Staff Engineer, Hardware Development Engineering

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 storage solutions including hard disk drives (WD and G-Technology brands) and solid-state drives (SanDisk brand), is seeking an engineer to prepare site-specific TEM lamella from HDD head wafer samples. 
• The “heads” used to read and write information onto magnetic media in hard drives are manufactured on wafers using the same processes found in the semiconductor industry.  There are over 100,000 heads on a single wafer, and critical features are on the nanometer size scale, with individual layers of material less than a single nanometer in thickness. 
• The primary purpose of our work is to support the development and manufacture of the next generation of head reader technology. 
• The candidate will work with and learn from experienced materials scientists and will work closely with the TEM engineers that will analyze the lamella.  In order to increase access to our busy FIB instruments, we may ask the candidate work one Saturday or Sunday per week, particularly after we receive a new, state-of-the art instrument next year.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with FIB sample preparation is required. 
• Experience with FEI/TFS FIB tools and/or in-depth understanding of FIB automation is a plus. 
• AS, BS or MS in Materials Science, Physics, or other related engineering discipline is a plus. 
• Strong problem-solving abilities and the desire to work in a team environment are essential.  
• The candidate will join a team of eight microscopists and sample prep engineers developing the next generation of Western Digital's storage technology.  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 policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law poster.

Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.