Senior Development Engineer - Early Career

Seagate Technology; BLOOMINGTON (MN); On-site; USD 94,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site café

Fitness center

Meditation rooms

Paid time off

Holidays and leave

Job summary

Seagate Technology seeks a Senior Development Engineer for the Advanced Transducer Development group in Bloomington, MN. You will drive wafer-level fabrication process development from concept to prototype, collaborating with lithography, deposition, etch, CMP, and metrology teams to deliver integrated device flows.

You will analyze metrology data, establish process windows, and execute structured experiments to improve yield and reliability, while documenting results and contributing to IP and

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with semiconductor, MEMS, magnetic-device, photonic-device, or other wafer-level fabrication in R&D/pilot-line/cleanroom/manufacturing.
• Experience developing or integrating process modules with multiple wafer-fabrication steps.
• Broad knowledge of semiconductor unit processes: photolithography, deposition, plasma etch, wet etch, cleans, CMP, thermal processing, wafer bonding, metrology.
• Experience creating and executing wafer process flows, build plans, experiments, or process qualifications.
• Using characterization data to assess process performance, geometry, materials, interfaces, defects, or device functionality.
• Troubleshooting process interactions, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Experience applying DOE, regression, ANOVA, SPC, or process-capability analysis.

Responsibilities

• Develop and integrate wafer-level fabrication processes from concept to prototype demonstration.
• Translate device concepts into practical wafer process flows and experimental plans.
• Plan and execute prototype wafer builds, sequencing, and wafer tracking.
• Collaborate with lithography, deposition, etch, CMP, cleans, and metrology engineers to ensure process readiness.
• Use inline and device-level characterization to assess geometry, materials, defects, and reliability.
• Analyze data to identify yield loss, variation, and gaps between design and fabrication.
• Develop process windows and control strategies to improve repeatability and manufacturability.
• Design structured experiments using statistics to optimize processes.
• Document results, participate in technology transfer, and contribute to IP.

Skills

Semiconductor fabrication

Wafer-level process integration

DOE / statistics

Metrology data analysis

Programming for data analysis

Education

PhD in Materials Science / Physics / EEE / Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Tools

JMP

Python

R

MATLAB

Job description

Senior Development Engineer - Early Career

About our group:

At Seagate, our mission is to build the world's best data storage devices. The Advanced Transducer Development group is a global R&D organization developing new recording head technologies to advance areal density and support Seagate's HDD product roadmap. Our process team uses state-of-the-art wafer fabrication tools and cleanroom facilities to develop leading-edge writer and read-sensor technologies.

Our team demonstrates the feasibility of new devices, process modules, materials, and integration concepts. If you enjoy semiconductor process development, hands-on fabrication, and solving complex device-build challenges, this could be an excellent opportunity to advance your R&D career.

About the role - you will:

• Develop and integrate wafer-level fabrication processes for advanced nanoscale devices, from concept through prototype demonstration.
• Translate device concepts into practical wafer process flows, experimental plans, test structures, metrology strategies, and success criteria.
• Plan and execute prototype wafer builds, including wafer starts, experiment sequencing, work-in-process decisions, wafer tracking, and coordination of critical steps.
• Collaborate with engineers in lithography, deposition, dry and wet etch, CMP, cleans, and metrology to establish process readiness and integrate new modules into complete device flows.
• Use in-line, materials, and device-level characterization to assess geometry, material properties, defects, performance, and reliability.
• Analyze process and metrology data to identify variation, defect mechanisms, yield loss, and gaps between design intent and fabricated structures.
• Develop process windows and control strategies that improve repeatability, manufacturability, yield, and compatibility with upstream and downstream processes.
• Design and execute structured experiments using statistical methods to optimize processes and resolve complex integration issues.
• Document and communicate technical results, participate in technology transfer, and contribute to Seagate intellectual property.

