Sr Staff Plate Engineer

About our group:

Do you like working with technology that pushes the limits of what a whole industry can do?  There’s a reason Seagate is the largest supplier of storage solutions in the world.  Our technology and products are second to none.

Seagate is looking for a high-quality individual to develop innovative technologies for precision lapping of recording heads from inception through transfer to Seagate’s Thailand-based volume manufacturing site.

Recording heads (sliders) are a critical component in magnetic hard disc drives. Seagate slider factories manufacture millions of sliders every day. This team supports the research and development that define future company success.

The Slider Lapping Development group located in Bloomington, MN identifies and develops improvements in recording head row bar lapping equipment and processes that meet future product roadmap requirements. More specifically, the final reader and writer heights as well as surface flatness and air bearing surface finish.

Our team consists of experts in materials, mechanical engineering, physics, robotics, electronic sensors, and process control algorithms – this position encourages daily cross-functional team discussions.

About the role - you will:

• Develop innovative recording head lapping/polishing process technologies to provide angstrom level surface finishes.
• Work with suppliers to develop equipment to support the development of current and future recording head lapping/polishing process technologies.
• Work with suppliers to define requirements for and deliver future lapping/polishing slurries and lubricants.
• Work with product and recording head development teams to understand requirements.
• Assess resource requirements, report results to internal management, and communicate to downstream customers.
• Project ownership will include everything from inception through transfer to Thailand-based volume manufacturing site.

About you:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong ability to work in a cross-functional, cross-cultural team environment balanced with independent judgment and decision-making.
• Organized and able to efficiently manage multiple projects.
• Ability to supervise the activities of others.
• Ability to understand basic engineering principles behind the manufacturing processes and associated software applications.

Your experience includes:

• Experience in lapping/polishing in the semiconductor or HDD industry or equipment development/design.
• Experience with equipment design, development, qualification, and manufacturing.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering related field (i.e. Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Computer Engineering, Materials, Physics, Applied Sciences or Information Technology) and 12+ years of experience or Master’s degree in the same and 8+ years’ experience or PhD and 5+ years’ experience or equivalent experience and education.

You might also have:

Machine learning based image analysis software

Location:

Our Normandale campus 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 café, 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 $126,048.00 - $183,703.52. 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