Senior Principal Supply Chain Engineer – HDD

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California.

📋 Description

• Collaborate with suppliers to assess, pilot, and implement innovative technologies, processes, and materials.

• Act as a technical liaison between suppliers and internal teams such as engineering, manufacturing, quality, and procurement.

• Discover and pursue supplier-driven innovation opportunities that align with product and supply chain strategies.

• Spearhead initiatives aimed at minimizing total ownership costs through design-for-manufacturability, process optimization, automation, yield enhancement, and lifecycle cost assessments.

• Analyze trade-offs related to cost, quality, risk, sustainability, and scalability.

• Assist in should-cost modeling and conduct data-driven negotiations.

• Evaluate and enhance supplier capacity, scalability, and technical preparedness.

• Propel advancements in supplier operational maturity, focusing on process capabilities, equipment readiness, workforce competency, and digital transformation.

• Fortify supplier resilience through dual sourcing strategies, risk mitigation, and recovery planning.

• Enhance process capabilities, decrease variability, and avert quality failures.

• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for systemic supplier challenges.

• Advocate for Lean, Six Sigma, and SPC methodologies throughout the supplier network.

• Support supplier sustainability efforts concerning environmental impact, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and responsible sourcing practices.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including engineering, manufacturing, quality, procurement, finance, and program management.

• Articulate complex technical and supply chain issues to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Drive alignment and outcomes across different organizational divisions.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Mechanical, Material Science, Electronics, Physics, Chemical, Supply Chain, Operations, or a relevant technical discipline.

• Comprehensive experience in supply chain engineering, manufacturing engineering, supplier development, or equivalent positions.

• Proven experience collaborating directly with suppliers on technical, operational, or cost-reduction projects.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with a focus on data-driven decision making.

• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required.

• Preferred: Master’s degree and MBA in a relevant technical field.

• Preferred: Experience in introducing new manufacturing technologies or processes into production environments.

• Preferred: Background in cost modeling, should-cost analysis, or value engineering principles.

🏝️ Benefits

• Paid vacation time.

• Paid sick leave.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Life, accident, and disability insurance.

• Tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts.

• Employee assistance program.

• Supplemental life and AD&D insurance.

• Legal plan.

• Pet insurance.

• Critical illness insurance.

• Accident and hospital indemnity insurance.

• Tuition reimbursement.

• Transit benefits.

• Applause Program.

• Employee stock purchase plan.

• WD Savings 401(k) Plan.

• Eligibility for bonuses under WD’s Short Term Incentive Plan or Sales Incentive Plan.

• Potential eligibility for the Long-Term Incentive program, including restricted stock units or cash equivalents.

• Potential eligibility for equity awards for qualifying new hires.

• Remote work arrangement.

• Domestic and international travel as required.