Metrology Engineer – Optical & Physical (Ph.D. Only)

Western Digital•Fremont, CA

20h•Onsite

About The Position

You will join an advanced metrology team supporting magnetic recording head wafer fabrication in the hard disk drive industry. Your primary responsibility will be to support critical dimension (CD), profile, and structural parameter measurement operations and development using optical metrology techniques, including spectroscopic ellipsometry, scatterometry, white-light interferometry, and overlay metrology. This role is well suited for physics graduates interested in structure modeling and inverse problem solving. You will work with real production data, contribute to physics-based and structure-based models, and help improve measurement accuracy, stability, and cross-tool correlation. The position provides hands-on exposure to production-impacting metrology challenges, with close collaboration across process, equipment, and data This role is part of WD's early career development program. WD's early career development program is ideal for individuals at the early stages of their professional career. Participants receive foundational training through structured onboarding, mentorship, and a curated development curriculum. The responsibilities of this role are typically aligned with candidates who have approximately 0–2+ years of relevant professional experience, though candidates of all experience levels are encouraged to apply.

Requirements

Currently pursuing or recently completed Ph.D. degree in Physics, Applied Physics, Materials Science, or equivalent experience
Strong foundation in optics, or applied physics
Proficiency in Python for data analysis, modeling, and automation; foundational knowledge of SQL preferred
Experience with structure, geometry, or physical modeling, gained through coursework, research, or projects
Familiarity with numerical modeling or inverse problem approaches (e.g., fitting, parameter extraction, optimization)
Demonstrated intellectual curiosity, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, humility, and a collaborative mindset
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences

Responsibilities

support critical dimension (CD), profile, and structural parameter measurement operations and development using optical metrology techniques, including spectroscopic ellipsometry, scatterometry, white-light interferometry, and overlay metrology
work with real production data
contribute to physics-based and structure-based models
help improve measurement accuracy, stability, and cross-tool correlation
close collaboration across process, equipment, and data

Benefits

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
the WD Savings 401(k) Plan