Emerging Careers - Hardware Development Engineer (Wafer Optical Metrology)

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 and capture the first-ever picture of a black hole.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, HDDs, and platforms for business, creative professionals, and consumers alike under our Western Digital®, WD®, and WD_BLACK™.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest-growth organizations in the world. From enabling systems to make cities safer and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and hyperscale cloud providers, to meeting the massive and ever-growing data storage needs of the AI era, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. Together, we can build the future of data storage.

Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated Wafer Optical Metrology Engineer to support advanced thinfilm magnetic read/write head manufacturing and process control initiatives. The engineer will be responsible for developing, optimizing, and sustaining optical metrology methodologies used in lithography and pattern alignment processes for wafer manufacturing. This role focuses on improving measurement robustness, accuracy, throughput, tool performance, process capability, and yield through data-driven analysis and collaboration with process integration, lithography, and manufacturing teams.   

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop, qualify, and maintain optical metrology recipes and measurement strategies for semiconductor wafer manufacturing processes.  
• Analyze parametric data trends, identify process excursions, and implement corrective actions in collaboration with process, integration, and yield engineering teams. 
• Perform statistical analysis and process capability studies (SPC, Cp/Cpk, regression analysis, DOE). 
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for precision, throughput, and automation.  
• Develop scripts and data analysis tools using Python, JMP, or similar platforms.  
• Generate technical reports, presentations, and documentation for engineering reviews.  
• Support technology transfers and new process development for advanced products.  
• Crosstrain within Metrology Engineering to build broad technical competence and provide support coverage across teams. 

Qualifications

REQUIRED

• B.S. or M.S. in Physics, Optics, Engineering (chemical, mechanical, electrical), or Material Science. 
• 0-3 years of relevant work experience (internships, co-ops, or academic research experience considered). 
• Knowledge of statistical process control (SPC) and data analysis techniques.  
• Detail-oriented work habits with a willingness to learn and grow. 
• Ability to manage assignments and meet deadlines with appropriate guidance. 
• Willingness to work hands-on with equipment and wafers in a clean room. environment; prior clean room or wafer fabrication/processing experience is a plus. 

PREFERRED

• Understanding of optical overlay, alignment, critical dimension (CD), and defect metrology.  
• Experience working in high-volume manufacturing environments.  
• Programming/scripting experience in Python, SQL, or JMP.  

SKILLS

• Overlay metrology  
• Semiconductor process control  
• Lithography alignment  
• Statistical analysis  
• Root cause analysis  
• Automation and scripting  
• Technical communication 

Salary Range

102,500.00-136,600.00

Additional Information

WD 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