Summer 2026 Intern- Material Scientist / Thin Film Processes Engineer (Ph.D at Western Digital

Fremont, California, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

09 Jun, 26

Salary

56.0

Posted On

11 Mar, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Materials Synthesis Modeling, Thin Film Processes, Materials Modeling, Atomic Simulations, Molecular Dynamics, Density Functional Theory, TEM, SEM, AFM, Plasmonic Materials, Thin Film Deposition, Data Analysis, MATLAB, Python, Experimental Data Interpretation, Cross-functional Collaboration

Industry

Computer Hardware Manufacturing

Description

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 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, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future. Job Description We are seeking a Material Scientist Intern to contribute to our development team in Fremont, United States. This internship position focuses on the critical areas of materials synthesis modeling and thin film processes, providing exposure to advanced materials research and Heated Assisted Magnetic Recording product development. This role is ideal for PhD candidates nearing graduation who have experience in one or more of the following areas: materials modeling, atomic simulations, molecular dynamics, and density functional theory (DFT). The intern will work on advanced materials modeling projects, leveraging analytical tools to predict material properties. Essential Duties & Responsibilities: Work with analytical tools such as TEM, SEM, and AFM for materials characterization. Utilize atomic simulations, molecular dynamics, and DFT to analyze material behavior Employ open-source material databases to conduct rigorous predictions of plasmonic properties and utilize analytical tools to design and optimize plasmonic materials and processes Contribute to design and execution of experiments pertaining to thin film deposition and characterization Perform comprehensive material analysis using various sophisticated characterization techniques Systematically collect, analyze, and interpret experimental data to support ongoing research initiatives Engage in cross-functional collaboration to advance research projects and meet organizational objectives Actively participate in regular team meetings and deliver formal presentations of research findings 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: PhD candidate in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, or related field Strong background in Computational Materials Science and thin film processes Proficiency in data analysis and interpretation using MATLAB, Python, or similar Familiarity with analytical tools (TEM, SEM, AFM) for materials characterization. Experience in atomic simulation, molecular dynamics, and DFT. Preferred: Research experience in materials science; familiarity with semiconductor industry preferred Skills: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills 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 [email protected] 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. #LI-MT 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. 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 under either WD’s Short Term Incentive Plan (“STI Plan”) or the Sales 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 WD and 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 to WD Ethics Helpline or email [email protected]. Job Type (exemption status): Non-Exempt position - Please see related compensation & benefits details below Salary Range: 42.02-56.00 Business Function: Engineering Support Work Location: Fremont Office--LOC_WDT_USCA13

Responsibilities

The intern will focus on materials synthesis modeling and thin film processes, contributing to advanced materials modeling projects by leveraging analytical tools to predict material properties. Essential duties include characterizing materials using tools like TEM/SEM/AFM, utilizing simulations (MD, DFT), and contributing to the design and execution of thin film deposition experiments.