Associate, Corporate Strategy Analyst

WD; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 152,000 - 202,000; Full time

Job summary

WD is shaping the future of data infrastructure with strategic initiatives spanning traditional data storage and New Ventures in photonics, magnetics, and nano-fabrication. The Associate will own end-to-end strategic projects, conduct market sizing and competitive analysis, and build executive-grade deliverables for C-suite audiences.

Ideal candidates have 3–6+ years in consulting, corporate strategy, or related analytical roles, with strong Excel/PowerPoint skills and proven collaboration

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3–6+ years experience overall with minimum 2 spent in consulting, corporate strategy, investment banking, or a research-intensive analytical role.
• Demonstrated ability to own and lead complex strategic projects end-to-end with C-suite output quality, from problem structuring through to final recommendation.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen including models, scenario analysis, and business case development; comfortable with quantitative frameworks.
• Experience conducting primary research (expert interviews, customer conversations, channel checks) and secondary research (industry reports, analyst research, public filings) to inform strategic recommendations.
• Strong cross-functional collaborator who can build trusted relationships with commercial, product, and finance stakeholders; drives alignment independently.
• Experience working with senior leaders and delivering executive-level deliverables independently.
• Solid Excel and PowerPoint skills; data visualization a plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience supporting or embedded in commercial, GTM, or sales organizations preferred

Responsibilities

• Strategic Projects Ownership: own and lead strategic projects spanning core data storage business and New Ventures; include market sizing and GTM frameworks.
• Research & Analysis: perform market sizing, competitive landscaping, technology trend tracking, and peer benchmarking; develop executive-ready narratives.
• Financial & Analytical Modeling: build financial models, scenario analysis, business cases, and GTM economics.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: partner with commercial, product, and finance stakeholders to align on priorities and drive decisions.

Skills

Financial analysis

Analytical thinking

Executive communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Written and verbal communication

Education

MBA or equivalent work experience

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Economics, Finance, or related analytical field

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

PitchBook

Bloomberg

Gartner

Job description

• Job Type (exemption status): Exempt position - Please see related compensation & benefits details below
• Salary Range: 151,700.00-202,200.00
• Business Function: Corporate Strategy

Company Description

WD is building the infrastructure behind the AI-driven data economy.

As AI scales, so does data. Every interaction, every model, every system generates data that must be stored, managed, and made accessible over time. That’s where we come in.

We combine deep engineering expertise with global-scale manufacturing to deliver the storage systems that make AI possible, powering hyperscale data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise infrastructure worldwide.

This isn’t theoretical work. It’s real systems, at real scale, people solving some of the hardest challenges in technology today.

We’re looking for people who want to build, solve, and operate at that level.

Join us and let’s shape the future of data.

Job Description

Join us. Let's build what comes next.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Projects Ownership

• Associate will independently own and lead strategic projects that span both core business in data storage as well as New Ventures which covers new business opportunities related to technologies in photonics, magnetics, and nano-fabrication.
• Independently lead and own project outputs end-to-end including market sizing, competitive landscaping, end customer and segment analysis, GTM frameworks, build-buy-partner assessments, and more; serve as a credible thought partner to executives and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Track timelines, synthesize cross-functional inputs, and deliver against tight deadlines with minimal supervision while escalating appropriately on critical decisions.

Research & Analysis

• Conduct primary and secondary research: market sizing, competitive landscaping, customer and partner dynamics, technology trend tracking, and peer benchmarking.
• Synthesize insights from diverse sources into clear analytical conclusions that inform strategic recommendations.
• Develop executive-quality deliverables: structured slide decks, one-pagers, briefing notes, and read-outs for executive leadership (C-suite and Board) audiences.
• Translate complex analysis into clear, compelling narratives suitable for senior leadership consumption.

Financial & Analytical Modeling

• Build and maintain supporting financial and analytical models including market sizing, scenario analysis, business case development, and GTM economics.
• Develop quantitative frameworks that underpin strategic recommendations with rigor and defensibility.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with cross-functional stakeholders to align on strategic priorities, gather inputs, and drive recommendations through to decisions.

Build trusted relationships with commercial, product, and finance stakeholders and drive alignment independently

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3–6+ years experience overall with minimum 2 spent in consulting, corporate strategy, investment banking, or a research-intensive analytical role; progressive career trajectory with increasing scope, ownership, and complexity of work over time.
• Demonstrated ability to own and lead complex strategic projects end-to-end with C-suite output quality, from problem structuring through to final recommendation.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen including models, scenario analysis, and business case development; comfortable with quantitative frameworks.
• Experience conducting primary research (expert interviews, customer conversations, channel checks) and secondary research (industry reports, analyst research, public filings) to inform strategic recommendations.
• Strong cross-functional collaborator who can build trusted relationships with commercial, product, and finance stakeholders; drives alignment independently.
• Experience working with senior leaders and delivering executive-level deliverables independently.
• Solid Excel and PowerPoint skills; data visualization a plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience supporting or embedded in commercial, GTM, or sales organizations preferred

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in deep technology, data storage, semiconductor, or enterprise infrastructure.
• Experience with competitive intelligence or market research tools (e.g., PitchBook, Bloomberg, Gartner).

Education

• MBA or equivalent work experience preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Economics, Finance, or a related analytical field.

Additional Information

WD is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person’s gender identity, gender expression, and gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. 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

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 [emailprotected] 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.

Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 10/06/2026(3 months from posting), 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.

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