Company Description

At Western Digital, we are on a mission to unlock the potential of data so people, companies and organizations everywhere can create what’s next. To fulfill our vision, we are always on the lookout for potential team members who share our passion for solving problems to empower others.

When you join Western Digital, you join a legacy more than 50 years in the making. Across our Western Digital®, SanDisk®, SanDisk® Professional, WD® and WD_BLACK™ brands, we have brought some of the most storied advancements in memory and data storage technology to market—and our best, most innovative work is yet to come.

From energizing gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Here’s how you can help.

Job Description

As a Metrology Solution Engineer, you will be responsible for developing, implementing, and optimizing high-precision, high-throughput metrology solutions to support high-volume manufacturing of complex, three-dimensional thin-film magnetic read/write head wafers.

This role requires expertise in semiconductor metrology tools, statistical process control (SPC), and process optimization methodologies to enhance manufacturing yield, quality, and efficiency. You will work closely with process engineering teams to develop, troubleshoot, and maintain metrology applications that support wafer manufacturing operations.

The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, hands-on experience with cleanroom wafer fabrication processes and metrology equipment, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Develop, optimize, and manage metrology applications supporting both development and high-volume manufacturing.Design and implement robust metrology system calibration and correlation strategies to enhance measurement accuracy and reliability.Hands-on troubleshooting, calibration, and optimization of metrology tools, leveraging Six Sigma methodologies and ML-driven analytics to enhance precision and process control.Develop and refine technical methods/processes to identify root causes of operational issues, process inefficiencies, and measurement deviations.Identify and resolve metrology equipment issues, collaborating with equipment engineering teams and tool vendors to ensure optimal tool performance.Work closely with cross-functional teams (Metrology, Process Engineering, and Quality) to establish accurate baseline measurements and qualification of metrology solutions.Cross-train within Metrology Engineering to ensure seamless support coverage across teams.Collaborate with process engineering and quality teams to analyze real-time metrology data, identify process deviations, and implement automated corrective strategies to improve yield and efficiency.Summarize, document, and present findings to technical and executive audiences to drive data-driven process improvements.Communicate effectively across management levels and with shop-floor personnel to ensure metrology solutions align with production goals.

Qualifications

REQUIRED

B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Physics, Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Materials Science), or a related field.Minimum of 3-6 years of experience in metrology, semiconductor manufacturing, or a related field.B.S. +6 years, M.S. +4 years, Ph.D. +2 years.Strong problem-solving skills with experience in data analytics, statistical process control (SPC), and yield improvement strategies.Hands-on experience with semiconductor metrology tools, including SEM, FIB, OCD, and profilometry.

SKILLS

Ability to work independently while collaborating in a fast-paced, 24/7 manufacturing environment.Excellent communication skills for effective collaboration with engineering, management, and shop-floor personnel.

PREFERRED

Practical knowledge of advanced metrology techniques and wafer fabrication processes.Proficiency in programming with SQL and Python for large-scale data processing, automation, and statistical analysis to drive metrology improvements.Six Sigma (Green Belt or higher) certification, with expertise in SPC, Design of Experiments (DOE), root cause analysis, and process optimization.Hands-on experience with machine learning (ML) and AI applications in predictive analytics, anomaly detection, defect classification, and automated process control.Strong familiarity with cleanroom environments and wafer fabrication/processing expertise.Experience with process automation and smart manufacturing initiatives to improve metrology efficiency.

Additional Information

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person’s gender identity, gender expression, and gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster. Our pay transparency policy is available here.

Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.

Western Digital is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at [email protected] to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 05/07/2025 (3 months from posting), although we reserve the right to close the application process sooner if we hire an applicant for this position before the application deadline. If we are not able to hire someone from this role before the application deadline, we will update this posting with a new anticipated application deadline.