Data Scientist, PhD

Company Description

At Western Digital, 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, Western Digital 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.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest growth organizations in the world. From energizing the most competitive gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Binge-watch any shows, use social media or shop online lately? You’ll find Western Digital supporting the storage infrastructure behind many of these platforms. And, that flash memory card that captures and preserves your most precious moments? That’s us, too.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, storage devices and platforms for business and consumers alike. Our data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital®, G-Technology™, SanDisk® and WD® brands.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. It’s You & Western Digital. Together, we’re the next BIG thing in data.

Job Description

Product Leadership Development Program, Flash Business Unit

You are self-propelled to unlock the potential of data and drive a digital transformation with it You are insatiably curious in discovering new ways to infuse data-driven decision making into a business. You are enthralled to solve complex problems such as using AI/ML to digitize the capital allocation process for fab development at planet scale. You exemplify and continually strive to exemplify the best of your domain. You are a legacy builder who develops strategic assets that live and serve beyond you. You are a go-getter who thrives in a dynamic environment. If these represent you, then the Product Leadership Development Program in the Flash Business Unit of Western Digital is looking for a PhD Data Scientist.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Exemplify as a technology thought leader for the Flash Business Unit.
• Utilize advanced statistical and mathematical techniques to analyze complex datasets and extract meaningful insights to inform strategic decision making.
• Design, implement, and optimize algorithms for predictive modeling, machine learning, and data mining tasks.
• Be recognized as a legacy builder delivering innovative AI/ML solutions to address business challenges and enhance data-driven decision-making capabilities.
• Be insatiably curious about latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and related fields. Conduct research to explore how these new methodologies, techniques, and tools that can enhance data analysis and modeling processes.
• Design and develop ML data pipelines to serve model insights in real-time and at scale.
• Utilize cutting edge ML techniques to develop algorithms and predictive systems used for economic planning and capital allocation; transfer such algorithms to production.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand business requirements and translate them into analytical solutions, work effectively with engineers on technology transfers.
• Communicate complex technical concepts and findings effectively to non-technical stakeholders through visualizations and data-driven story telling.
• Develop rigorous validation frameworks to assess the performance and robustness of predictive models. Conduct thorough evaluations to ensure the reliability and accuracy of analytical results.
• Be a go-getter and be technically unbounded.

Qualifications

REQUIRED

• PhD in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Expertise in quantitative research methods, statistical analysis, and machine learning techniques demonstrated through publications.
• Strong programming skills in statistical library friendly languages such as Python, R, or STATA. Experience with data manipulation libraries (e.g., Pandas, NumPy), machine learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, Scikit-learn), and database querying languages (e.g., SQL).
• Solid understanding and a practitioner of statistical methods and techniques for data analysis, hypothesis testing, and experimental design.
• Proven track record of developing innovative solutions to challenging data science problems. Ability to think critically, identify key insights, and propose actionable recommendations based on data-driven analysis.
• Meticulous attention towards scientific rigor and an ability to review and validate data, code, and analytical results to ensure reproducibility, accuracy, and reliability.
• Specialized knowledge or expertise in a specific subfield of data science, such as Natural Language Processing, Causal ML, Time Series, or Deep Learning.

PREFERRED

• Prior experience working in a data science or analytics role within industry settings, particularly in sectors such as finance, healthcare, retail, or technology.
• Track record of publishing research papers in peer-reviewed journals or conferences, demonstrating contributions to the advancement of data science and related disciplines.
• Domain-specific knowledge or experience in areas relevant to the organization's business operations, such as marketing analytics, supply chain optimization, risk management, or customer segmentation.

SKILLS

• Strong problem solving & decision-making.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Strong knowledge in data analytics, big data technologies, ETL, data structure, and ML.
• Good knowledge in system language such as Java, Python, Golang, C++, C#, Rust, etc.
• Good technical communication skills to convey complex ideas and execution plans.
• Ability and desire to coach, mentor, and teach those around them.

Additional Information

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate 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 Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law poster.

Western Digital 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.

Western Digital 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 jobs.accommodations@wdc.com 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.

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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 salary range 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 York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York.  This range may be modified in the future.
• You will be eligible to participate in Western Digital’s Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, 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 Western Digital’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 Western Digital 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.