Hardware Development Intern Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Job Description: Company Description WD is building the infrastructure behind the AI-driven data economy. As AI scales, so does data. Every interaction, every model, every system generates data that must be stored, managed, and made accessible over time. That’s where we come in. We combine deep engineering expertise with global-scale manufacturing to deliver the storage systems that make AI possible, powering hyperscale data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise infrastructure worldwide. This isn’t theoretical work. It’s real systems, at real scale, people solving some of the hardest challenges in technology today. We’re looking for people who want to build, solve, and operate at that level. Join us and let’s shape the future of data.Job Description This posting supports current and anticipated early-career hiring needs. Applying allows our recruiting team to consider you for opportunities that align with your qualifications, preferences, and availability. An immediate opening or interview is not guaranteed. Where are these roles located? You’ll have the opportunity to work with teams in:Colorado Springs, ColoradoIrvine, CaliforniaLongmont, ColoradoFremont, CaliforniaRochester, MinnesotaSan Jose, California ASIC Engineering Design the silicon powering the future of data storage. As an ASIC Engineer, you’ll help create the custom chips that power next-generation hard disk drives (HDDs). Working alongside experienced engineers, you’ll contribute to digital design, verification, simulation, and optimization to deliver high-performance, energy-efficient products at global scale. What you’ll doDesign and verify ASIC architectures and digital logicBuild simulations and validate complex hardware designsSupport the ASIC development lifecycle—from architecture through synthesis, place-and-route, and timing closureOptimize performance, power, and reliabilityCollaborate across hardware, firmware, and systems engineering teams Technologies you’ll use ASIC Design • RTL • Verilog/SystemVerilog • Digital Logic • Verification • Simulation • Timing Analysis • Low-Power Design Why you’ll love this roleHelp build technology that stores the world’s data.Learn from experienced semiconductor engineers.Work on cutting-edge silicon development.Solve challenging engineering problems with cross-functional teams.Build highly transferable chip design skills. Hardware Development Engineering Build the hardware behind the world’s data. As a Hardware Development Engineer, you’ll help develop the technologies that make modern data storage faster, more reliable, and higher capacity. You’ll design, prototype, validate, and improve hardware while solving real engineering challenges alongside multidisciplinary teams. What you’ll doDesign and develop electronic hardware and magnetic recording systemsCreate validation strategies and automated test solutionsPerform reliability, stress, and performance testingAnalyze circuit boards, processors, sensors, and other hardware componentsImprove products from prototype through manufacturing Technologies you’ll use Electronics • PCB Design • Signal Integrity • Hardware Validation • Reliability Engineering • Test Engineering • Data Analysis Why you’ll love this roleDesign products used around the world.Work with advanced recording technologies.Gain hands-on laboratory experience.Collaborate with experts across multiple engineering disciplines.See your designs move from concept to production. Firmware Engineering Bring hardware to life through software. As a Firmware Engineer, you’ll develop the embedded software that controls advanced storage devices. You’ll work at the intersection of hardware and software, building reliable, high-performance firmware that enables world-class products. What you’ll doDesign, develop, and debug embedded firmwareWrite software in C, C++, Assembly, and other low-level languagesIntegrate firmware with analog and digital hardwareTroubleshoot hardware-software interactionsImprove system performance, functionality, and reliability Technologies you’ll use Embedded Systems • C • C++ • Assembly • RTOS • Hardware Interfaces • Firmware Validation • Debugging Why you’ll love this roleBuild software that directly controls hardware.Solve complex engineering challenges.Work closely with both hardware and software engineers.Learn how products operate at the lowest level.Develop highly sought-after embedded systems skills. Systems Design & Integration Engineering Connect hardware and software into complete products. As a Systems Design & Integration Engineer, you’ll bring together hardware, firmware, and software to create reliable, high-performing storage systems. You’ll solve integration challenges and ensure every subsystem works seamlessly together. What you’ll doDefine system requirements and technical specificationsIntegrate hardware, firmware, and software componentsCoordinate subsystem development across engineering teamsTroubleshoot complex system-level issuesImprove product performance, compatibility, and reliability Technologies you’ll use Systems Engineering • Integration • Validation • Root Cause Analysis • Product Development • Cross-Functional Engineering Why you’ll love this roleWork across multiple engineering disciplines.Understand how complete products come together.Solve challenging integration problems.Gain broad technical exposure.Build systems-level engineering expertise. Mechanical Design Engineering Engineer the mechanics behind breakthrough technology. As a Mechanical Design Engineer, you’ll design the precision mechanical systems that support advanced storage products. From concept through manufacturing, you’ll help create innovative, reliable, and manufacturable solutions. What you’ll doDesign mechanical