Materials Research Engineer - Principal Engineer

• Full-time
• Job Type (exemption status):
  Exempt position - Please see related compensation & benefits details below
• Salary Range:
  
  -
• Business Function: R&D Engineering

WD is building the infrastructure behind the AI-driven data economy.

As AI scales, so does data. Every interaction, every model, every system generates data that must be stored, managed, and made accessible over time. That’s where we come in.

We combine deep engineering expertise with global-scale manufacturing to deliver the storage systems that make AI possible, powering hyperscale data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise infrastructure worldwide.

This isn’t theoretical work. It’s real systems, at real scale, people solving some of the hardest challenges in technology today.

We’re looking for people who want to build, solve, and operate at that level.

Join us and let’s shape the future of data.

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.

• 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.

WD 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 .

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