Engineering Intern

Job Description

About Western Digital

At Western Digital, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology, making the impossible, possible. We are a company of problem solvers, whose technology has achieved extraordinary feats like putting a man on the moon and capturing the first-ever picture of a black hole.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, HDDs, and platforms under our Western Digital®, WD®, and WD_BLACK™ brands, serving businesses, creative professionals, and consumers. As a key partner to some of the world’s largest organizations, we enable safer cities, power data centers, and meet the massive data storage needs of the AI era, fueling a brighter, smarter future. We invite you to bring your unique skills to build the future of data storage with us.

Job Description: Engineering Intern, Advanced System Development

At Western Digital, we are focused on building what’s next, not just incremental updates. As an Engineering Intern on our Advanced System Development team, you will engage hands-on with next-generation Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) technology. This is a real engineering role, offering direct contributions to the design, testing, and improvement of future data storage systems.

You will be actively involved in running experiments, analyzing data, debugging issues, and collaborating with engineers who are shaping groundbreaking new technology.

What You’ll Do

• Work hands-on with HAMR technology, supporting early-stage development and testing of next-generation storage systems.
• Run bench experiments and characterizations, execute scripts, and assist in debugging unexpected issues within systems.
• Analyze engineering data using tools like MATLAB and Python to identify trends, issues, and opportunities for improvement.
• Build and maintain data pipelines and databases to support informed technical decision-making within the team.
• Collaborate closely with engineers across hardware, firmware, and system development, ensuring your input matters.
• Gain exposure to engineering, physics, and materials science through practical, real-world product application.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Expected graduation: December 2026 or May 2027.
• Comfortable working with data and scripts (MATLAB, Python, SQL, Excel, or similar tools).
• Curious by nature, with a keen interest in understanding how things work (or don’t).
• Strong communicator who thrives in a team-oriented environment.
• Located within driving distance of our Irvine office (no relocation provided).
• Possess the right to work in the US without requiring Western Digital to commence or sponsor an immigration case for employment.

Nice to Have (Not Required)

• Exposure to hardware lab work (e.g., oscilloscopes, bench testing, characterization).
• Experience debugging scripts or analyzing experimental data.
• Interest in storage systems, firmware, or hardware-software interaction.