Failure Analysis Manager

Resonac HD Singapore Pte Ltd; Singapore; On-site; SGD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in Singapore is seeking a Failure Analysis Manager to lead a technical team responsible for diagnosing media-level failures. This role involves driving investigations, ensuring robust failure-prevention strategies, and presenting insights that influence product reliability and process engineering. The ideal candidate will have a Master's or Ph.D. in a related field and at least 8 years experience in the HDD industry, with strong leadership skills and proficiency in advanced diagnostics tools.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8+ years in the HDD or data-storage industry.
• At least 3 years in a leadership or managerial role.
• Proficiency in Japanese is an added advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of failure analysis engineers and technicians.
• Direct deep-dive investigations into media defects.
• Translate complex findings into clear, actionable reports.

Skills

Advanced problem-solving

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Knowledge of HDD channel physics

Education

Master’s or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field

Tools

SEM/EDX

FIB

AFM

XPS

Optical profilometry (Candela, Zygo)

Job description

Failure Analysis Manager leads a technical team responsible for diagnosing media‑level failures and driving investigations from initial symptoms to true physical root causes. This role connects manufacturing yield issues to HDD system performance, providing critical insights that influence process engineering, R&D, and quality assurance. By bridging media fabrication and drive‑level behaviors, the manager ensures robust failure‑prevention strategies and improved product reliability.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of failure analysis engineers and technicians.
• Oversee lab operations, equipment maintenance, calibration, and safety compliance.

Root Cause Investigation

• Direct deep‑dive investigations into media defects (e.g., protrusions, pits, scratches, lubricant migration, corrosion).
• Assess defect impact on drive‑level reliability and HDD system performance.

Advanced Diagnostics

• Oversee advanced analytical characterization using SEM/EDX, FIB, AFM, XPS, Optical Surface Profilometry (Candela, Zygo), and related tools.
• Ensure robust methodology, data integrity, and accurate defect classification.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Media Process Development to correlate FA findings with manufacturing parameters.
• Act as a technical bridge between Media Engineering, HDD Integration, and Customer Quality teams.

Strategic Reporting

• Translate complex microscopic, chemical, and magnetic‑level findings into clear, actionable reports.
• Present insights that drive yield improvements, reliability enhancements, and product‑roadmap decisions.

Qualifications / Experience

Education

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum 8+ years in the HDD or data‑storage industry.
• At least 3 years in a leadership or managerial role.
• Strong experience with FA methodologies such as 8D and FMEA.

Technical Requirements

Media Expertise

• Knowledge of thin‑film deposition (sputtering), carbon overcoats, lubricant chemistry, substrate topography, and media manufacturing processes.

Microscopy & Characterization Tools

• Proficiency with SEM/EDX, FIB, AFM, XPS, and optical profilometry systems (Candela, Zygo, etc.).

HDD Domain Knowledge (Preferred)

• Understanding of HDD channel physics, servo systems, head‑disk interface (HDI), PMR/HAMR technologies, and substrate materials (glass, aluminum).

Data Analysis

• Experience with JMP, Minitab, or Python for statistical analysis, defect mapping, and correlation studies.

Language

• Proficiency in Japanese is an added advantage.

Other Requirements

• Strong problem‑solving skills, analytical thinking, and persistence with complex FA cases.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of distilling complex technical data into clear summaries for engineering and executive audiences.