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As AI scales, so does data. Every interaction, every model, every system generates data that must be stored, managed, and made accessible over time. That’s where we come in.

We combine deep engineering expertise with global-scale manufacturing to deliver the storage systems that make AI possible, powering hyperscale data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise infrastructure worldwide.

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WD's Great Oaks facility is one of the few remaining vertically integrated HDD head wafer fabs in the world and is mirrored by a second site in the SF Bay Area. This role leads the engineering organization that keeps the Great Oaks site running and moving forward. As Senior Engineering Director, you will own the Process Engineering and Equipment Engineering teams across all wafer process modules, tools, and segments, directly accountable for wafer supply, yield, cycle time, and cost performance. You report to the VP of HDD Head Wafer Manufacturing and operate as a senior member of the HDD Operations leadership team, with both day-to-day manufacturing accountability and a mandate to transform the fab into a modern, data-driven operation. This is a high-visibility role that requires equal parts of technical credibility, operational discipline, and organizational leadership.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• Lead and develop the Process Engineering and Equipment Engineering teams across all wafer process modules, tools, and segments, setting clear engineering standards, performance expectations, and a culture of continuous improvement 

• Drive wafer supply maximization strategies, owning the engineering response to capacity constraints, tool availability, and process excursions that threaten output commitments 

• Own yield improvement programs end-to-end — from defect root cause analysis and process characterization to corrective action deployment and verification — targeting systemic reduction of yield loss across the fab 

• Develop and execute cycle time reduction initiatives, identifying and eliminating bottlenecks across process flow, equipment utilization, and cross-functional handoffs 

• Champion cost reduction through productivity and efficiency programs, applying lean manufacturing principles and instilling an operational mindset that balances speed, quality, and cost discipline 

• Uphold the highest quality standards for wafer production, establishing process control frameworks that minimize defects, reduce variation, and protect customer-facing output integrity 

• Advocate safety leadership at every level of the organization — modeling safe behaviors, driving accountability for EHS compliance, and embedding safety as a non-negotiable engineering and operational standard 

• Partner with HDD head technology and product engineering teams to ensure manufacturing capability keeps pace with product roadmap requirements and new process introductions 

• Recruit, develop, and retain engineering talent; build organizational depth and succession readiness across a team of approximately 50 engineers 

• Drive restructuring and scaling initiatives where required, bringing the organizational structure, processes, and engineering practices into alignment with current and future manufacturing demands 

Skills 

• Deep technical fluency in wafer process and equipment engineering sufficient to drive engineering decisions, assess root cause quality, and hold engineering teams accountable to rigorous standards 

• Ability to translate manufacturing performance data — yield trends, cycle time metrics, equipment utilization — into clear strategic priorities and executable engineering plans 

• Organizational leadership: builds bench strength, develops managers, and creates team environments where engineering excellence is expected and rewarded 

• Change leadership: demonstrated ability to introduce new operational mindsets and practices in established manufacturing cultures 

• Executive communication: able to present manufacturing performance, risk, and investment needs clearly to senior leadership and cross-functional partners 

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, or a related field, with 10+ years of relevant experience; or Master's degree with 8+ years of relevant experience 

• 0-10+ years of experience in HDD head wafer fabrication, semiconductor wafer manufacturing, or an adjacent full-scale wafer fab environment, with demonstrated knowledge of process and equipment engineering across multiple process modules 

• Proven track record leading large engineering organizations (50+ people) in a high-volume manufacturing environment, with direct accountability for yield, supply, and cost outcomes 

• Demonstrated experience driving yield improvement programs, cycle time reduction, and cost/productivity initiatives in a wafer fab or equivalent manufacturing context 

• Experience setting engineering standards, building high-performing teams, and leading organizational change or restructuring 

• Strong safety leadership track record — able to model, advocate, and institutionalize a safety-first culture across an engineering organization 

Preferred:

• Master's degree (M.Sc.) in a relevant engineering or applied science discipline 

• Direct experience with HDD head wafer processes and HDD technology (e.g., GMR/TMR head fabrication, thin film deposition, photolithography, CMP, ion milling) 

• Experience leading engineering organizations through significant scaling or restructuring phases 

• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or equivalent process improvement methodologies applied in a wafer fab context 

• Experience partnering with product and technology development teams on new process introductions (NPI) and technology transfers 

WD 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

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.

Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 10/26/2026 (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

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.
• If your position is non-exempt, you are eligible for overtime pay pursuant to company policy and applicable laws.  You may also be eligible for shift differential pay, depending on the shift to which you are assigned.

• You will be eligible to be considered for bonuses under either WD’s Short Term Incentive Plan (“STI Plan”) or the Sales Incentive Plan (“SIP”) 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 WD'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 WD 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.

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].