New College Grad, PhD Semiconductor Process Engineer (Summer 2025 Start)

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

In this position the individual will assume responsibility in the area of semiconductor process engineering. The candidate will take responsibility on working directly on new process modules, including materials research, and developing new process integrations schemes for 3D NAND memory technology.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Primary job function will focus on utilizing processing techniques such as Reactive Ion Etching (RIE), Chemical Dry Etching (CDE), Atomic Layer Etching (ALE), Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD), Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD/), Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) and Oxidation to fabricate semiconductor memory devices.
• Process development will also include Research & Development on unique processes and materials. 
• Collecting structural analysis such as SEMs/TEMs and analyzing many forms of process data from experimental splits using statistical analysis software and conducting process optimization using design of experiments (DOE) will be required. 
• Interfacing with several engineering departments, including design, integration, and device will occur on a regular basis. 
• Process development will be conducted through local fabs, vendors, and our fabrications facilities in Japan. 
• Short-to-mid stay travel may be needed to our fabs in Yokkaichi, Japan. 
• Responsibility will also include selection of new process equipment used in all areas of wafer fabrication. 

Qualifications

Required:

• Ph.D. in the fields of Chemical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent engineering discipline with Semiconductor Fabrication background. The expected start date for this position is in July or August 2025
• The individual should have good academic knowledge of fundamental device physics and processing that are used in the semiconductor industry (RIE, Lithography, Thin Films, Metrology etc.) so that they can solve process related issues. 
• Knowledge and experience with Metrology and Optical characterization techniques is desired. 
• The ideal individual must have proven ability to achieve results in a fast moving, dynamic environment, be self-motivated and self-directed, and have demonstrated the ability to work well with people and have a strong track record in innovation. 
• A proven desire to work as a team member, both on the same team and outside of the team is critical. 
• Ability to troubleshoot and analyze complex problems, ability to multi-task and meet deadlines is required. 
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills are a pre-requisite. 

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 2/20/25, 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.

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Compensation & Benefits Details

• An employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
• The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York. This range may be modified in the future.
• You will be eligible to participate in Western Digital’s Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance. Depending on your role and your performance, you may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to Western Digital’s Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including 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, and the Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan.
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.