Application Lead, Information Technology

Company 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.

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced and technically strong Application Lead to join our Manufacturing IT Application team. The successful candidate will serve as a key technical contributor and team anchor — independently leading complex application development, providing technical mentorship, and driving digital transformation initiatives aligned with our manufacturing automation and digitalization goals.

This role demands a self-directed professional who can operate with minimal supervision, manage multiple priorities across cross-functional stakeholders, and contribute to system architecture decisions.

Key Responsibilities

Application Development & System Ownership

• Lead the design, development, and maintenance of manufacturing-used applications using .NET Core and related frameworks, ensuring high availability, performance, and scalability.
• Serve as the primary technical owner of critical manufacturing IT systems deployed across multiple production sites (e.g., online tracking, WIP systems, testing & quality data platforms).
• Architect and implement application solutions that support manufacturing process monitoring, automation, and data traceability.
• Own full software development lifecycle (SDLC) from requirements analysis, solution design, development, testing, deployment, and post-production support.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve complex software, ensuring optimal system performance and user experience.

Data & Integration

• Design and maintain robust database structures (SQL Server, Oracle DB, MySQL) and data pipelines to support manufacturing analytics and operational reporting.
• Lead data integration and linkage efforts between manufacturing systems (e.g., MES, testing & quality systems) to enable end-to-end product genealogy tracking and operational visibility.
• Support data onboarding, cleansing, and structured analysis for manufacturing process monitoring tools (e.g., Spotfire, Power BI, or equivalent).

Digital Transformation & Innovation

• Act as a technical point person for MFG IT application and integration project requests — evaluating feasibility, defining technical approaches, and coordinating delivery priorities.
• Drive digitalization initiatives including manufacturing line automation, IoT integrations, AI/ML proof-of-concept implementations (e.g., computer vision for defect analysis, smartwatch-based applications), and digital worker agent platforms.
• Evaluate and introduce emerging technologies relevant to smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 objectives.

Technical Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide technical guidance, coaching to junior developers and peers within the MFG IT App team.
• Lead architectural discussions and propose technical standards, design patterns, and best practices for the team.
• Support knowledge transfer, documentation, and continuity planning to safeguard organizational knowledge.

Stakeholder Collaboration & Project Coordination

• Collaborate closely with business users, process engineers, IT network/server teams, and analytical teams to translate manufacturing requirements into effective IT solutions.
• Coordinate task delivery across multi-site teams, managing timelines and escalating risks proactively.
• Participate actively in Agile stand-up meeting — sprint planning, daily stand-ups, retrospectives — and contribute to continuous improvement of delivery practices.
• Review and maintain technical documentation, solution design documents, and user manuals.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Minimum 5–7 years of hands-on software development experience, with at least 3 years in a manufacturing or industrial IT environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in .NET Core / C#, web application development, and RESTful API design.
• Strong proficiency in relational database systems (SQL Server, Oracle DB, or MySQL) including query optimization and schema design.
• Proven experience owning and delivering complex, multi-stakeholder IT projects end-to-end.

Preferred

• Experience with manufacturing systems such as MES, WIP tracking, quality data systems, or equivalent.
• Familiarity with AI/ML concepts — including computer vision, predictive analytics, or LLM/agent-based applications — and their practical application in manufacturing.
• Experience with data visualization tools such as Spotfire, or Power BI.
• Knowledge of multi-site application deployment and cross-regional IT project coordination.
• Experience with Agile/Scrum methodologies and tools (e.g., Jira).
• Exposure to IoT platforms, sensor data integration, or edge computing in manufacturing environments.

Additional Information

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 [email protected] 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.

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 [email protected].