Summer 2024 Intern, Operations Research Engineering

Company Description

At Western Digital, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible.

At our core, Western Digital is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology. For decades, we’ve been doing just that. Our technology helped people put a man on the moon.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest growth organizations in the world. From energizing the most competitive gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Binge-watch any shows, use social media or shop online lately? You’ll find Western Digital supporting the storage infrastructure behind many of these platforms. And, that flash memory card that captures and preserves your most precious moments? That’s us, too.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, storage devices and platforms for business and consumers alike. Our data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital®, G-Technology™, SanDisk® and WD® brands.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. It’s You & Western Digital. Together, we’re the next BIG thing in data.

Job Description

Western Digital's Advanced Analytics Office leads an internal factory platform development that enables real-time analytics and optimization of factory processes. The platform has been implemented at various factories globally and added significant business value. During the internship you will be a part of a dynamic team working closely with factory operations, and you will develop operations research and analytics solutions, solving factory capacity planning and optimization problems. This is a unique opportunity to be a part of a team that's instrumental in Western Digital’s Industry 4.0 journey. We are changing the way how analytics is used across global operations sites. The internship covers the following activities:

• Collect information about a factory capacity planning problem, understand the related current practices and the desired solution.
• Define and implement an optimization (MILP, MINLP) model, and implement it in Python language.
• Conduct numerical experiments with the model(s) and present the results to the key project stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a graduate program related to Computer Science, Data Science, Operations Management, Manufacturing, or another related field with preferred graduation date between December 2024-June 2025
• Familiarity with industrial engineering concepts, e.g., WIP management, production control, manufacturing process and cycle time etc.
• Good analytics skills in the context of factory optimization, leveraging OR techniques e.g., linear and integer programming, constraint programming, nonlinear optimization.
• Hands-on Python programming skills.
• Skills in writing basic database queries for SQL platforms.
• Familiarity with declarative modeling tools (e.g., IBM CPLEX, FICO Xpress, Google-OR tools etc.)
• Ongoing studies in Industrial Engineering, Applied Math, Operations Research, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Good abstraction skills and problem-solving ability.
• Preference will be given to candidates who do not require relocation to the San Jose, CA area. 

Additional Information

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate 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 Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law poster.

Western Digital 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.

Western Digital 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.

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