Technologist, Generative AI

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

We are seeking a visionary and technically proficient GenAI Technologist to join AAO team. In this exciting role, you will play a pivotal role in spearheading our exploration and integration of GenAI technologies, driving innovation and competitive advantage across our organization. You will wear multiple hats, leading internal initiatives, collaborating with external vendors, and advocating for the transformative potential of generative AI within Western Digital.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Define and execute a strategic roadmap for the adoption and utilization of GenAI within the company.
• Conduct in-depth research and analysis of emerging GenAI trends and applications.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders across different departments (e.g., engineering, manufacturing, procurement) to identify opportunities and drive adoption of GenAI solutions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key GenAI vendors and solution providers.
• Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences to foster understanding and enthusiasm for GenAI initiatives.
• Develop and implement Rapid Learning Cycle (RLC) projects to demonstrate the value proposition of GenAI in specific areas.
• Oversee the development and deployment of production-ready GenAI solutions, ensuring successful integration with existing systems and workflows.
• Monitor and track performance metrics, evaluating the impact of GenAI and iterating on solutions for continuous improvement.
• Lead and mentor internal teams in understanding and leveraging GenAI tools and techniques.

Qualifications

REQUIRED

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or related field. Certifications in GenAI domain would be an added advantage.
• Proven track record of at least 5+ years in a technology leadership role, with a focus on implementing AI/ML solutions in large enterprises. Previous experience in hardware or semiconductor industry is highly desirable.
• Extensive experience in machine learning, deep learning, and genAI models (e.g., LLMs, GANs, VAEs).
• Proficiency in programming languages and AI frameworks such as Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow, Langchain etc.
• Strong understanding of cloud computing platforms and infrastructure. Prior experience with one or more of AWS, GCP & Azure is expected.
• Proven ability to establish successful collaborations with external vendors and technology partners.
• Ability to think creatively and identify impactful use cases for GenAI beyond standard applications.

SKILLS

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to build trust and rapport with internal and external stakeholders.

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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Compensation & Benefits Details

• An 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.
• You will be eligible to participate in Western Digital’s Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, 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 for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to Western Digital’s Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including 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, and the Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan.
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.