Senior Technologist — Photonics Device and Systems R&D
About The Position
WD is seeking a Senior Technologist to provide technical leadership for research and development of photonic devices and systems for data storage and communications. The role combines photonics expertise, device and system architecture, experimental development, and cross-functional technical direction, guiding work from early concepts through demonstrated prototypes. The successful candidate will define technical direction, lead multidisciplinary teams, and translate emerging photonics concepts into technology platforms with paths to product impact. The position includes setting technology roadmaps, device architectures, performance targets, and development plans; leading concept generation, feasibility assessment, modeling, design, fabrication, characterization, and prototype demonstrations; and guiding tradeoffs involving optical performance, electrical drive, thermal behavior, reliability, manufacturability, packaging, and system integration. The role also involves interpreting experimental data, identifying technology and intellectual-property opportunities and strategic partnerships, mentoring technical staff, leading technical reviews, and communicating strategy, risks, progress, and recommendations to engineering and business leadership.
Requirements
- PhD in Photonics, Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a closely related field.
- 10+ years of experience in photonic device or system development.
- Deep technical expertise in photonic device physics, optical systems, and experimental development.
- Demonstrated leadership of complex, multidisciplinary R&D programs from concept through prototype validation.
- Strong understanding of photonic device design, fabrication, characterization, packaging, and system integration.
- Ability to make sound technical decisions with incomplete data and resolve difficult first-principles engineering problems.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence technical direction across organizational boundaries.
- Track record of mentoring technical contributors and building alignment among diverse engineering teams.
Nice To Haves
- Experience developing photonic technologies for data storage, optical communications, or adjacent high-volume applications.
- Expertise in semiconductor lasers, modulators, detectors, integrated photonics, micro-optics, or optical interconnects.
- Experience bridging device-level innovation with system architecture and product requirements.
- Strong record of patents, publications, invited presentations, or recognized technical leadership in photonics.
- Experience working with external research institutions, fabrication partners, suppliers, or strategic technology collaborators.
- Demonstrated ability to create new technology directions and translate them into executable development programs.
Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership for R&D of photonic devices and systems for data storage and communications.
- Define technology roadmaps, device architectures, performance targets, and development plans aligned with business and research objectives.
- Lead concept generation, feasibility assessment, modeling, design, fabrication, characterization, and prototype demonstration activities.
- Guide technical tradeoff studies across optical performance, electrical drive, thermal behavior, reliability, manufacturability, packaging, and system integration.
- Collaborate with device, process, test, packaging, electronics, firmware, and system teams to resolve cross-disciplinary challenges.
- Establish experimental strategies and interpret device- and system-level data to accelerate learning and improve technical decisions.
- Identify external technology trends, research opportunities, intellectual-property opportunities, and strategic partnerships.
- Mentor engineers and scientists, lead rigorous technical reviews, and strengthen the organization’s photonics capability.
- Communicate technical strategy, risks, progress, and recommendations to engineering and business leadership.
Benefits
- Paid vacation time
- Paid sick leave
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Accident insurance
- Disability insurance
- Flexible spending and health savings accounts
- Employee assistance program
- Supplemental life and AD&D coverage
- Legal plan
- Pet insurance
- Critical illness coverage
- Accident and hospital indemnity coverage
- Tuition reimbursement
- Transit benefits
- Applause Program
- Employee stock purchase plan
- WD Savings 401(k) Plan
- Potential bonus eligibility under the Short Term Incentive Plan or Sales Incentive Plan, depending on role and performance
- Potential eligibility for the annual Long-Term Incentive program, which may include restricted stock units or cash equivalents
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
