Early-Career Hardware Engineer: AI Storage & ASIC Design

WD; San Jose (CA); On-site; Full time

Job description

Job Description

This posting supports current and anticipated early-career hiring needs. Applying allows our recruiting team to consider you for opportunities that align with your qualifications, preferences, and availability. An immediate opening or interview is not guaranteed.

Where are these roles located?

You’ll have the opportunity to work with teams in:

• Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Irvine, California
• Longmont, Colorado
• Fremont, California
• Rochester, Minnesota
• San Jose, California

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.

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.

ASIC Engineering

Design the silicon powering the future of data storage.

As an ASIC Engineer, you’ll help create the custom chips that power next-generation hard disk drives (HDDs). Working alongside experienced engineers, you’ll contribute to digital design, verification, simulation, and optimization to deliver high-performance, energy-efficient products at global scale.

What you’ll do

• Design and verify ASIC architectures and digital logic
• Build simulations and validate complex hardware designs
• Support the ASIC development lifecycle—from architecture through synthesis, place-and-route, and timing closure
• Optimize performance, power, and reliability
• Collaborate across hardware, firmware, and systems engineering teams

Technologies you’ll use

ASIC Design • RTL • Verilog/SystemVerilog • Digital Logic • Verification • Simulation • Timing Analysis • Low-Power Design

Why you’ll love this role

• Help build technology that stores the world’s data.
• Learn from experienced semiconductor engineers.
• Work on cutting-edge silicon development.
• Solve challenging engineering problems with cross-functional teams.
• Build highly transferable chip design skills.

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.

Hardware Development Engineering

Build the hardware behind the world’s data.

As a Hardware Development Engineer, you’ll help develop the technologies that make modern data storage faster, more reliable, and higher capacity. You’ll design, prototype, validate, and improve hardware while solving real engineering challenges alongside multidisciplinary teams.

What you’ll do

• Design and develop electronic hardware and magnetic recording systems
• Create validation strategies and automated test solutions
• Perform reliability, stress, and performance testing
• Analyze circuit boards, processors, sensors, and other hardware components
• Improve products from prototype through manufacturing

Technologies you’ll use