New College Grad, PhD Data Scientist (Supply Chain

Job Description

Strategically positioned within the organization of the CIO, AAO is missioned with accelerating Analytics solutions at scale across the Enterprise to rapidly capture business value. These solutions target key business metrics, such as reducing manufacturing cost, improving capital efficiency, reducing time‑to‑market for new products, improving planning, operational efficiency & logistics, and enhancing customer experience.

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 solutions to scale.

We are seeking a PhD Data Scientist to revolutionize the possibilities within Western Digital’s complex supply chain. In this role, you will collaborate with key stakeholders in Supply Chain, Procurement, and Logistics to develop cutting‑edge analytics solutions that drive significant impact on both the top and bottom lines of the company. 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.

• Supply Chain Network Design & Optimization:
  Develop and optimize supply chain network models to enhance efficiency, resiliency, and cost‑effectiveness.
• Inventory Strategy & Optimization:
  Apply advanced mathematical optimization techniques to multi‑echelon inventory systems. Focus on safety stock estimation, inventory placement, and service level optimization to meet business goals.
• Scenario Planning & Simulations:
  Conduct scenario planning and simulations to evaluate the impact of different strategies and disruptions on the supply chain.
• Geospatial Analysis:
  Utilize geospatial analysis to optimize supply chain routes and locations.
• Risk Management:
  
  Perform risk analysis using methods such as Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to identify and mitigate potential supply chain risks such as stockout and overstock.
• Data Analysis:
  Acquire, cleanse, and transform large and complex datasets and analyze to extract actionable insights and support optimization models.
• Collaboration with Cross‑Functional Teams:
  Work closely with Supply Chain, Logistics, and Procurement teams to identify business challenges and develop data‑driven solutions.
• Continuous Learning & Innovation:
  Stay up‑to‑date with the latest trends and technologies in supply chain management, optimization techniques and data science. Contribute to the continuous improvement of processes, tools, and methodologies.

• PhD in a field such as Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline. Recent graduates and post‑doc students are invited to apply.
• Research experience in solving complex supply chain problems with mathematical modeling & optimization, scenario planning and simulations.
• Ability to handle large and complex datasets, with proficiency in SQL, Hadoop, Spark, and No
  
  SQL 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.

Western Digital is committed to…