Technologist

Job Description

Western Digital seeks a process integration technologist to join our Advanced Reader Development engineering team in San Jose, CA.  The successful candidate will be part of a growing team developing Western Digital’s next generation of readback sensors for hard disk applications.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Integration works with design and module process owners to determine what reader head structures can be made and how to get it done.  We carry projects from exploratory demonstrations through new product introduction.

Duties and responsibilities may include:

• Development of new process flows including exploratory process modules for read head and test structure fabrication
• Working with outside research institutes to explore new patterning processes
• Running designed experiments to understand processes and their limits
• Investigate root cause of failures through materials analysis and process histories
• Statistical analysis of process and performance data, turning it into actionable information

Qualifications

Required:

• MS +6 years of experience with degree or equivalent in Materials Science, Applied Physics, Chemistry or related field
• Experience with patterning of nanometer scale devices in a wafer fab for semiconductor or thin film recording heads
• Detailed knowledge of leading-edge patterning technologies such as SADP or DSA is a plus
• Direct experience with one or more process modules such as litho, etch, PVD etc
• Able to interpret data from materials analysis techniques such as TEM, CDSEM, FIB, AFM
• Understanding of thin film metrologies – ellipsometry, OCD, resistance mappers, XRF
• Up-to-date computer and IT skills including  scripting of data analysis tools such as JMP or R

Preferred:

• Ph.D. + 4 years of experience 
• Background in electronic and magnetic properties of materials

Skills:

• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills
• Excellent communication and technical presentation skills