Staff Engineer, Wafer Metrology

Western Digital • San Jose, CA

20h • Onsite

About The Position

As a metrology engineer, you will be responsible for developing and implementing precise, robust, and high-throughput solutions to control high volume manufacturing of complex, three dimensional thin film magnetic read/write head structures. Examples of projects include developing spectroscopic ellipsometer models to measure thin film thickness and index of refraction, creating recipes for atomic force microscopes, and analyzing x-ray fluorescence spectra. To accomplish this objective, you will need to collaborate closely with process engineering teams that support wafer manufacturing operations.

Requirements

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in physics, chemistry, engineering (chemical, mechanical, electrical), material science
• Programming/scripting experience in any of SQL, Python, Matlab, JSL, C#, etc.
• Strong detail-oriented work habits.
• Ability to complete projects on schedule

Nice To Haves

• Clean room and wafer fabrication/processing experience is needed, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with spectra analysis and film stack modeling strongly preferred: visible light reflectometry, spectroscopic ellipsometry, x-ray fluorescence
• Experience with application of atomic force microscopy in a production environment preferred
• Knowledge of tunneling electron microscopy including practical experience with sample preparation, extraction/handling, and imaging

Responsibilities

• Develop, document, optimize, and sustain automated inspection recipes and process control solutions
• Develop and refine technical methods/processes to identify root causes of operational issues, process inefficiencies, and measurement deviations.
• Establish accurate baseline measurements and qualification of metrology solutions by collaborating with cross-functional teams across the fab
• Deploy robust metrology system calibration and correlation strategies
• Identify and resolve equipment issues, collaborating with equipment engineering teams and tool vendors to ensure optimal tool performance.
• Cross-train within Metrology Engineering to ensure seamless support coverage across teams.
• Partner with engineering and quality teams to analyze real-time metrology data, identify process deviations, and implement automated corrective strategies to improve yield and reduce cycle time.
• Summarize, document, and present results to technical and executive audiences to drive data-driven improvements.
• Communicate effectively with both management and shop floor.
• Display comfort and skill in presenting issues/findings.

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal