HDD Test Intern

Job Description

About Western Digital

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.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest growth organizations in the world. From energizing the most competitive gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Binge-watch any shows, use social media or shop online lately? You’ll find Western Digital supporting the storage infrastructure behind many of these platforms. And, that flash memory card that captures and preserves your most precious moments? That’s us, too.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, storage devices and platforms for business and consumers alike. Our data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital®, G-Technology™, SanDisk® and WD® brands.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. It’s You & Western Digital. Together, we’re the next BIG thing in data.

Job Description: HDD Test Intern

Join Western Digital’s HDD Integration and Head-Media Reliability team as an HDD Test Intern. In this role, you will support critical testing operations that validate drive performance and quality within our HDD Development group. You’ll assist senior engineers in test execution, learn failure analysis methodologies, and develop technical reporting skills while gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge nanotechnology.

You’ll primarily work on Hard Drive Integration Tests and Head-Media Reliability Design of Experiments (DOE), supporting the validation of read/write head and media interactions that are crucial for ensuring drive reliability and performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• HDD Test Maintenance & Execution: Assist prime engineers in running HDD integration tests and head-media reliability experiments, ensuring tests execute accurately and troubleshooting issues as they arise.
• Failure Analysis: Learn and apply FA methodologies to investigate test failures, identify root causes, and document findings for corrective action.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Analyze test datasets using Python and JMP; generate technical reports and presentations summarizing test outcomes and engineering insights.
• Design of Experiments (DOE): Support head-media reliability DOE activities to optimize performance parameters and validate component interactions.

This position is part of our Early Career program at Western Digital, designed to support individuals beginning their professional journey through structured onboarding, mentorship, and a comprehensive development curriculum.

Qualifications

Education:

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience.

Required Skills:

• Foundational engineering skills in problem-solving, data analysis, and technical documentation.
• Proficiency in Python for scripting, test automation, and data processing.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Experience with JMP or similar statistical analysis software.
• Hands-on involvement in engineering projects (academic or personal) demonstrating self-driven initiative.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with Design of Experiments (DOE) methodologies.
• Understanding of component testing, hardware validation, or storage systems.

Compensation & Benefits Details

An employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.

The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York. This range may be modified in the future.

If your position is non-exempt, you are eligible for overtime pay pursuant to company policy and applicable laws. You may also be eligible for shift differential pay, depending on the shift to which you are assigned.

You will be eligible to be considered for bonuses under either Western Digital’s Short Term Incentive Plan (“STI Plan”) or the Sales Incentive Plan (“SIP”) which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance, depending on your role and your performance. You may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to Western Digital’s Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical/dental/vision insurance; life, accident and disability insurance; tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program; other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity; tuition reimbursement; transit; the Applause Program; employee stock purchase plan; and the Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company’s sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.

Additional Information

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any individual based on legally protected characteristics. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster. Our pay transparency policy is available here.

Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.

Western Digital 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 jobs.accommodations@wdc.com to advise us of your accommodation request.

Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 04/20/2026, although we reserve the right to close the application process sooner if we hire an applicant for this position before the application deadline. If we are not able to hire someone from this role before the application deadline, we will update this posting with a new anticipated application deadline.

Notice To Candidates: Please be aware that Western Digital 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 Western Digital Ethics Helpline or email compliance@wdc.com.