Technologist, Product Design Engineering

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 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™ brands.

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, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. Together, we can build the future of data storage.

Responsible for manufacturing data analytics for HDD products and critical components. This role applies data-driven methodologies to continuously enhance product quality, yield, reliability and manufacturing efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Analyze manufacturing data generated throughout HDD and key components production to identify opportunities for improving yield, cost, quality, and reliability.
• Perform root cause analysis on yield, performance or quality issues; collaborate cross-functionally with design, process & manufacturing teams to implement effective engineering & operational solutions.
• Provide characterization and analytical support for design and process change qualifications; proactively identify potential issues, risks, concerns prior to volume production ramp-up.
• Contribute to the development of standardized manufacturing data analytics methodologies and workflows, enabling scalable and organization-wide adoption of data-driven practices.

• Master’s degree or above in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Automation, or related disciplines (exceptional candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and strong project experience will also be considered).
• Abundants of experience in HDD or semiconductor industry. Solid understanding of magnetic recording principles, head/media design & related manufacturing processes is highly preferred.
• Proficient in data analysis tools & methodologies, hands-on experience with JMP, SAS, Python, and Spotfire is a plus.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills, with English proficiency sufficient for professional working environments.

Preferred

• Experience with hard disk drive integration, head device process, head media characterization

Skills

• strong understanding of magnetic recording physics, magnetic reader/writer/NFT fundamentals, and media technology
• Experience with head/media manufacturing processes (wafer, slider, HGA, media)
• Proficiency in data analysis tools (e.g., JMP, Python) and statistical methods
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional engineering efforts
• Strong communication, documentation, and configuration‑management skills
• Experience in HDD development, NPI, or component engineering preferred

Because Western Digital thrives on the power of diversity and is committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect, and contribution, we are committed to giving every qualified applicant and employee an equal opportunity.  Western Digital does not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on their protected class status and complies with all federal and state laws against discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, as well as the laws and regulations set forth in the "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law" poster.

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].