What are the responsibilities and job description for the Summer 2026 Intern - Software Engineering (Firmware) position at Western Digital?
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 and capture the first-ever picture of a black hole.
We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, HDDs, and platforms for business, creative professionals, and consumers alike under our Western Digital®, WD®, WD_BLACK™, and Sandisk® Professional Brands.
We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest-growth organizations in the world. From enabling systems to make cities safer and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and hyperscale cloud providers, to meeting the massive and ever-growing data storage needs of the AI era, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.
Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. Together, we can build the future of data storage.
Job Description
What you’ll do
Develop and validate HDD firmware in C/C (features, fixes, unit/integration tests)
Contribute to device-driver–adjacent work across storage I/O: PCIe, SAS, SATA, NVMe
Script Python tools for test automation, log parsing, and data checks
Participate in Agile/Scrum (SAFe) rituals; write clear docs for designs, tests, and results
Debug with analyzers/scopes; collaborate on root-cause and performance tuning
Qualifications
Minimum qualifications
Pursuing BS/MS in CS, CE, or EE (or similar); graduation target May 2027–May 2028
Coursework/projects in C or C and Embedded/Firmware fundamentals
Understanding of storage/IO or OS concepts (threads, memory, timing), and willingness to learn HDD specifics
Strong communicator, collaborative, and curious problem solver
Nice to have
Exposure to storage stacks (protocols, link layers) or Linux/Windows driver concepts
Basics with I²C/SPI/UART/USB, RTOS concepts, or BSP
Python test tooling experience
Prior internship/co-op in firmware, storage, or driver development
Project experience with microcontrollers or Raspberry Pi/Arduino
Familiarity with x86 assembly or MIPS fundamentals
How we work
Short sprints, focused code reviews, hands-on lab time
Dedicated mentor structured onboarding
Intern projects that land in product—no “intern shelf” work
Additional Information
Western Digital 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
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 [email protected] 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.