized for manufacturing time-series data
• Lead ETL/ELT process automation for manufacturing data workflows
• Establish data governance and lineage tracking for manufacturing operations
• Drive real-time data streaming and event-driven architectures for manufacturing processes

Cloud Opportunities for Manufacturing Systems

• Develop cloud migration strategies for manufacturing systems and applications
• Implement hybrid cloud solutions balancing security, latency, and compliance requirements
• Lead cloud-native application development for manufacturing operations
• Design disaster recovery and business continuity solutions for critical manufacturing systems
• Establish multi-cloud strategies for manufacturing system resilience

Software Development Architecture & Practices

• Define and implement DevOps practices tailored for manufacturing environments
• Establish CI/CD pipelines for manufacturing software and firmware deployments
• Drive adoption of microservices architecture for manufacturing applications
• Implement containerization strategies for manufacturing system portability
• Lead API-first development for manufacturing system integrations
• Establish secure software development lifecycle (SDLC) practices for manufacturing environments
• Integrate security practices into DevOps workflows (DevSecOps)
• Champion DevOps evangelism and knowledge sharing across the organization

Qualifications

Experience & Leadership

• 20+ years of experience in manufacturing technology, industrial automation, or related fields
• Proven track record of successful digital transformation in high volume transactions environment
• Experience leading large-scale system modernization projects
• Strong background in both IT and OT (Operational Technology) systems

Technical Expertise

• Experience with CI/CD pipelines for manufacturing software deployment
• Knowledge of version control and configuration management for manufacturing systems
• Understanding of agile methodologies adapted for manufacturing environments
• Experience with monitoring and observability for manufacturing systems
• Proficiency in multiple programming languages (Python, C#, Java, etc.)
• Deep expertise in manufacturing execution systems (MES), SCADA, and PLCs
• Experience with industrial protocols (OPC-UA, Modbus, Ethernet/IP, MQTT)
• Knowledge of Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Six Sigma methodologies
• Understanding of lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement practices
• Experience with predictive maintenance and condition monitoring systems
• Expertise in cloud platforms with manufacturing focus (AWS IoT, Azure IoT, Google Cloud IoT)
• Experience with edge computing platforms and industrial gateways
• Proficiency in containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) for manufacturing applications
• Knowledge of infrastructure as code for manufacturing environments
• Understanding of industrial cybersecurity and OT network security

Soft Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional strategic thinking and ability to translate business needs into technical solutions
• Strong communication skills with ability to engage both technical teams and executive leadership
• Proven change management capabilities in traditional manufacturing environments
• Experience building bridges between IT, OT, and manufacturing operations teams
• Track record of driving innovation while maintaining operational stability

Additional Information

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate based on any 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 Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law poster.

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 jobs.accommodations@wdc.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.

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 Western Digital'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