Associate, Corporate Strategy Analyst

Western Digital • San Jose, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Western Digital's Strategy & Corporate Development team is the connective tissue bridging Western Digital's technology to the markets it will serve. We turn deep-tech capability into commercial impact, strengthening our position in the core HDD business, setting the company's long-term strategy, and executing the partnerships, investments, and acquisitions that shape what we build next. If you want to work on problems that matter at the intersection of deep technology, business strategy, and real-world impact, we would love to talk. Join us. Let's build what comes next.

Requirements

• Minimum of 3–6 years experience overall with minimum 2 spent in consulting, corporate strategy, investment banking, or a research-intensive analytical role; progressive career trajectory with increasing scope, ownership, and complexity of work over time.
• Demonstrated ability to own and lead complex strategic projects end-to-end with C-suite output quality, from problem structuring through to final recommendation.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen including models, scenario analysis, and business case development; comfortable with quantitative frameworks.
• Experience conducting primary research (expert interviews, customer conversations, channel checks) and secondary research (industry reports, analyst research, public filings) to inform strategic recommendations.
• Strong cross-functional collaborator who can build trusted relationships with commercial, product, and finance stakeholders; drives alignment independently.
• Experience working with senior leaders and delivering executive-level deliverables independently.
• Solid Excel and PowerPoint skills; data visualization a plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Economics, Finance, or a related analytical field.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting or embedded in commercial, GTM, or sales organizations preferred
• Prior experience in deep technology, data storage, semiconductor, or enterprise infrastructure.
• Experience with competitive intelligence or market research tools (e.g., PitchBook, Bloomberg, Gartner).
• MBA or equivalent work experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Independently own and lead strategic projects that span both core business in data storage as well as New Ventures which covers new business opportunities related to technologies in photonics, magnetics, and nano-fabrication.
• Independently lead and own project outputs end-to-end including market sizing, competitive landscaping, end customer and segment analysis, GTM frameworks, build-buy-partner assessments, and more; serve as a credible thought partner to executives and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Track timelines, synthesize cross-functional inputs, and deliver against tight deadlines with minimal supervision while escalating appropriately on critical decisions.
• Conduct primary and secondary research: market sizing, competitive landscaping, customer and partner dynamics, technology trend tracking, and peer benchmarking.
• Synthesize insights from diverse sources into clear analytical conclusions that inform strategic recommendations.
• Develop executive-quality deliverables: structured slide decks, one-pagers, briefing notes, and read-outs for executive leadership (C-suite and Board) audiences.
• Translate complex analysis into clear, compelling narratives suitable for senior leadership consumption.
• Build and maintain supporting financial and analytical models including market sizing, scenario analysis, business case development, and GTM economics.
• Develop quantitative frameworks that underpin strategic recommendations with rigor and defensibility.
• Partner closely with cross-functional stakeholders to align on strategic priorities, gather inputs, and drive recommendations through to decisions.
• Build trusted relationships with commercial, product, and finance stakeholders and drive alignment independently.

Benefits

• 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
• the WD Savings 401(k) Plan

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level