# Senior Technologist — Photonics Device and Systems R&D at Western Digital

- Company: Western Digital
- What the company does: 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. Backed by Sequoia.
- Company website: https://www.westerndigital.com/
- Type: Startups
- Level: Senior
- Location: San Jose, CA
- Work setup: On-site
- Posted: 2026-10-26
- Apply by: 2026-12-10
- Apply: https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/WesternDigital/744000157911459?utm_source=1752vc&utm_medium=careers
- Page: https://www.1752.vc/careers/jobs/western-digital-senior-technologist-photonics-device-and-systems-r-and-d/

## About the role

We are looking for a Senior Technologist to provide technical leadership for the research and development of new photonic devices and systems for data storage and communications applications. This role combines deep photonics expertise, device and system architecture, experimental development, and cross-functional technical direction from early concepts through demonstrated prototypes. Found on 1752vc Careers, the job board for startup and VC roles.

## What they're looking for

- Provide technical leadership for research and development of new photonic devices and systems for data storage and communications
- Define technology roadmaps, device architectures, performance targets, and development plans aligned with long-term business and research objectives
- Lead concept generation, feasibility assessment, modeling, design, fabrication, characterization, and prototype demonstration activities
- Guide technical tradeoff studies across optical performance, electrical drive, thermal behavior, reliability, manufacturability, packaging, and system integration
- Collaborate with device, process, test, packaging, electronics, firmware, and system teams to resolve complex cross-disciplinary challenges
- Establish experimental strategies and interpret device- and system-level data to accelerate learning and improve technical decisions


Source: 1752vc Careers, https://www.1752.vc/careers/jobs/western-digital-senior-technologist-photonics-device-and-systems-r-and-d/