Western Digital: Senior Director, Head of WD Capital — San Jose, CA, United States

About Western Digital

Western Digital develops and manufactures data-storage technology for data centres, cloud platforms and enterprise infrastructure. Its employer introduction connects this work with the need to retain, manage and access information generated by digital systems and AI applications. The business brings engineering and manufacturing together around the physical systems behind data storage. Its described purpose is to make growing volumes of information available over time, supporting the infrastructure on which other digital services depend.

The position and its setting

Western Digital lists Senior Director, Head of WD Capital in San Jose, CA, United States, under reference REF34745K. The details below separate the work described by the employer from essential conditions, preferred experience and practical preparation advice.

• Employment type: Full-time
• Employer listing date: 17 October 2026
• Business Function: Corporate Development
• Brands: Western Digital
• Work Location: San Jose Great Oaks Headquarters

Responsibilities and work described

• Western Digital is seeking a Senior Director to lead and own WD Capital, the company's corporate venture capital (CVC) arm
• The role requires a rare combination of venture investing experience, technical depth, and the credibility to operate as a trusted partner to business and technical leaders, as well as the executive team
• Portfolio Ownership & Management: Own the existing WD Capital portfolio end-to-end; monitor performance, support portfolio companies, manage board/observer seats, evaluate follow-on investment decisions, and drive exit and liquidity outcomes
• Pipeline Development: Build and continuously refresh a thesis-driven pipeline of early-stage companies aligned to Western Digital's strategic and technology priorities
• Investment Thesis Development: Partner with business leaders, CTO’s office, and Corporate Strategy to develop, test, and evolve investment theses that create strategic value for Western Digital
• Deal Leadership (Soup-to-Nuts): Personally lead sourcing, screening, due diligence, valuation, deal structuring, negotiation, and closing for all new investment opportunities
• Executive & Investment Committee Engagement: Prepare and present investment recommendations, portfolio reviews, and market insights to the Investment Committee and executive leadership
• Ecosystem & Relationship Building: Cultivate a network across the venture ecosystem (investors, institutional VCs, founders, and accelerators) to ensure deal flow and syndicate access
• Program Strategy & Governance: Define and evolve WD Capital's investment strategy, governance framework, and operating processes; establish WD Capital as a best-in-class CVC program
• Market & Technology Intelligence: Track startup, technology, and competitive landscape trends relevant to Western Digital's markets and translate them into actionable investment and strategic insights
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Work closely with Legal, Finance, Corporate Strategy, and Business leadership to align investments with corporate objectives and ensure disciplined execution

Essential requirements and candidate background

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline required (e.g., Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, or related field)
• 12+ years of relevant experience spanning venture capital and/or corporate venture capital, with direct experience having led or built a corporate venture capital program or fund
• Prior experience working within an institutional venture capital fund (e.g., as an investor progressing through Associate, Principal, or Partner-track roles)
• Demonstrated track record independently sourcing, evaluating, negotiating, and closing early-stage technology investments from start to finish
• Experience managing a portfolio of venture investments, including board/observer responsibilities and follow-on/exit decision-making
• Financial modeling, valuation, and deal structuring skills, with sound judgment on risk and strategic fit
• Deep familiarity with technology sectors relevant to Western Digital (storage, semiconductors, data infrastructure, AI/ML infrastructure, or adjacent deep tech domains)
• Executive presence and written/verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to senior leadership, investment committees, or boards
• Established network and credibility within the venture capital and startup ecosystem
• Strategic thinking: connects emerging technology and startup landscape to corporate strategy
• Deal leadership: drives complex, multi-stakeholder transactions to closure with rigor and speed
• Ownership & autonomy: operates as the accountable owner of the CVC function
• Relationship building: builds trust with founders, co-investors, and internal executive stakeholders
• Analytical rigor: sound judgment on valuation, risk, and strategic fit

Education and qualification routes

• Degree / qualification: Advanced degree - MBA, or MS/PhD in a technical field

Preferred experience and additional strengths

• Prior board director or board observer experience with venture-backed companies
• Experience building or scaling a CVC function within a large technology or industrial company
• Familiarity: Western Digital's core markets: storage, flash/NAND, data infrastructure, and related ecosystems

Location, schedule and contract conditions

For this overseas or regional listing, confirm work authorisation and any location restrictions with the employer. The location does not establish visa sponsorship or permission to work remotely from India.

• Moderate travel required (estimated 20–30%) for portfolio company engagement, sourcing, and industry events
• Work arrangement: Hybrid
• Advertised location: San Jose, CA, United States

Conditions requiring the complete notice

Some passages contain complex or combined conditions that have not been reduced to short eligibility statements here. Read the complete linked notice for those passages, including any alternatives, exceptions or restrictions. The concise facts above should not be treated as the full wording of every condition.

Pay and application dates

A verified salary figure is not established in this article. An online estimate for another Senior Director, Head of WD Capital vacancy is not an offer for reference REF34745K; use the employer’s own pay disclosure and recruitment communication.

A closing date is not confirmed in this article. Check the current employer page before submitting: an undated posting can change or be withdrawn.

How to apply to Western Digital

Applications follow the official employer page linked below. The source includes these application-specific points:

Open the official Western Digital posting below and match the title and reference REF34745K.

Compare your qualifications and experience with the essential conditions for the San Jose, CA, United States position, then read the preferred criteria separately.

Prepare an accurate CV and the supporting items requested in that employer’s application. Provide only information and documents you are authorised to share.

Use the employer’s application option, complete the required fields and review the submission. Retain the acknowledgement when one is provided. Job Alerts World does not receive the application.

• Accommodation requests: [email protected]

Practical preparation: commercial negotiations

A negotiation example should identify the objective, constraints and responsibility you held. Explain preparation, the discussion you contributed to and the actual outcome, including its limits.

Relevant skills

• AI/ML
• investment
• commercial negotiations
• partnership development
• AI
• electrical engineering
• mechanical engineering
• stakeholder management
• communication