Data Scientist – AI & Predictive Analytics

WD; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 187,000; Full time

Job summary

WD is seeking an Engineering Data Scientist to join the AI & Predictive Analytics team, focusing on predictive diagnostic technologies for enterprise HDDs deployed in hyperscale cloud environments.

You will transform more than 10 TB of manufacturing and telemetry data daily into intelligent systems that improve storage reliability and uptime. The role involves building ML models, developing diagnostic algorithms, and deploying analytics into production.

Qualifications

• PhD in CS/Data Science or related engineering field
• Proficient in Python and machine learning techniques
• Experience in data analytics and statistical analysis
• Experience with SQL/NoSQL databases
• Strong analytical problem solving skills

Responsibilities

• Build machine learning models to identify early indicators of drive degradation.
• Develop automated diagnostic algorithms using Python.
• Analyze large-scale telemetry from enterprise storage systems.
• Create data visualization and engineering analysis tools.
• Support root cause investigations using statistical methods.
• Improve existing diagnostic software through automation and refactoring.
• Collaborate with hardware, firmware, and software teams.
• Deploy predictive analytics solutions into production environments.

Skills

Python

Machine learning

Data analytics

Statistical analysis

SQL

NoSQL databases

Analytical problem solving

Education

PhD in CS/Data Science/Engineering

Tools

Hadoop

Hive

Ruby

Front-end development

Web applications

Job description

Data Scientist – AI & Predictive Analytics

• Full-time
• Job Type (exemption status): Exempt position - Please see related compensation & benefits details below
• Salary Range: 140,300.00-187,000.00
• Business Function: Data Engineering

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.

As an Engineering Data Scientist, you\'ll work alongside software engineers, hardware engineers, and data scientists to develop predictive diagnostic technologies for enterprise hard disk drives deployed in hyperscale cloud environments.

You\'ll help transform more than 10 TB of manufacturing and telemetry data generated each day into intelligent systems that improve storage reliability and customer uptime.

Your work may include:

• Building machine learning models that identify early indicators of drive degradation.
• Developing automated diagnostic algorithms using Python.
• Analyzing large-scale telemetry from enterprise storage systems.
• Creating data visualization and engineering analysis tools.
• Supporting root cause investigations using statistical analysis.
• Improving existing diagnostic software through automation and code refactoring.
• Collaborating with engineering teams across hardware, firmware, and software disciplines.
• Deploying predictive analytics solutions into production environments.

Why This Role Is Different

Most entry-level data science positions focus on dashboards, reporting, or business analytics.

This role is different.

You'll use machine learning and engineering principles to solve complex technical problems that improve the reliability of storage systems supporting some of the world\'s largest cloud environments.

You'll write production software.

You'll build predictive technologies that help customers avoid downtime before failures occur.

This role is part of WD\'s early career development program. WD\'s early career development program is ideal for individuals at the early stages of their professional career. Participants receive foundational training through structured onboarding, mentorship, and a curated development curriculum. The responsibilities of this role are typically aligned with candidates who have approximately 0–2+ years of relevant professional experience, though candidates of all experience levels are encouraged to apply.

Currently pursuing or recently completed a Ph.D. Computer Science,Data Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related engineering discipline

Required Technical Skills

• Python (required)
• Machine learning
• Data analytics
• Statistical analysis
• SQL or NoSQL databases
• Analytical problem solving

Preferred:

• Hadoop
• Hive
• Ruby
• Front-end development
• Web applications
• Interest in storage systems and HDD technology

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 8 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 [e-mail] 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 11/6/26, 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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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 salaryrange 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 Yorkor 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 undereither WD’s Short Term Incentive Plan (“STI Plan”) or theSales 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 WD'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 WD 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.

Notice To Candidates: Please be aware that WDand 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 toWD Ethics Helpline or email [e-mail] .

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