Summer 2025 Intern, X-Ray Characterization (XRD, XRR, XRF, EPMA) Engineer

Company Description

At Western Digital, we are on a mission to unlock the potential of data so people, companies and organizations everywhere can create what’s next. To fulfill our vision, we are always on the lookout for potential team members who share our passion for solving problems to empower others.

When you join Western Digital, you join a legacy more than 50 years in the making. Across our Western Digital®, SanDisk®, SanDisk® Professional, WD® and WD_BLACK™ brands, we have brought some of the most storied advancements in memory and data storage technology to market—and our best, most innovative work is yet to come.

From energizing gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Here’s how you can help.

Job Description

Western Digital, the premiere producer of hard disk drives (HDDs), is seeking a scientist with experience performing XRD, XRR, and/or XRF on thin-film materials. Magnetic sensor, writer, and disk development are critical to the advancement of data storage. Magnetic media used to store information in hard drives is composed of stacks of thin films ranging from angstroms to tens of nanometers in thickness. Electromagnetic HDD head technology also relies on thin-film stacks, and are produced in wafer fabs applying the same processing techniques used in the semiconductor industry. The primary purpose of our work is to characterize these thin-films in support of the next generation of HDD technology. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  

• The position involves the use of Rigaku and Panalytical XRD, XRR, and XRF instruments to collect and interpret data to extract parameters from a variety of samples. Experience and/or willingness to learn electron microprobe quantitative analysis is also needed. 

• The candidate will work closely with our head and media development teams to provide expert measurement, data interpretation, and input on technological advancement. 

• This is an opportunity to join a team of dozens of X-ray scientists, electron microscopists, and chemists who support Western Digital's research, development, and manufacturing efforts world-wide. 

Qualifications

Required:

• A candidate pursuing a PhD in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry or other related engineering discipline and significant experience with XRD data analysis is required. 

• Experience using XRF (Rigaku) and/or EPMA (JEOL) to perform compositional analysis on thin-films and/or bulk materials is needed. 

Preferred:

• A candidate with experience with Rietveld refinement is preferred. 

• Experience with XRR data fitting is desired, but the candidate will have the opportunity to develop this skill through training with experienced colleagues. 

• An interest in troubleshooting X-ray equipment is a plus. 

Skills:

• Strong problem-solving abilities and the desire to work in a team environment are essential. 

• The successful applicant will be patient, detail oriented, and hard-working. 

• A candidate with experience with Rietveld refinement is preferred. 

• Experience with XRR data fitting is desired, but the candidate will have the opportunity to develop this skill through training with experienced colleagues. 

This position is located in our world-class Analytical Sciences Laboratory in San Jose, California.  

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 "