Associate, Corporate Strategy Analyst

Western Digital • San Jose, CA

2d • $151,700 - $202,200 • Onsite

About The Position

Western Digital is entering a new chapter as an independent deep-tech company, focusing on technological frontiers in magnetics, photonics, nanofabrication, and machine learning. The Strategy & Corporate Development team is crucial in translating deep-tech capabilities into commercial impact, shaping the company's long-term strategy, and executing partnerships, investments, and acquisitions. This role offers direct exposure to executive leadership and the opportunity to work on high-impact strategic projects at the intersection of deep technology, business strategy, and real-world impact.

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.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Economics, Finance, or a related analytical field.

Nice To Haves

• MBA or equivalent work experience preferred.
• Data visualization a plus.
• 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).

Responsibilities

• Independently own and lead strategic projects spanning core business in data storage and New Ventures related to photonics, magnetics, and nano-fabrication.
• Lead and own project outputs end-to-end, including market sizing, competitive landscaping, customer and segment analysis, GTM frameworks, and build-buy-partner assessments.
• 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.
• Conduct primary and secondary research, including 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 such as 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
• Supplemental life and AD&D
• Legal plan
• Pet insurance
• Critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity
• Tuition reimbursement
• Transit
• Applause Program
• Employee stock purchase plan
• WD Savings 401(k) Plan
• Eligibility for bonuses under WD’s Short Term Incentive Plan (“STI Plan”) or the Sales Incentive Plan (“SIP”)
• Potential eligibility for annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program (restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents)
• RSU awards available to eligible new hires

What This Job Offers

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