Manager Astronomy Software Engineer Jobs in California

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

This posting supports current and anticipated early-career hiring needs. Applying allows our recruiting team to consider you for opportunities that align with your qualifications, preferences, and availability. An immediate opening or interview is not guaranteed.

Where are these roles located? You’ll have the opportunity to work with teams in:

• Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Irvine, California
• Longmont, Colorado
• Fremont, California
• Rochester, Minnesota
• San Jose, California

System Tools Software Engineering:

Build the software behind the technology.

As a System Tools Software Engineer, you'll create the software that powers engineering teams and next-generation products. You'll design, develop, test, and improve tools that make systems faster, more reliable, and easier to build.

In this role, you may:

• Design and develop system software, utilities, and engineering tools.
• Build or enhance operating systems, compilers, networking tools, databases, and Internet-based applications.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and optimize software performance.
• Collaborate with hardware and software engineers to ensure seamless integration.
• Help influence hardware design by developing software that works efficiently with new technologies.

Applications Software Engineering:

Create software that helps teams work smarter.

As an Applications Software Engineer, you'll develop applications that support employees, customers, and business operations. You'll design, build, test, and improve software used across enterprise systems.

In this role, you may:

• Design, develop, and maintain commercial and internal software applications.
• Write clean, efficient, and maintainable code using modern programming languages.
• Test, debug, and improve application performance.
• Collaborate with teammates to build new features and solve technical problems.
• Create documentation that supports software deployment and ongoing maintenance.

Data Analytics Engineering:

Turn data into insights that drive better decisions.

As a Data Analytics Engineer, you'll build the tools and data systems that help teams understand performance, improve products, and solve business challenges. You'll work with large datasets to create meaningful insights that influence engineering and business decisions.

In this role, you may:

• Design and develop data pipelines, databases, and data warehouses.
• Build software and automation tools for collecting, processing, and analyzing data.
• Create dashboards, reports, and visualizations that support decision-making.
• Partner with stakeholders to understand business needs and translate them into technical solutions.
• Analyze data to identify trends, improve processes, and solve complex problems.

Firmware Engineering:

Write the code that brings hardware to life.

As a Firmware Engineer, you'll develop the low-level software that allows hardware devices to function. Working at the intersection of hardware and software, you'll help build reliable, high-performance embedded systems used in next-generation technology.

In this role, you may:

• Design, develop, test, and debug embedded firmware.
• Write software using C, C++, assembly, and other low-level programming languages.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to integrate software with electronic systems.
• Troubleshoot firmware and hardware interactions to improve performance and reliability.
• Support new product development from concept through production.

This role is part of WD's early career development program. WD's early career development program is ideal for individuals at the early stages of their professional career.  Participants receive foundational training through structured onboarding, mentorship, and a curated development curriculum. The responsibilities of this role are typically aligned with candidates who have approximately 0–2+ years of relevant professional experience, though candidates of all experience levels are encouraged to apply.

Systems Design & Integration Engineering:

Bring complex systems together.

As a Systems Design & Integration Engineer, you'll help ensure hardware and software work together seamlessly. You'll collaborate across engineering teams to design, integrate, test, and optimize complete system solutions for next-generation products.

In this role, you may:

• Define system requirements and technical specifications.
• Evaluate hardware and software compatibility.
• Coordinate the integration of multiple subsystems into complete products.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve system-level issues.
• Recommend improvements that enhance system performance, reliability, and scalability.

Qualifications

Required:

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Data Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience developing technical skills through coursework, internships, research, or personal projects using one or more programming languages such as C, C++, Python, Java, Go (Golang), SQL, JavaScript, or similar technologies.
• Familiarity with software development fundamentals, debugging, data structures, algorithms, operating systems, or other computer engineering concepts.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills with a passion for learning new technologies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and common software development tools (such as Git, Linux, or IDEs) is a plus.
• Interest in storage technologies, semiconductors, embedded systems, cloud computing, AI, data analytics, or other emerging technologies.

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 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.

Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 10/20/26, 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 deadlin

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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 compliance@wdc.com.