Western Digital
Data Storage
TriboComponentResearch&DevelopmentEngineer
“Tribo-Component Research & Development Engineer at Western Digital. Skills: HAMR media and head/media interface characterization, component-level test methodologies, physics-based experimental investigations, reliability and robustness evaluations, data analytics and statistics. Design, develop, and execute component-level test methodologies for HAMR media and head/media interface characterization.. Develop a deep technical understanding of tester equipment, including laser-based test systems, t”
What You'll Achieve.
Ensure data integrity, repeatability, and correlation across platforms.; Translate component-level findings into actionable design and test guidance.; Define component-level design windows and sensitivities.
Industry & Context.
Excellent analytical and root-cause problem-solving skills, with a solutions-oriented mindset.
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
M. S. or Ph. D. in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Optical Engineering
Nice to Have
Hands-on experience with laser-based testers, thermal/mechanical stress tools, surface analysis, and interface characterization equipment
What You'll Do.
and execute component-level test methodologies for HAMR media and head/media interface characterization.
Develop a deep technical understanding of tester equipment
including laser-based test systems
thermal/mechanical stress platforms
and interface characterization tools.
and troubleshoot component-level test equipment
ensuring data integrity
and correlation across platforms.
Perform physics-based experimental investigations to understand the impact of media design variables on head/media interface behavior
including laser interaction
and carbon overcoat performance.
and magnetic properties of media components and correlate these properties to interface performance and failure mechanisms.
Conduct reliability and robustness evaluations at the component level using established test protocols
accelerated stress testing
and statistical best practices.
Investigate laser power
and tester boundary conditions on head/media interaction
defining component-level design windows and sensitivities.
Design or modify test fixtures
and control parameters to isolate component-level phenomena and enable root-cause analysis.
Work closely with media sputter
and design teams to correlate process conditions to component-level test results.
Collaborate with HDD and Head engineering teams to translate component-level findings into actionable design and test guidance.
Lead and contribute to end-to-end technical investigations
from problem definition and experimental setup through data analysis and conclusions.
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Work closely with media sputter, process, and design teams to correlate process conditions to component-level test results.; Collaborate with HDD and Head engineering teams to translate component-level findings into actionable design and test guidance.; Lead and contribute to end-to-end technical investigations, from problem definition and experimental setup through data analysis and conclusions.
Communication Scope
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present tester data and technical conclusions.
Process & Methodology
Ability to manage multiple component-level test activities and equipment dependencies while meeting project deadlines.
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