Job Details

Principal Engineer, Hardware Development Engineering

  2026-05-06     Western Digital     Fremont,CA  
Description:

Principal Engineer, Hardware Development Engineering

  • Full-time
  • Job Type (exemption status): Exempt position - Please see related compensation & benefits details below
  • Salary Range: 140,300.00-187,000.00
  • Business Function: Hardware Development Engineering
  • Work Location: Fremont Office--LOC_WDT_USCA13

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

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To sustain the magnetoresistive (TMR sensor) film deposition operation and characterize the TMR sensor film magnetic properties, such as TMR film blocking temperature, magnetic moment, pinning field and crystal structures by VSM, TEM and XRF/XRR.
  • Responsible to analyze the wafer processing and probing results. To correlate the wafer probing results to wafer individual processing steps and materials to create action items and recommendations to resolve the production yield and quality issues.
  • To perform and/or coordinate wafer level F/A activities related to TMR deposition processes, such as TEM analysis, wafer level SPC audit to identify possible root causes for all released products.
  • Work with advanced reader sensor stack development group to transfer new reader sensor deposition processes into production.

REQUIRED

  • 1 to 4 years of experience with PVD thin film deposition and characterization.
  • Hands on experience with magnetic thin film properties measurements, understanding of TMR head technology both at the full film and device level or strong statistical data analysis skills are preferred.
  • MS or PhD Degree in Engineering, Physics, Materials Science or a related field.

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, 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.

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.

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 jobs.accommodations@wdc.com 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.

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.

  • 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 compliance@wdc.com.

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