Summer 2027 Intern - Hardware Engineering

Location: San Jose, CA, us Employment Type: {'id': 'intern', 'label': 'Intern'}

Company 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.

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

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.

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.

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

Electronics • PCB Design • Signal Integrity • Hardware Validation • Reliability Engineering • Test Engineering • Data Analysis

Design products used around the world.

Work with advanced recording technologies.

Gain hands-on laboratory experience.

Collaborate with experts across multiple engineering disciplines.

See your designs move from concept to production.

Firmware Engineering

Bring hardware to life through software.

As a Firmware Engineer, you’ll develop the embedded software that controls advanced storage devices. You’ll work at the intersection of hardware and software, building reliable, high-performance firmware that enables world-class products.

Design, develop, and debug embedded firmware

Write software in C, C++, Assembly, and other low-level languages

Integrate firmware with analog and digital hardware

Troubleshoot hardware-software interactions

Improve system performance, functionality, and reliability

Embedded Systems • C • C++ • Assembly • RTOS • Hardware Interfaces • Firmware Validation • Debugging

Build software that directly controls hardware.

Solve complex engineering challenges.

Work closely with both hardware and software engineers.

Learn how products operate at the lowest level.

Develop highly sought-after embedded systems skills.

Systems Design & Integration Engineering

Connect hardware and software into complete products.

As a Systems Design & Integration Engineer, you’ll bring together hardware, firmware, and software to create reliable, high-performing storage systems. You’ll solve integration challenges and ensure every subsystem works seamlessly together.

Define system requirements and technical specifications

Integrate hardware, firmware, and software components

Coordinate subsystem development across engineering teams

Troubleshoot complex system-level issues

Improve product performance, compatibility, and reliability

Systems Engineering • Integration • Validation • Root Cause Analysis • Product Development • Cross-Functional Engineering

Work across multiple engineering disciplines.

Understand how complete products come together.

Solve challenging integration problems.

Gain broad technical exposure.

Build systems-level engineering expertise.

Mechanical Design Engineering

Engineer the mechanics behind breakthrough technology.

As a Mechanical Design Engineer, you’ll design the precision mechanical systems that support advanced storage products. From concept through manufacturing, you’ll help create innovative, reliable, and manufacturable solutions.

Design mechanical components, assemblies, and packaging