Tribo-Component Research & Development Engineer

Western Digital • San Jose, CA

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About The Position

WD is a company of problem solvers that powers global innovation and pushes the boundaries of technology. 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™ brands. We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest-growth organizations in the world, enabling systems that make cities safer and more connected, powering data centers for major companies and hyperscale cloud providers, and meeting the massive data storage needs of the AI era. WD is fueling a brighter, smarter future. Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. Together, we can build the future of data storage.

Requirements

• An advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Optical Engineering is strongly preferred.
• Hands-on experience with laser-based testers, thermal/mechanical stress tools, surface analysis, and interface characterization equipment is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical and root-cause problem-solving skills, with a solutions-oriented mindset.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present tester data and technical conclusions.
• Strong experience in tribology interface design and component-level tribology testing, including material characterization and analytical instrumentation.
• Demonstrated understanding of test equipment, control systems, sensors, and measurement limitations relevant to head/media interface testing.
• Solid understanding of head/media interface physics and HAMR-related technologies.
• Proven capability in data analytics, statistics, and experimental design, including correlation of tester outputs to physical mechanisms.
• Ability to quickly learn, adapt, and improve new test systems, hardware, and methodologies.
• Ability to manage multiple component-level test activities and equipment dependencies while meeting project deadlines.

Nice To Haves

• Programming skills (e.g., Python) for test automation, data analysis, or equipment interfacing are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and execute component-level test methodologies for HAMR media and head/media interface characterization.
• Develop a deep technical understanding of tester equipment, including laser-based test systems, tribology testers, thermal/mechanical stress platforms, and interface characterization tools.
• Operate, calibrate, and troubleshoot component-level test equipment, ensuring data integrity, repeatability, and correlation across platforms.
• Perform physics-based experimental investigations to understand the impact of media design variables on head/media interface behavior, including laser interaction, tribology, lubrication, and carbon overcoat performance.
• Characterize thermal, optical, mechanical, and magnetic properties of media components and correlate these properties to interface performance and failure mechanisms.
• Conduct reliability and robustness evaluations at the component level using established test protocols, accelerated stress testing, and statistical best practices.
• Investigate laser power, thermal profiles, and tester boundary conditions on head/media interaction, defining component-level design windows and sensitivities.
• Design or modify test fixtures, hardware, and control parameters to isolate component-level phenomena and enable root-cause analysis.
• Work closely with media sputter, process, and design teams to correlate process conditions to component-level test results.
• Collaborate with HDD and Head engineering teams to translate component-level findings into actionable design and test guidance.
• Lead and contribute to end-to-end technical investigations, from problem definition and experimental setup through data analysis and conclusions.

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: Senior