2D Materials Development Engineer

Seagate; Derry/Londonderry; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company is seeking a Research & Development engineer to innovate in high-performance readback sensors in Derry/Londonderry. This role requires a Ph.D. in a relevant field and hands-on experience with vacuum tooling and thin-film growth techniques. Candidates should excel in project management and problem-solving. The company offers comprehensive benefits, work-life balance support, and fosters an inclusive work environment.

Benefits

Private healthcare

Annual leave

Flexible working hours

Pension scheme

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Must have graduated with a Ph.D. within the last 24 months or will do within the next 6 months.
• Solid physics background in plasma/ion sources related to film nucleation, growth, and etching.
• Hands-on operation and control of vacuum tooling.

Responsibilities

• Implement and optimize deposition and etch processes.
• Lead innovation projects focused on performance and yield enhancements.
• Manage experiments and projects to ensure impactful results.

Skills

Project management

Problem-solving

Data analysis

Innovative thinking

Education

Ph.D. in physics, electrical engineering, materials science, or related field

Tools

Vacuum tooling

Plasma/ion sources

Thin-film growth techniques (PVD/Evaporation/ALD)

Ion beam and plasma etching

Job description

The Research & Development group is at the heart of our mission to build the world’s most advanced data storage technologies. As part of a seasoned team, reporting to the R&D Manager, you’ll help define and drive groundbreaking innovations that shape the future of storage solutions. The Advanced Transducer Development team is leading the charge in delivering the next generation of high‑performance readback sensors—critical to enabling cutting‑edge data retrieval and reliability. If you’re energized by pioneering technology, fueled by creativity, and driven to turn bold ideas into reality, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

About the role

Leveraging our high‑tech wafer fabrication facility in Derry, UK, with state‑of‑the‑art manufacturing processes and design tools, you will be part of the research and development team responsible for Seagate’s future HDD products. You’ll work closely with global development teams and product/design engineers to build, test, and characterize nano‑scale devices based on 2D materials. Your focus will be on vacuum deposition of metals and dielectrics, plus etch process development for 2D devices.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, and optimize deposition and etch processes to meet evolving performance targets.
• Leverage advanced modelling, metrology, defect analysis, and statistical tools to refine process efficiency.
• Lead innovation projects focused on performance and yield enhancements.
• Collaborate with vacuum equipment vendors to define, test, and integrate next‑generation vacuum tooling aligned with future product roadmaps.
• Assess downstream impacts of new deposition and etch processes to drive continuous improvement.
• Manage experiments, projects, and wafer tracking to ensure timely and impactful results.
• Support technology transfers to the product development engineering team.
• Contribute to Seagate’s intellectual property portfolio, including invention disclosures, patents, and peer‑reviewed publications.

About you

• You are an innovative and self‑motivated worker with an insatiable curiosity.
• You have excellent organizational, project management and problem‑solving skills.
• You have a reputation for honesty, integrity, and showing respect toward others.
• You earn the technical respect of peers and can effectively influence technical decisions.
• You are analytical with excellent data analysis skills and an ability to find breakthrough solutions.
• You have a track record of innovation and routinely use outside sources (journals, patents, university work and conferences) for developing new ideas and directions.

Your experience includes

• Your educational background should be in physics, electrical engineering, materials science, or a related field.
• Graduated with a Ph.D. within the last 24 months or within the next 6 months.
• Solid physics background in plasma/ion sources related to film nucleation, growth and etching.
• Detailed knowledge of thin‑film growth techniques of metals and dielectric materials (PVD/Evaporation/ALD), with particular focus on integration and interactions between metals/dielectrics and 2D materials.
• Detailed knowledge of ion beam and plasma etching with IBE/ICP/RIE techniques, especially related to patterning and contact of 2D materials with metals.
• Hands‑on operation and control of vacuum tooling, with a deep understanding of process control variations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of vacuum system components and their influence on process stability.

Application information

Please note that you must demonstrate on the application how you meet the criteria for the role as identified above. To facilitate shortlisting, the company reserves the right to apply enhanced criteria.

Completed applications should be submitted no later than midnight on Sunday, 15th February 2026.

This is a full‑time position working 39 hours per week, on‑site.

Seagate Technology is committed to equal opportunity in employment and welcomes applications from all sections of the community irrespective of sex, marital status, religious affiliation, age, disability or ethnic origin. The company specifically welcomes applications from the Protestant community who are currently underrepresented in this job category. All applications will be considered strictly on the basis of merit.

Location

Derry / Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Benefits

Health – Private healthcare for employees and dependents, company sick pay and medical leave, occupational healthcare service, employee assistance programmes, group income protection, onsite gym/exercise classes, personal trainer.

Work life balance – Annual leave, flexible working hours, part‑time working, enhanced maternity pay, enhanced paternity pay, bereavement leave.

Finance – Pension (employer contributory scheme), life assurance, employee stock purchase plan, competitive base pay, company bonus scheme, reward and recognition, employee savings scheme, perks at work discount programmes, employee discount scheme, pay for civil/jury duty.

Career – Degree/non‑degree assistance, externally accredited training and development opportunities, service awards, LinkedIn Learning, learning & development programmes.

Location: Springtown, United Kingdom
Travel: None

Our Springtown site is Derry/Londonderry’s largest manufacturer, and we’re proud that Seagate is a flexible and inclusive place to work. We have more than 1,400 employees spanning research and development, manufacturing, and many other functions. You can grab breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks at our subsidised on‑site cafe. Take a group or individual exercise class during lunch or after work at our onsite gym. Network with colleagues through the Young Professionals Network, Women’s Leadership Group, The Carers Café (for caregivers of individuals with disabilities), volunteer in the community with our support. Join our creative network, which includes a choir, foreign language classes and even a cookery class! Join our Employee Resource Groups (ERG), a voluntary, employee‑led community built on a shared diversity identity and/or an appreciation of that identity, open to all current employees at Seagate.