Technologist Mechanical Engineering

Western Digital; California (MO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Digital is looking for a Mechanical Engineer in California with at least five years of experience. The position focuses on the design and validation of mechanical components for hard disk drives. Responsibilities include developing parts, conducting simulations, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure system integration and quality.

The ideal candidate will have a BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering and expertise in HDD-specific design.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of experience in designing and developing mechanical components.
• Expertise in HDD-specific mechanical design and validation processes.
• Experience within high-volume consumer electronics or medical devices.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical components and assemblies for HDD products.
• Conduct analysis and simulation for design validation.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with other teams for system integration.

Skills

Precision mechanical design

Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)

3D CAD (SolidWorks/NX)

FEA tools

Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities

Communication skills

Manufacturing processes (die casting, precision machining)

Education

BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

3D printing tools

Job 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.

Western Digital seeks a Mechanical Engineer with a minimum of five years of experience to design, develop, and validate mechanical components and assemblies for our Hard Disk Drive (HDD) product portfolio and data storage solutions. The engineer will drive precision mechanical design for head-disk assemblies (HDA), actuators, base castings, and enclosures while meeting stringent performance and reliability requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• HDD-Specific Design & Development
  • Head Stack Assembly (HSA) including actuators, flex circuits, voice coil motors
  • Base casting and top cover assemblies
  • Spindle motor integration and mounting systems
  • Shock dampening and vibration isolation structures
  • Breather filters and contamination control features
  • Develop parts using advanced CAD (SolidWorks/NX) with tight tolerances
• Use geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) for drawings and 3D models to communicate ideal part with allowable variation to meet functional requirements.
• Design for ultra-clean operation environments (Class 10/100 cleanroom)
• Use 3D printing and other rapid prototyping processes to conduct design validation testing.

Analysis & Simulation

• Perform FEA on structural components (shock resistance, stiffness optimization)
• Conduct modal analysis for resonance avoidance in actuator systems
• Execute tolerance stack-up analysis for critical assemblies

Testing & Validation

• Design test fixtures and develop test protocols for design validation.
• Execute environmental testing for shock, vibration, and thermal cycling.
• Drive failure mode analysis and implement corrective actions (FMEA, root cause analysis).

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with recording heads, media, firmware, and servo teams for system integration.
• Interface with suppliers on specifications and quality.

Required Qualifications

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering
• Expertise in precision mechanical design, preferably in HDD industry with a proven track record delivering products
• Experience with high-volume consumer electronics or medical devices
• Must have experience with head-disk interface (HDI) and aerodynamics
• Knowledge of actuator dynamics and servo positioning systems
• Experience with contamination control and particle management
• Awareness of magnetic recording fundamentals

Skills

• Manufacturing: deep knowledge of die casting, precision machining, MIM, stamping
• Metrology: CMM programming, optical measurement systems, surface profilometry
• Materials: aluminum alloys, stainless steel, and engineering polymers for HDD applications
• GD&T: advanced application for tight-tolerance assemblies
• CAD: advanced proficiency in SolidWorks
• Analysis: FEA tools, modal analysis, shock/vibration simulation
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Excellent communication
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced development environment

Equal Opportunity Employment

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate based on any protected characteristic. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above.

Notice to Candidates

WD and its subsidiaries will never request payment as a condition for applying for a position or receiving an offer of employment. If you encounter such requests, please report it immediately.