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

Company Description

At Western Digital, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible.

At our core, Western Digital is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology. For decades, we’ve been doing just that. Our technology helped people put a man on the moon.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest growth organizations in the world. From energizing the most competitive 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.

Binge-watch any shows, use social media or shop online lately? You’ll find Western Digital supporting the storage infrastructure behind many of these platforms. And, that flash memory card that captures and preserves your most precious moments? That’s us, too.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, storage devices and platforms for business and consumers alike. Our data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital®, G-Technology™, SanDisk® and WD® brands.

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

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

• 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. 

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. 

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

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 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 poli