Summer 2026 Intern - R&D Engineering (Ph.D. Only)

Company Description

At WD, 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, WD 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 and capture the first-ever picture of a black hole.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, HDDs, and platforms for business, creative professionals, and consumers alike under our Western Digital®, WD®, and WD_BLACK™.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest-growth organizations in the world. From enabling systems to make cities safer and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and hyperscale cloud providers, to meeting the massive and ever-growing data storage needs of the AI era, WD is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. Together, we can build the future of data storage.

Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated Ph.D. level intern to join our R&D Engineering team focused on memory optical computing. The candidate will work on cutting-edge research combining photonics and memory technologies to enable next-generation computing architectures.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research and simulations for optical computing and memory integration.
• Develop and optimize photonic device designs using industry-standard simulation tools.
• Explore novel architectures leveraging spintronics for memory and logic applications.
• Analyze performance metrics and propose improvements for scalability and efficiency.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in optics, materials, and device engineering.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with optical interconnects and integrated photonics.
• Programming skills (Python, MATLAB) for data analysis and automation.
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative research environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on industry-first innovations in memory and optical computing.
• Mentorship from leading experts in photonics and memory technologies.

This position is part of our Early Career program at WD. Our Early Career program is designed to support individuals beginning their professional career by providing the foundational training through a structured onboarding, mentorship, and development curriculum.

Qualifications

Required:

• Currently pursuing Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or equivalent experience
• Strong background in optics and photonics.
• Hands-on experience with simulation tools such as Lumerical (FDTD, MODE) and COMSOL Multiphysics.
• Knowledge of spintronic principles.
• Understanding of nanofabrication and characterization techniques.

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