Technologist Mechanical Engineering

Western Digital • San Jose, CA

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About The Position

Western Digital is seeking a Mechanical Engineer with a minimum of 5 years of experience to design, develop, and validate mechanical components and assemblies for our Hard Disk Drive (HDD) product portfolio and data storage solutions. The engineer in this position will drive precision mechanical design for head-disk assemblies (HDA), actuators, base castings, and enclosures while meeting stringent performance and reliability requirements.

Requirements

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering
• Expertise in Precision Mechanical Design, preferably in HDD industry with proven track record delivering products
• Experience with high-volume consumer electronics or medical devices
• Must have experience with head-disk interface (HDI) and aerodynamics
• Knowledge of actuator dynamics and servo positioning systems
• Experience with contamination control and particle management
• Awareness of magnetic recording fundamentals
• Manufacturing: Deep knowledge of die casting, precision machining, MIM, stamping
• Metrology: CMM programming, optical measurement systems, surface profilometry
• Materials: Aluminum alloys, stainless steel, and engineering polymers for HDD applications
• GD&T: Advanced application for tight-tolerance assemblies
• CAD: Advanced proficiency in SolidWorks
• Analysis: FEA tools, modal analysis, shock/vibration simulation
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Excellent communication
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced development environment

Responsibilities

• Design precision mechanical components for HDD systems: Head Stack Assembly (HSA) including actuators, flex circuits, voice coil motors
• Base casting and top cover assemblies
• Spindle motor integration and mounting systems
• Shock dampening and vibration isolation structures
• Breather filters and contamination control features
• Develop parts using advanced CAD (SolidWorks/NX) with tight tolerances
• Use geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) for drawings and 3D models to communicate ideal part with allowable variation to meet functional requirements.
• Design for ultra-clean operation environments (Class 10/100 cleanroom)
• Use 3D printing and other rapid prototyping processes to conduct design validation testing.
• Perform FEA on structural components (shock resistance, stiffness optimization)
• Conduct modal analysis for resonance avoidance in actuator systems
• Execute tolerance stack-up analysis for critical assemblies
• Design test fixtures and develop test protocols for design validation.
• Execute environmental testing for shock, vibration, and thermal cycling
• Drive failure mode analysis and implement corrective actions (FMEA, root cause analysis)
• Partner with recording heads, media, firmware, and servo teams for system integration.
• Interface with suppliers on specifications and quality.

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

What This Job Offers

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