Materials Research Engineer Principal Engineer

Materials Research Engineer -- Principal Engineer

This position is in Western Digital Research, a world-class research laboratory in San Jose, California with ~80 employees. Research activities in the lab focus on all aspects of information storage, sensors, spintronics, superconducting devices, non-volatile memory, and AI compute architectures. The materials team's mission is to develop novel materials for emerging technologies. The team is well-equipped with thin film deposition tools and related characterization tools, located in a fully functional cleanroom with the capability to fabricate a wide array of nanoscale devices using novel materials.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct hands-on, experimental research of thin films for emerging technologies such as superconducting qubits, non-volatile memories and novel sensor applications.
• Thin film growth by physical vapor deposition using ultra-high vacuum film deposition tools.
• Characterization of structural, electronic, optical, chemical, magnetic, thermal and mechanical film properties.
• Design of materials for integration into nanoscale devices.
• Collect, analyze, present and report film and device characterization data, results and conclusions.
• Work closely and collaborate within a team of engineers and support staff.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in materials science and engineering, physics, electrical engineering, or closely related field.
• Expertise with materials and devices in the areas of non-volatile memory technologies, superconducting qubits, oxide semiconductor transistors, or novel magnetic or chemical sensors.
• Strong hands-on experience with UHV film deposition equipment.
• Strong hands-on experience with film characterization instrumentation and techniques such as XRD, XRF, XPS, AFM, and electrical transport as a function of temperature.
• Strong knowledge of nanofabrication and general device design and operation.
• Demonstrated ability to self-direct a research project.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and in a team environment.