Job Description

At Western Digital, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible.

At our core, Western Digital is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology. For decades, we’ve been doing just that—our technology helped people put a man on the moon and capture the first-ever picture of a black hole.

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™.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest-growth organizations in the world. From enabling systems to make cities safer and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and hyperscale cloud providers, to meeting the massive and ever-growing data storage needs of the AI era, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

The role involves leading TOF‑SIMS analysis to characterize thin films and surfaces, developing and validating analytical methods to support manufacturing and quality programs, and interpreting mass spectra for insights into process improvements. It includes supporting failure analysis, collaborating with cross-functional teams to apply findings, maintaining and troubleshooting TOF‑SIMS equipment, and training junior engineers and technicians. Additionally, it entails driving continuous improvements in analytical capabilities, preparing technical reports, and ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards in all operations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead TOF‑SIMS analysis to characterize thin films, surfaces, interfaces, and contamination for media products.
• Develop, optimize, and validate TOF‑SIMS analytical methods to support manufacturing, quality, and development programs.
• Interpret complex mass spectra and depth profiles to provide actionable insights for process and material improvements.
• Support failure analysis and root‑cause investigations for yield loss, reliability issues, and process excursions.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (Process, R&D, Quality, Reliability) to translate analytical findings into engineering solutions.
• Maintain and troubleshoot TOF‑SIMS equipment to ensure high uptime, accuracy, and calibration integrity.
• Train junior engineers, technicians, and cross‑functional partners on TOF‑SIMS fundamentals, sample preparation, and data interpretation.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance analytical capability, throughput, and data quality.
• Prepare technical reports, documentation, and presentations for internal stakeholders and global engineering teams.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and data‑integrity standards in all analytical operations.

Qualifications

REQUIRED:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Chemical Engineering, or related field.

PREFERRED:

• Strong expertise in mass spectrometry and interpretation of complex spectra is a must.
• Experience in TOF‑SIMS operation, surface analysis, or other advanced materials characterization techniques is a plus.
• Proven experience supporting manufacturing processes, yield improvement, or failure analysis.
• Hands‑on experience with analytical instrumentation maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to translate analytical data into clear engineering recommendations.
• Experience in magnetic media, semiconductor, data storage, or thin‑film manufacturing.
• Familiarity with complementary techniques such as XPS, AES, SIMS, SEM/EDS, or AFM.
• Experience leading analytical method development or capability expansion projects.
• Knowledge of statistical analysis, DOE, or SPC tools.

SKILLS:

• Strong communication skills for cross‑functional collaboration and technical reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor or train others in analytical techniques

Additional Information

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WD 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.

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