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 cafe, 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