The present embodiments relate to a perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) write head with a Tunable Pole Protrusion or Tunable Pole Performance (TPP) side bridge design. A PMR write head can include a main pole including a tip portion configured to be disposed at an air-bearing surface (ABS) and configured to interact with a magnetic recording medium. The PMR write head can also include a hot seed (HS) portion and a first write shield. The PMR write head can also include a first metallic side bridge disposed between the tip portion of the main pole and the HS portion. The PMR write head can also include a bias circuit including at least a first bias electrical pad and a second electrical bias pad directing an electrical current flow along an electrical path between the tip portion of the main pole and the write shield portion via the first metallic side bridge.