About you:

• You are self-motivated, intellectually curious, detail-oriented, and energized by hands-on technical problem solving.
• You can connect individual process results to the performance of a complete device or integrated wafer flow.
• You work effectively both independently and with diverse, cross-functional teams of engineers and technicians.
• You are comfortable owning a process module or wafer-build activity while collaborating with experts in adjacent areas.
• You balance immediate wafer-processing priorities with longer-term process and module development.
• You use data, physical reasoning, and structured experimentation to make decisions and solve problems.
• You maintain thorough documentation and communicate results, risks, and recommendations clearly.
• You are able and eager to work in a combination of cleanroom, laboratory, and office environments.

Your experience includes:

• Hands-on experience with semiconductor, MEMS, magnetic-device, photonic-device, or other wafer-level fabrication in an R&D, pilot-line, cleanroom, or manufacturing environment.
• Experience developing or integrating process modules composed of multiple wafer-fabrication steps.
• Broad working knowledge of several semiconductor unit processes, such as photolithography, thin-film deposition, plasma etch, wet etch, cleans, CMP, thermal processing, wafer bonding, or wafer-level metrology.
• Experience creating and executing wafer process flows, build plans, experiments, or process qualifications.
• Experience using physical or electrical characterization data to assess process performance, device geometry, materials, interfaces, defects, or device functionality.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot process interactions, perform root-cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.
• Experience applying statistical methods such as DOE, regression, ANOVA, statistical process control, or process-capability analysis.

You May Also Have:

• Experience with CAD layout, mask-level planning, design-rule review, or process-flow visualization and simulation.
• Experience with device-level test, failure analysis, reliability characterization, yield analysis, or defect pareto analysis.
• Experience working with equipment suppliers or transferring processes from R&D into pilot-line or manufacturing operation.
• Familiarity with JMP, Python, R, MATLAB, or similar data-analysis tools.
• A record of innovation through patents, invention disclosures, publications, presentations, or new process capabilities.

Must Have:

• PhD degree in Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related science and engineering fields

Location:

Our Bloomington, MN campus (Normandale) spans two suburbs, Edina and Bloomington, and serves as the Recording Head development and manufacturing arm of Seagate. Located in the heart of a bustling community, Seagate offers an on-site café, or if you prefer, you can drive to one of many restaurants just minutes away. Need to grab a gift over lunch time? Shopping is abundant in the area. If working out is your thing, the on-site fully equipped fitness center hosts wellness programs, outdoor activities, tournaments and group workouts. Looking for something more laid back? Reset in one of our meditation rooms, or simply take a walk around our indoor walking path. On-site cultural festivals, celebrations and community volunteer opportunities also abound.

The estimated base salary range for this position is $94,000- $118,000. The individual salary is based on work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Seagate offers comprehensive benefits to its eligible employees, including, but not limited to, eligibility to participate in discretionary bonus program, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, short-and long-term disability, 401(k), employee stock purchase plan, health savings account, dependent care, and healthcare spending accounts. Seagate also offers paid time off, including 12 holidays, flexible time off provided pursuant to Seagate policy, a minimum of 48 hours of paid sick leave, and 16 weeks of paid parental leave. The benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year and may differ depending on work location.

Location: Normandale, United States
Travel: None

About Us

With more than four decades of storage innovation, Seagate empowers humanity to thrive in the data age and helps people and businesses navigate the ever-expanding data landscape.

We craft precision-engineered, cutting-edge solutions that help the world store and manage exponential data growth.

Seagate is powered by our talented andpassionate workforce of 29,000 employees across the globe who embody our core values: integrity, innovation, and inclusion. Striving towards excellence every single day, we show up with these values for our customers, business partners, shareholders, and communities alike.

Join us and get inspired to make a difference in the datasphere!

Seagate is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, military and veteran status, or other status protected by applicable law. We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. EEO Know Your Rights Poster

Seagate will provide reasonable accommodationwith the application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you need assistance oraccommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail].

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