Staff Engineer, Applications Engineering (APC)

Western Digital; Fremont (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Digital in Fremont, CA, seeks a Staff Engineer for Applications Engineering (APC) to design, implement, and sustain advanced process control systems that boost wafer yield, reduce cycle time, and improve equipment productivity. The role blends AI‑augmented, model‑driven control with traditional feedback methods and requires collaboration with process, equipment, and IT teams.

You will lead APC/automation projects, develop and tune FDC/R2R models, deploy scalable control recipes, and

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Engineering, Applied Physics, Operations Research, or Statistics (must have).
• Experience with semiconductor R2R control and FDC systems.
• Strong analytical and programming skills; proficiency with JMP, MATLAB, Python, and multivariate analysis platforms.
• Knowledge of semiconductor processing technologies and equipment.
• Solid IT systems knowledge: Linux, Windows, SQL Server, networking, SECS/GEM, data acquisition.

Responsibilities

• Implement APC solutions in collaboration with Process, Equipment, IT, and external partners.
• Lead APC/automation projects through production release and quantify improvements.
• Develop and tune R2R control models using feedback and feed‑forward algorithms.
• Create advanced FDC models for scrap prevention and predictive maintenance.
• Conduct system integration testing for R2R, FDC, and automation host systems.
• Maintain R2R and FDC systems and monitor performance for continuous improvement.

Job description

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

At our core, WD is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology. For decades, we’ve been doing just that—our technology helped people put a man on the moon and capture the first‑ever picture of a black hole.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, HDDs, and platforms for business, creative professionals, and consumers alike under our Western Digital®, WD®, and WD_BLACK™.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest‑growth organizations in the world. From enabling systems to make cities safer and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and hyperscale cloud providers, to meeting the massive and ever‑growing data storage needs of the AI era, WD is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. Together, we can build the future of data storage.

The Staff Engineer, Applications Engineering (APC) is responsible for developing, implementing, and sustaining Advanced Process Control (APC) systems—including run‑to‑run (R2R) control and fault detection & classification (FDC)—to improve manufacturing yield, process capability, cycle time, and equipment productivity. The role requires close collaboration with process, equipment, and IT engineering teams to deploy scalable APC solutions, advance automation initiatives, and drive continuous improvement across wafer manufacturing operations.

As part of the industry’s transition from traditional feedback‑based APC to AI‑augmented, model‑driven control, the Staff Engineer will help integrate predictive and data‑driven methods that more accurately identify process drift, reduce variability, and minimize scrap. These next‑generation APC capabilities leverage machine learning, virtual metrology, and advanced equipment analytics to enhance system stability and responsiveness.

The Staff Engineer plays a critical role in enabling these AI‑enhanced manufacturing capabilities while ensuring stable, high‑quality, and efficient wafer production.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Implement APC solutions in collaboration with Process Engineering, Equipment Engineering, IT, and external partners.
• Lead APC/automation projects through production release and quantify improvements against baseline metrics.
• Perform data analysis to develop and optimize FDC models for real‑time fault detection.
• Configure and deploy new control strategies and automation recipes; support recipe management and specification database setups.
• Develop and tune R2R control models using feedback and feed‑forward algorithms.
• Create advanced FDC models for scrap prevention, tool matching, predictive maintenance, and condition‑based maintenance.
• Conduct system integration testing for R2R, FDC, and automation host systems.
• Maintain R2R and FDC systems; monitor controller/model performance and initiate continuous improvement activities.
• Increasing use ofpredictive maintenance and health‑monitoring modelsleveraging FDC + ML to identify faults earlier and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Troubleshoot system issues and support system recovery during failures.
• Participate in roadmap planning for future APC and automation capabilities.
• Work effectively in a fast‑paced, cross‑functional environment and model continuous improvement behaviors.

REQUIRED-Must Have The Following

• BS/MS in Engineering(Computer, Electrical, Chemical, Industrial, Mechanical), Applied Physics, Operations Research, or Statistics.
• Experience with semiconductor R2R control and FDC systems.
• Strong analytical and programming skills; proficiency with statistical analysis and ML tools such asJMP, MATLAB, Python, and multivariate analysis platforms.
• Knowledge of semiconductor processing technologies and equipment.
• Solid understanding of IT systems, including:
  • Linux system administration and shell‑based workflow,
  • Windows OS,
  • SQL Server & SQL queries,
  • Networking,
  • SECS/GEM communications, and
  • Data acquisition systems.

SKILLS

• Experience applying large language models (LLMs)or AI‑assisted engineering workflows for data analysis, troubleshooting support, automation scripting, documentation generation, or accelerating APC/FDC model development.
• Effective verbal and written communication skillswith project‑management experience.

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person’s gender identity, gender expression, and gender‑related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, 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. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal" poster. Our pay transparency policy is available here.

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. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.

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 [e-mail] 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.

Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 06/03/2026 (3 months from posting), although we reserve the right to close the application process sooner if