At WD, 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, WD 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, WD is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. Together, we can build the future of data storage.

As a Senior Equipment Engineer specializing in sputter media, you will be responsible for leading equipment sustaining, reliability, and continuous improvement activities to support high-volume hard disk media manufacturing. You will play a key role in driving equipment performance, improving operational efficiency, and supporting new technology implementation. This role requires strong technical leadership to guide technicians in maintaining stable manufacturing operations, reducing equipment downtime, and enabling next-generation product and process requirements.
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead day-to-day equipment sustaining activities, including troubleshooting, failure analysis, and resolution of equipment-related production issues.
• Drive equipment reliability improvement initiatives to enhance equipment uptime, reduce chronic failures, and improve overall operational stability.
• Develop, implement, and optimize preventive and predictive maintenance strategies to improve long-term equipment performance.
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) for major equipment failures and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Support equipment upgrades, hardware modifications, and machine conversion activities to meet product and technology roadmap requirements.
• Coordinate new equipment installation, commissioning, qualification, and acceptance to ensure systems meet operational and safety standards.
• Monitor and analyze equipment performance indicators such as OEE, MTBF, MTTR, and downtime trends to identify improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate closely with Process Engineering, Yield Engineering, Production, and Quality teams to improve process capability and manufacturing performance.
• Drive engineering projects related to equipment improvements, automation enhancement, and productivity optimization.
• Develop and maintain equipment documentation including SOPs, maintenance procedures, troubleshooting guides, and best practices.
• Work closely with OEM vendors and suppliers to resolve technical issues, implement upgrades, and support equipment technology development.
• Support cost reduction initiatives through engineering optimization, reliability improvements, and maintenance efficiency.
• Ensure all equipment operations comply with company safety policies, regulatory requirements, and industry standards.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives, including Lean manufacturing, automation deployment, and digitalization programs.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by management.

REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, Materials Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 5–8 years of experience in equipment engineering within semiconductor, sputter media, vacuum coating, or advanced manufacturing industries.
• Strong understanding of vacuum systems, sputtering equipment, and manufacturing equipment control systems.
• Experience in equipment troubleshooting, reliability improvement, and manufacturing support.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to perform data analysis and technical investigations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and ability to present technical information clearly.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional manufacturing environment.

PREFERRED:

• Experience in a sputter media or semiconductor manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of high-vacuum technology, plasma processes, or thin-film deposition systems.
• Experience with equipment automation, PLC systems, and equipment control interfaces.

SKILLS:

• Strong knowledge of vacuum systems and thin-film deposition equipment, including troubleshooting and performance optimization.
• Experience with PLC systems, automation control, and equipment interface systems.
• Ability to perform equipment failure analysis and implement reliability improvement actions.
• Good understanding of Statistical Process Control (SPC), equipment data analysis, and performance monitoring.
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively with engineers, technicians, and cross-functional teams.
• Good communication skills to clearly explain technical issues and solutions to different levels of the organization.
• Ability to manage multiple technical tasks and support fast-paced manufacturing operations.
• Strong technical documentation and reporting skills.

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.

WD 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.

Notice To Candidates: Please be aware that WD and its subsidiaries will never request payment as a condition for applying for a position or receiving an offer of employment. Should you encounter any such requests, please report it immediately to WD Ethics Helpline or email [email protected].