Tribology engineer

Western Digital•San Jose, CA

About The Position

Western Digital is seeking a Head Tribology Engineer to work on the qualification of innovative magnetic head features that improve head-media interface quality and reliability. You will be working with cross-functional teams to develop and oversee testing of these features, lay down qualification plans and execute them in a timely manner for successful deployment in the HDD product.

Requirements

M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, EE, Material science, Physics, Chemistry, or equivalent with 5 years industry experience.
Awareness of magnetic recording fundamentals
Knowledge or experience in Tribology, interface design, tribology testing and material analysis.
Knowledge of head/media interface challenges in ePMR and HAMR technology
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

Data analysis and statistical tools such as JMP or Minitab.
Knowledge of nano-scale material analysis techniques such as AFM, SEM, TEM, Auger etc.
Project management experience and familiarity with cross-functional team coordination.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects efficiently.
Ability to be flexible and thrive in fast-paced development environment with a positive, can-do attitude.

Responsibilities

Work with Head ABS (Air Bearing Surface), HOC (Head Over Coat) and TM (Thermo-Mechanical) design teams to support qualification of tribology enablers critical to improving interface reliability.
Responsible for developing qualification plans, communicating to world-wide teams to get agreement, launch builds and follow up on schedules to ensure successfully deployment of features for the product.
Work with characterization teams to devise component tests which help to accurately assess the benefits and risk of enablers before they are deployed in the product.
Set up evaluation systems to investigate head overcoat surface properties and tribology performance.
Need to have ability to understand and perform complex lifetime analysis including predictions.
Devise component level tests to assess head lifetime related to tribological wear.
Must be able to interpret results from nano-scale material analysis techniques such as AFM, SEM, TEM, Auger to assess wear and failures.
Drive failure mode analysis and implement corrective actions (FMEA, root cause analysis).
Work with HDD tribology integration team to qualify enablers in the product.
Perform correlations between component and HDD test results.
Organize complex technical information and clearly communicate findings either verbally or through written reports and presentations.
Participate in design reviews and provide technical expertise to support continuous improvement initiatives.
Create detailed technical documentation, including specifications related to head tribology for high volume manufacturing.

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