Materials Research Engineer – Staff 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

This is a postdoctoral position in Western Digital Research, a world-class research laboratory in San Jose, California with ~80 employees.  Research activities in the lab focus on information storage, sensors, spintronics, superconducting devices, and AI memory/compute architectures. The materials team engages in experimental and computational research activity with the mission to develop novel materials for emerging technologies. The team is well-equipped with thin film deposition tools, related characterization methods and support staff, located in a fully functional cleanroom with the capability to fabricate a wide array of nanoscale devices using novel materials.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct hands-on, experimental research of thin film materials for emerging technologies.
• Thin film growth by physical vapor deposition using ultra-high vacuum film deposition tools.
• Characterization of structural, electronic, chemical, and magnetic film properties.
• Design of materials for integration into nanoscale devices.
• Collect, analyze, present and report film and device characterization data, results and conclusions.
• Work closely and collaborate within a team of engineers and support staff.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in materials science and engineering, physics, electrical engineering, or closely related field.
• Expertise with materials and devices in applications related to spintronics, superconductors, or alternative computing.
• Strong hands-on experience with UHV film deposition equipment.
• Strong hands-on experience with film characterization instrumentation and techniques such as XRD, XPS, XRF, Raman spectroscopy, magnetometry and AFM.
• Strong knowledge of nanofabrication and general device design and operation.
• Demonstrated ability to self-direct a research project. 
• Strong written and oral communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and in a team environment.

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 fusio