Failure Analysis Manager (HDD Manufacturing Industry)

GMP Technologies; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm in Singapore is seeking a Failure Analysis Manager with a strong background in the HDD manufacturing industry. The successful candidate will lead a team of engineers to investigate media defects and utilize advanced diagnostic tools. To qualify, applicants must have a Master's or Ph.D. in Materials Science or a related field, along with extensive industry experience. This role offers an excellent opportunity to drive product development through robust analytical findings.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8-10 years in the HDD industry, with at least 3 years in a leadership capacity.
• Solid understanding of media manufacturing processes and thin-film deposition.
• Expert-level knowledge of analytical tools used in defect characterization.

Responsibilities

• Manage and mentor a specialized team of FA engineers.
• Lead investigations into media defects impacting drive-level reliability.
• Translate complex data into actionable executive summaries for product improvement.

Skills

8D

FMEA

Root cause analysis

Statistical analysis

Defect mapping

Education

Masters or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering

Tools

JMP

Minitab

Python

SEM/EDX

FIB

AFM

XPS

OSA Candela

Zygo

Job description

Failure Analysis Manager (HDD Manufacturing Industry)

Job Openings Failure Analysis Manager (HDD Manufacturing Industry)

About the job Failure Analysis Manager (HDD Manufacturing Industry)

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership: Manage and mentor a specialized team of FA engineers; oversee lab operations, including equipment maintenance and safety protocols
• Root Cause Investigation: Lead deep-dive investigations into media defects such as protrusions, pits, scratches, lubricant migration, and corrosion including their impact on drive-level reliability.
• Advanced Diagnostics: Oversee the use of high-end analytical tools to characterize defects at the atomic and magnetic levels.
• Cross-Functional Synergy: Partner with Media Process Development teams to correlate FA findings with process variables. Also act as technical bridge between Media teams and HDD Integration/Customer Quality teams.
• Strategic Reporting: Translate complex microscopic and chemical data into actionable executive summaries to drive both media and HDD yield improvement and product roadmaps.

Requirements

• Masters or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 8-10years in the HDD industry, with at least 3 years in a leadership or managerial capacity.
• Demonstrated expertise in 8D, FMEA, and root cause analysis.
• Experience in JMP, Minitab, or Python for statistical analysis and defect mapping.
• Solid understandingof media manufacturing processes, thin-film deposition (sputtering), carbon overcoats, lubricant chemistry, and substrate topography.
• Expert-level knowledge of analytical tool like SEM/EDX, FIB, AFM, XPS, Optical Surface Profilometry (OSA Candela, Zygo etc).
• Understanding of HDD Channel Physics, Servo Systems, Head-Disk Interface (HDI), magnetic recording physics (PMR/HAMR), and the characteristics of glass and aluminum substrates.