components, assemblies, and packagingDevelop prototypes and evaluate new conceptsPerform engineering analysis and design validationConduct testing to improve performance and reliabilityPartner with manufacturing teams to prepare products for production Technologies you’ll use CAD • Mechanical Design • Product Development • Prototype Testing • Design Validation • Manufacturing Engineering Why you’ll love this roleTurn ideas into real products.Design precision mechanical systems.Build and test prototypes.Collaborate across engineering teams.See your designs manufactured at scale. Equipment Engineering Build smarter manufacturing. As an Equipment Engineer, you’ll optimize the advanced manufacturing equipment used to build world-class storage technology. You’ll improve equipment performance, increase reliability, and help solve complex production challenges. What you’ll doInstall, upgrade, and optimize manufacturing equipmentImprove equipment uptime, reliability, and process performanceInvestigate equipment failures and implement corrective actionsDevelop preventive maintenance strategiesPartner with manufacturing and process engineers to drive continuous improvement Technologies you’ll use Automation • Manufacturing Engineering • Preventive Maintenance • Root Cause Analysis • Reliability Engineering • Continuous Improvement Why you’ll love this roleWork with advanced manufacturing technology.Solve real-world production challenges.Improve efficiency through engineering.Learn automation and industrial systems.Help build products used around the world. System-on-Chip (SoC) Engineering Design the brains behind next-generation storage technology. As a System-on-Chip (SoC) Engineer, you’ll help develop the intelligent controllers that power advanced storage products. Working at the intersection of hardware, firmware, and silicon, you’ll design, integrate, verify, and validate complex SoC solutions that deliver high performance, reliability, and efficiency. What you’ll doDesign, integrate, and validate SoC components and subsystemsDevelop and verify digital logic, interfaces, and IP blocksSupport simulation, debugging, and hardware bring-upAnalyze system performance, power, timing, and reliabilityCollaborate with ASIC, firmware, hardware, and systems engineering teams Technologies you’ll use SoC Architecture • RTL • Verilog/SystemVerilog • FPGA • Digital Design • Verification • Embedded Systems • Hardware Validation • Performance Optimization Why you’ll love this roleBuild the controllers that power modern storage technology.Work across silicon, firmware, hardware, and systems engineering.Experience the complete chip development lifecycle.Solve complex semiconductor design challenges.Develop highly marketable SoC engineering skills. 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.Qualifications Required:Currently pursuing or recently completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechatronics, Materials Engineering, Data Science, or a related engineering or technical discipline.Experience developing technical skills through coursework, internships, co-ops, research, laboratory work, capstone projects, hackathons, or personal projects in one or more areas such as software development, embedded systems, firmware, ASIC/SoC design, hardware development, systems engineering, mechanical design, manufacturing, automation, data analysis, testing, validation, or related engineering disciplines.Familiarity with engineering fundamentals and one or more relevant technical areas, including programming (C, C++, Python, Java, Go, SQL, JavaScript, or similar), digital logic, embedded systems, computer architecture, electronics, mechanical design, CAD, manufacturing processes, automation, testing, simulation, verification, debugging, data analysis, or systems integration.Demonstrated analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively in a cross-functional engineering environment.Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills with a passion for learning new technologies.Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment.Proficiency with Microsoft Office and common software development tools (such as Git, Linux, or IDEs) is a plus.Interest in storage technologies, semiconductors, embedded systems, cloud computing, AI, data analytics, or other emerging technologies.Additional Information WD is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person’s gender identity, gender expression, and gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster. Our pay transparency policy is available here. WD thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution. WD is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at jobs.accommodations@wdc.com to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying. Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 10/31/26, although we reserve the right to close the application process sooner if we hire an applicant for this position before the application deadline. If we are not able to hire someone from this role before the application deadline, we will update this posting with a new anticipated application deadlin #LI-MT Compensation & Benefits DetailsAn employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York. This range may be modified in the future.If your position is non-exempt, you are eligible for overtime pay pursuant to company policy and applicable laws. You may also be eligible for shift differential pay, depending on the shift to which you are assigned. You will be eligible to be considered for bonuses under either WD’s Short Term Incentive Plan (“STI Plan”) or the Sales Incentive Plan (“SIP”) which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance, depending on your role and your performance. You may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible fo