Summer 2026 Intern - HAMR Component Testing
About The Position
The intern will work with the tribological component testing team supporting Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) technology. The project focuses on understanding and improving head-disk interface components operating under extreme conditions in HAMR. The intern will design and perform experiments to characterize tribological behavior of lubricants, overcoats and other materials relevant to HAMR head-disk interfaces and contribute to the development of next-generation storage technologies. This role is part of WD's early career development program. WD's early career development program is ideal for individuals at the early stages of their professional career. Participants receive foundational training through structured onboarding, mentorship, and a curated development curriculum. The responsibilities of this role are typically aligned with candidates who have approximately 0–2+ years of relevant professional experience, though candidates of all experience levels are encouraged to apply.
Requirements
- Currently pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Tribology, Physics, or a related fields
- Strong background in tribology, contact mechanics, surface science, or thin film materials
- Ability to work hands-on with precision mechanical testing systems
- Experience with experimental methods and data analysis
- Programming experience in Python, MATLAB, or similar
Nice To Haves
- Experience with surface characterization techniques, such as optical microscopy, SEM, AFM, surface profilometry
- Knowledge of lubrication, DLC coatings, or surface engineering
- Experience with thermal or thermo-mechanical effects in sliding interfaces
- Background in statistical analysis or design of experiments (DOE)
- Strong experimental problem-solving ability
Responsibilities
- Design and perform experiments to characterize tribological behavior of lubricants, overcoats and other materials relevant to HAMR head-disk interfaces.
- Contribute to the development of next-generation storage technologies.
- Document results and present findings to the research and engineering teams.
- Contribute to development of improved test methodologies or reliability models.
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
Intern
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
