Staff Engineer, Process Development & Sustaining Engineering

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, optimization, and sustaining of manufacturing processes for HDD storage products.
• Design and develop new manufacturing processes and conduct Design of Experiments (DOE) to optimize process outputs.
• Own sustaining engineering for assigned modules, ensuring processes remain stable and within specification using SPC.
• Lead chemical and material qualification activities, including compatibility studies and shelf-life evaluations.
• Drive yield improvement initiatives through root cause and corrective action (RCCA) and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) and technology transfer from R&D to high-volume manufacturing.
• Mentor and coach junior and mid-level process engineers to build local technical capability.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Polymer Science, or a related field with 5-8 years of experience.
• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related discipline with 2-4 years of experience.
• Proficiency in DOE methodologies (full factorial, RSM, Taguchi).
• Strong working knowledge of Statistical Process Control (SPC) and statistical analysis tools like JMP or Minitab.
• Experience with thin film, surface treatment, wet chemical, or cleaning processes.
• Knowledge of FMEA and technical report writing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of HDD media cleaning technology.
• Green Belt or Lean Six Sigma certification.
• Familiarity with failure analysis techniques such as SEM, EDX, XRD, or FTIR.
• Understanding of chemical safety, EHS regulations, and REACH/RoHS compliance.

About the Company

Western Digital is a company of problem solvers dedicated to pushing the boundaries of technology. We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, including HDDs and platforms for business, creative professionals, and consumers. We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest-growth organizations in the world, fueling a brighter, smarter future through innovative data storage solutions.