Sr Vacuum Equipment Engineer

Location: 

Bloomington, MN, US

Posting Date:  Jan 26, 2026
Job ID:  13651

About our group:

 

This position will work with the Vacuum Equipment Engineering team in our Bloomington, MN facility to support the vacuum equipment used to build the recording heads that go into every Seagate Hard Disc Drive (HDD).  

 

Equipment Engineering is the backbone of Seagate’s wafer manufacturing excellence. Our team ensures every piece of tooling on the factory floor operates at peak performance to fabricate the Magnetic Recording Heads that power Seagate’s world-class HDDs.  We combine proven equipment-control strategies with cutting-edge KPIV streamline systems to monitor equipment health in real time and take proactive, automated actions. We also manage the development and deployment of new wafer manufacturing tools. You will interact with a range of team members from technicians, operators, engineers, and management. And you will have the opportunity to share your knowledge and to learn from others on the team. Seagate believes this is critical to the growth of our employees, as well as our Company.   

About the role - you will:

 

  • Be responsible for development and deployment of equipment (deposition, reactive etching, and annealing) within a manufacturing setting. Ownerships will change over time, allowing for professional growth
  • Oversee manufacturing equipment issues (equipment scrap, MDA, cycle-time reduction, multiple-path maintenance)
  • Develop factory automation system to improve tool performance (C#/ Python / R)
  • Develop systematic and automated methods for tool controlling across multiple tools, including implementing streamline KPIV controls, Out-of-Control Action Plans (OCAPs), Preventive Maintenance plan (MP) instruction, equipment manufacturers’ training plan and safety issues
  • Use Six Sigma methodologies and techniques to maximize the tool performance or minimize the variability
  • Evaluate, recommend and ensure the tools/parts/materials that are most appropriate and cost effective for the manufacture
  • Oversee the installation, modification, upgrade, and maintenance of manufacturing equipment
  • Maintain all equipment control documents and ensure congruency across Seagate’s recording-head manufacturing sites
  • Provide technical support to the manufacturing equipment repair and process engineering organizations
  • Apply AI-driven workflows to improve operational excellence 

About you:

 

  • Excellent written and verbal skills; ability to persuade and gain agreement with cross functional teams 

  • Demonstrated ability to analyze data and perform KPIV analysis to predict tool performance or catch tool excursion 

  • Must be willing to work after hours on an "as need" basis 

Your experience includes:

 

  • Wafer manufacturing and semiconductor production equipment 

  • Knowledge of design of experiments (methods of design)  

  • Statistical analytic tools, Six Sigma, JMP or Minitab or other statistical software 

  • AI and Machine Learning 

  • Demonstrated hands-on familiarity with vacuum related tooling and processing like physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, atomic layer deposition, ion beam milling, ICP etching, or anneal technology in a high to ultra-high vacuum application 

  • Experience in computer hardware and/or programming 

  • GPA 3.0 or above 

  • Bachelor's Degree in Material Science, Chemistry, Chemical & Electrical Engineering or Physics and 5+ years of experience, or Master’s degree in the same and 3+ years of experience, or PHD and 0+ years of experience or equivalent education and experience 

 

Salary: The estimated base salary range for this position is: $92,300.00 - $131,900.00. The individual salary is based on work location and additional factors, including job related skills, experience, and relevant education and training.    

  

Benefits: Seagate offers comprehensive benefits to its eligible employees, including, but not limited to, eligibility discretionary bonus, 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:

 

Bloomington, MN (Onsite Monday – Friday during core business hours) 

 

Our Minnesota 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.  

 

Location: Normandale, United States
Travel: Up to 10%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Us

With more than four decades of storage innovation, Seagate empowers humanity to thrive in the data age and helps people and businesses navigate the ever-expanding data landscape. 

We craft precision-engineered, cutting-edge solutions that help the world store and manage exponential data growth.

Seagate is powered by our talented and passionate workforce of 29,000 employees across the globe who embody our core values: integrity, innovation, and inclusion. Striving towards excellence every single day, we show up with these values for our customers, business partners, shareholders, and communities alike.

Join us and get inspired to make a difference in the datasphere!

 

 

Seagate is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, military and veteran status, or other status protected by applicable law.  We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. EEO Know Your Rights Poster 

Seagate will provide reasonable accommodation with the application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at accommodations@seagate.com. 

All Seagate jobs will remain open for a minimum of seven days.

For information on how Seagate collects and uses your personal information during the application process, please review the Applicant Privacy Statement.