Senior Director, Corporate Development
About The Position
Western Digital is entering a new chapter as an independent deep-tech company, built on decades of engineering breakthroughs and focused on technological frontiers. The company operates at the intersection of magnetics, photonics, nanofabrication, and machine learning, holding a significant intellectual property portfolio. While known for data storage powering data centers and AI systems, Western Digital's technology has also contributed to significant advancements like space exploration and is poised to shape future technologies such as robotics, quantum computing, and personalized medicine. The Strategy & Corporate Development team acts as a crucial link between Western Digital's technology and its target markets, translating deep-tech capabilities into commercial impact, defining long-term strategy, and executing partnerships, investments, and acquisitions. This role is for individuals passionate about solving impactful problems at the confluence of deep technology, business strategy, and real-world application.
Requirements
- Minimum 8–10 years in M&A, investment banking, private equity, corporate development, venture capital, or corporate ventures.
- Industry experience in a highly technical field required e.g., storage, semiconductor, infrastructure, aerospace/defense, biopharma, telecom, etc.
- Proven M&A execution and deal track record with full-cycle transaction ownership, including deep experience with financial modeling, due diligence, negotiation, and post-merger activity.
- Exceptional financial modeling capability with the ability to independently build sophisticated valuation and deal models from scratch.
- Strong strategic thinking with the ability to think through and execute creative deal structures and economics to onboard new partners and acquisition targets and align on value creation.
- Proven cross-functional deal management experience across Legal, Finance, Product, Engineering, and business unit stakeholders.
- Track record of building and leveraging relationships across bankers, investors, advisors, operators, and internal stakeholders.
- Experienced in presenting to and influencing C-suite and Board-level executives.
Nice To Haves
- AI-adjacent experience (data, storage, software, memory subsystems) and/or prior experience working with or for hyperscale cloud providers, semiconductor companies, or large OEMs.
- Direct venture investing experience in deep-tech with a track record of sourcing, structuring, and managing minority investments.
- Active external network (bankers, VCs, advisors) to support independent deal flow.
- Experience with cross-border M&A and international transaction structuring.
- Familiarity with various corporate venture capital models and strategic investment portfolio management.
Responsibilities
- Own the full M&A lifecycle end-to-end: target identification, due diligence, valuation, structuring, negotiation, and close across both the core HDD business and new ventures spanning a wide spectrum of deep tech opportunities including but not limited to photonics, magnetics, and nano-fabrication.
- Lead complex transaction execution including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, spin outs/ins, creative capital structures, divestitures, and vertical integration aligned to Western Digital's strategic priorities.
- Develop rigorous valuation frameworks, financial models, and deal structures.
- Build and maintain a proprietary deal pipeline across data storage, AI/cloud adjacencies, and deep-tech by engaging with bankers, investors, startups, and operators to source high-quality opportunities aligned with Western Digital's strategic direction.
- Optimize the corporate portfolio through appropriate acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic partnerships and evaluate build-vs-buy-vs-partner decisions for new capability development, technology acquisition, vertical integration, and market entry.
- Support corporate venture investment strategy by building relationships with VCs, accelerators, and ecosystem partners to source and invest in high-potential technology companies and startups that are aligned with WD’s strategic priorities.
- Assess emerging technologies and business models in storage, data infrastructure, AI, and deep-tech related to New Ventures for potential minority investment or strategic partnership.
- Deliver investment recommendations and executive briefings to the Executive Leadership Team (C-suite) and Board of Directors to translate complex deal opportunities into clear, actionable investment priorities.
- Synthesize market intelligence, competitive analysis, and financial modeling into compelling investment theses and strategic recommendations.
- Partner with key stakeholders across the business (Engineering, Product, Finance, Commercial, Legal, HR) to coordinate on key deal activities and integration planning with long-range strategic plans and integration planning.
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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
