Western Digital New College Grad PhD Data Scientist Econometrics 

New Zealand, Canterbury, Christchurch 

172138063

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

AAO solutions are built using cutting edge Industrial 4.0 technologies and are delivered through a platform approach to enable rapid scaling. The solutions span AI/ML for improving manufacturing test, yield, quality & OEE, AI/ML & data analytics for sales, marketing, logistics & supply chain problems, Operations Research for capacity and scheduling optimization, Digital Twin for inventory and logistics optimization, and Product Telematics for managing customer fleet management solutions. Many of these solutions are first-of-a-kind that have discovery and rapid learning elements with the intent of taking solution to scale.

We are seeking a PhD Data Scientist to transform how we respond to market dynamics, optimize supply, cost, and pricing, and enhance our financial forecasting methods. In this role, you will collaborate with key stakeholders in Product Marketing, Sales, Finance, and Supply Chain to develop cutting-edge analytics solutions that drive significant impact on revenue, profitability, and shareholder value. With access to an exceptional talent pool in AAO, you will have the opportunity to fundamentally transform how Western Digital operates as a leader in the data storage industry.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Probabilistic Demand Forecasting : Develop probabilistic models that provide a range of possible demand outcomes with associated probabilities. Update demand forecasts dynamically as new information becomes available, using Bayesian principles to incorporate uncertainty in a structured way.
• Demand vs. Supply Scenario Planning : Develop multiple scenarios based on different assumptions about future market conditions, demand trends, and external factors (e.g., macro-economic indicators, geo-political events).
• Simulations & Quantitative Risk Management : Use Monte Carlo simulations and other probabilistic models to quantify & minimize the risk of different demand scenarios on inventory levels, production schedules, and profitability.
• Financial Forecasting : Utilize financial econometrics to build models that support financial forecasting, including sales and revenue projections.
• Pricing Optimization : Apply advanced analytics and optimization techniques to pricing strategies, including price gap analysis and pricing optimization.
• Data Analysis : Acquire, cleanse, and transform large and complex datasets and analyze to extract actionable insights and support scenario planning & risk assessment models.
• Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams : Work closely with Product Marketing, Supply Chain, Sales, and Finance teams to identify business challenges and develop data-driven solutions.
• Continuous Learning & Innovation : Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in econometrics, advanced statistics, game theory, and data science. Contribute to the continuous improvement of processes, tools, and methodologies.

• PhD in a field such as Economics & Data Science, Advanced Statistics, Applied Mathematics, or a related discipline. Recent graduates and post-doc students are invited to apply.
• Research experience in solving complex forecasting, risk management and cost or profit optimization problems.
• Deep expertise in advanced statistical methods (e.g., Causal inference and Bayesian statistics), mathematical optimization, scenario planning, and simulations (e.g., Monte Carlo Simulations).
• Ability to handle large and complex datasets, with proficiency in SQL, Hadoop, Spark, and NoSQL databases.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, or similar for data analysis and model development.
• Prior experience or aptitude to learn Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Generative AI techniques.
• Ability to quickly learn and apply new tools and technologies, particularly in data visualization (e.g., Power BI, Spotfire) and cloud platforms (e.g., Oracle Cloud, AWS, GCP).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and present complex data-driven insights to non-technical stakeholders.
• Critical thinking and an appetite to solve complex real-world problems.

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.