Senior Director, Corporate Development

Western Digital • San Jose, CA

2d • Hybrid

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. We are a company of physicists, materials scientists, AI researchers, and engineers working at the forefront of magnetics, photonics, nanofabrication, and machine learning. Our teams hold a significant intellectual property bank and are staffed with hundreds of PhDs. While known for powering data centers, clouds, and AI systems with our HDD technology, we are also developing technologies for robotics, quantum computing, space systems, personalized medicine, and autonomous vehicles. The Strategy & Corporate Development team connects Western Digital's technology to its markets, turning deep-tech capabilities into commercial impact by strengthening our core HDD business, setting long-term strategy, and executing partnerships, investments, and acquisitions. This role is for individuals passionate about deep technology, business strategy, and real-world impact.

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.
• 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.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related technical field.

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.
• MBA from top-tier business school.

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 deep tech opportunities (photonics, magnetics, 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.
• Optimize the corporate portfolio through appropriate acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic partnerships.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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
• 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 or cash equivalents).
• RSU awards for eligible new hires.

What This Job Offers

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