Join our advanced R&D team focused on next-generation storage technologies. In this role, you will design and execute experiments to better understand material interfaces, ultra-thin films, and thermal transport mechanisms related to future HDD technologies. You will work in a highly collaborative laboratory environment alongside scientists and engineers across multiple disciplines. This position combines hands-on experimentation, instrumentation development, data analysis, and scientific problem solving. Essential Duties & Responsibilities: • Design and execute laboratory experiments related to advanced materials and interface science • Develop and support instrumentation and experimental workflows • Collect, analyze, and present scientific data • Perform ultra-thin film and surface characterization • Collaborate with cross-functional engineering and research teams • Utilize Python and modern analytical tools to support experimentation and data analysis This role is part of WD's early career development program. WD's early career development program is ideal for individuals at the early stages of their professional career. Participants receive foundational training through structured onboarding, mentorship, and a curated development curriculum. The responsibilities of this role are typically aligned with candidates who have approximately 0-2+ years of relevant professional experience, though candidates of all experience levels are encouraged to apply. Salary Range: 122,700.00-147,700.00 Qualifications Required: • Currently enrolled or recently completed a PhD in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science/Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or related field • Extensive hands-on laboratory research experience • Experience designing and executing scientific experiments • Strong Python programming and data analysis skills • Experience with instrumentation development and/or instrumentation programming • Experience with thin film characterization techniques such as: • Ellipsometry • TEM • SEM • AFM • FTIR • IR spectroscopy • Related analytical techniques • Strong communication, presentation, and collaboration skills Preferred: • Experience with scientific automation workflows • Experience working with large experimental datasets • Exposure to AI-assisted research or analytical tools 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.