Staff Engineer, Hardware Development Engineering

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Process development and manufacturing implementation of new photolithography (NSR, DUV248 and 193nm) processes for HAMR development.
• Responsible for process automation set up including recipe, Advanced Process Control, SPC, sustaining and improving process control.
• Document processes and procedures, train and certify technicians/operators, and conduct audit periodically.
• Provide HAMR photo weekend coverage, track & disposition critical wafer hold, with primary process owner’s input if needed.
• Support Track flow recipe setup and urgent Archer recipe setup for HAMR layers.
• Facilitate and expedite mature HAMR photo processes transfer to MFG.
• Support HAMR manufacturability initiatives like route reduction, new mark layer testing, cost reduction projects.
• Support HAMR photo layer MFG metrology qualification and implementation, for example, SS10K, ODIN, defect inspection metrology, optical image undercut metrology, etc.
• Full-time, weekend shift (Start from Friday to Tuesday)

REQUIRED

• MS or PhD degree in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering or related engineering field. 
• In-depth knowledge of photolithography.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills and the ability to find correlations and patterns among large amount of data. Be able to make decisions and execute them on a timely manner.
• Be able to work with diverse teams and people from different background and from other departments. Strong quality mindset and the ability to accept different opinions.
• ASML scanner, NSR, Canon, DNSC & TEL tracks hands on experience.

PREFERRED

• Photo Process Engineering Experience in data storage/Semiconductor industry is preferred.
• Prefer to have hands-on experience in photolithography process development. Experience with DOE, SPC, APC, and JMP is a plus.

SKILLS

• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and improve lithography processes.
• Data analysis and statistics (JMP, SAS, SQL etc.).
• Team oriented, good verbal and written communication skills, high integrity.
• Work independently with minimum supervision and follow up issues to closure.

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 "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster. Our pay transparency policy is available here.

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.

Western Digital is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at [email protected] to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 2/8/2025 (3 months from posting), although we reserve the right to close the application process sooner if we hire an applicant for this position before the application deadline. If we are not able to hire someone from this role before the application deadline, we will update this posting with a new anticipated application deadline.

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Compensation & Benefits Details

• An employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
• The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting.  We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York.  This range may be modified in the future.
• You will be eligible to participate in Western Digital’s Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance.  Depending on your role and your performance, you may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to Western Digital’s Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical/dental/vision insurance; life, accident and disability insurance; tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program; other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity; tuition reimbursement; transit; the Applause Program, employee stock purchase plan, and the Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan.
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.