Senior Spintronics Development Engineer

Summary

Join Western Digital's innovative team and contribute to the research and development of materials and thin film stacks for cutting-edge spintronic devices in next-generation hard disk drive heads. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, develop innovative solutions for complex technical challenges, and shape WD's technical strategy. This role requires a PhD in a relevant field and 10+ years of experience in magnetic materials and thin film deposition. You will be responsible for delivering next-generation spintronic thin film stacks, aligning with design and characterization teams, and developing new process building blocks. The position offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and opportunities for professional growth within a dynamic and collaborative environment.

Requirements

• Ph.D. degree in Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related fields
• 10+ years’ experience working on magnetic materials and thin film deposition
• Excellent written and communication skills
• Ability to set and model high standards for effective interactions, often across groups
• Self-motivated and proactive with the ability to effectively multi-task and work collaboratively in a fast-paced, team environment
• Ability to understand and quantify project risks with impact and help prevent problems that may cross disciplines
• Leadership skills and abilities to influence decisions and results

Responsibilities

• Deliver next generation spintronic thin film stacks for magnetic sensors and transducers alongside a team of process development engineers and technicians
• Collaborate with manufacturing and equipment engineering counterparts on process transfer, additional tool qualifications with well-justified specifications and tolerances
• Align with Design, Characterization, and Program teams to understand device requirements and define metrics for sensor stack processes to ensure meeting product requirements on both performance and reliability
• Work closely with other module and integration leaders to develop new process building blocks
• Define read sensor and transducer improvement roadmaps including materials, stacks and related fabrication equipment and characterization metrology in alignment with Manufacturing/Production and Design/Program teams
• Process development for next generation magnetic sensors and transducers. Design recipes on process equipment
• Support and run development experiments on process equipment
• Perform, measure, and analyze DOEs to validate new processes
• Analyze and present results in engineering review meetings
• Improve existing metrology and develop new measurement techniques. Work with MFG/equipment engineering to introduce new metrology tools and measurements
• Transfer new metrology tools and measurements into production
• Perform electrical measurements on read sensors and transducers to characterize performance. Write scripts for tool automation and data analysis
• Collaborate with integration and process teams to develop and fabricate new test devices for next gen read sensors and transducers
• Utilize and analyze data from databases and identify process and yield optimization opportunities. Conduct aggressive experiment management and wafer tracking
• Perform prompt failure analysis and defect resolution
• Conduct readiness reviews with FMEA and tolerance studies
• Prepare DOEs to drive the improvement activities. Create and maintain detailed documentation of engineering changes
• Work closely with other module and integration leaders to develop new process building blocks

Benefits

• Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance
• Annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents
• RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires
• 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
• The Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan