Early Career Engineering Roles

Job Description

Summer 2027 Intern – Hardware Engineering | WD

The Tone:
This is a seasonal internship at WD, located in various cities across California, Colorado, and Minnesota. WD builds the critical infrastructure behind the AI-driven data economy, providing storage systems for hyperscale data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise infrastructure worldwide. This role offers the opportunity to engage with real systems at global scale, solving complex challenges in technology. Interns will contribute to building, solving, and operating at a high level, helping to shape the future of data.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Seasonal
• Location: In-person Colorado Springs, CO; Irvine, CA; Longmont, CO; Fremont, CA; Rochester, MN; San Jose, CA
• Mission: Contribute to developing the storage systems that make AI possible, powering hyperscale data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise infrastructure worldwide.
• Tech Stack: ASIC Design, RTL, Verilog/SystemVerilog, Digital Logic, Embedded Systems, C, C++, Assembly, Electronics, PCB Design, CAD, Hardware Validation, Simulation, Debugging, Manufacturing Engineering, Automation, Systems Engineering, Git, Linux, IDEs.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Design: Contribute to the design and development of various hardware components, including ASIC architectures, digital logic, electronic hardware, magnetic recording systems, and precision mechanical systems.
• Validate: Develop, execute, and support validation strategies and automated test solutions, performing reliability, stress, and performance testing for complex hardware designs, systems, and prototypes.
• Optimize: Analyze and optimize system performance, power consumption, timing, and reliability across hardware, firmware, and manufacturing equipment to deliver energy-efficient products.
• Integrate: Support the integration of hardware, firmware, and software components, troubleshooting complex system-level issues to ensure seamless functionality and improved product compatibility.
• Collaborate: Partner with cross-functional engineering teams, including hardware, firmware, mechanical, manufacturing, and process engineers, to solve challenging technical problems from concept through production.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently pursuing or recently completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechatronics, Materials Engineering, Data Science, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience: Developing technical skills through coursework, internships, co-ops, research, laboratory work, capstone projects, hackathons, or personal projects in areas such as software development, embedded systems, firmware, ASIC/SoC design, hardware development, systems engineering, mechanical design, manufacturing, automation, data analysis, testing, or validation.
• Skills: Familiarity with engineering fundamentals and one or more relevant technical areas including programming (C, C++, Python, Java, Go, SQL, JavaScript, or similar), digital logic, embedded systems, computer architecture, electronics, mechanical design, CAD, manufacturing processes, automation, testing, simulation, verification, debugging, data analysis, or systems integration, alongside analytical, problem-solving, and communication abilities.
• Bonus: Proficiency with Microsoft Office and common software development tools like Git, Linux, or IDEs, and an interest in storage technologies, semiconductors, embedded systems, cloud computing, AI, or data analytics.