Sr. Engineer - Chemical Mechanical Polish

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 dedicated to developing new recording head technologies to advance areal density and support Seagate’s HDD (Hard Disk Drive) product roadmap for the next four years and beyond.

Our process team utilizes state-of-the-art wafer fabrication tools and cleanroom facilities to innovate and deliver leading-edge writers and read sensors. With a focus on proving the feasibility of new devices, processes, and materials, we drive Seagate’s future time-to-market leadership.

If you are passionate about innovative technology development, naturally creative, and enthusiastic about bringing ideas to life, this could be the perfect opportunity to advance your research and development career.

About the role - you will:

• Support the development of Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) processes to achieve planarity, surface quality, and dimensional targets in advanced head devices.
• Assist in maintaining process stability by analyzing data for statistical process control and supporting investigations of process excursions.
• Support configuration, qualification, and scheduling activities for CMP equipment.
• Work with engineering partners to understand device requirements and support alignment between process outputs and design intent.
• Collaborate with cross-functional wafer process teams (lithography, deposition, etch, wet process, and integration) to support integration of CMP processes into development builds.
• Analyze data and report results related to process performance and downstream impact.
• Support interactions with equipment suppliers to assist with process and hardware improvements.
• Participate in activities related to technology transfer to product engineering teams.
• Contribute to technical documentation and support knowledge sharing across the team.

About you:

• You are self-motivated and interested in developing your technical expertise in a manufacturing and R&D environment.
• You are able to work with guidance while handling multiple assignments and priorities.
• You collaborate effectively with engineers and technicians across teams.
• You are detail-oriented and able to document and communicate results clearly.
• You are interested in learning new processes, tools, and technologies.
• You are comfortable working in clean room and laboratory environments.

Your experience includes:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field with 5+ years of experience, or a Master’s degree with 3+ years of experience, or a PhD with 0+ years of experience, or equivalent experience.
• Working knowledge of CMP fundamentals, including slurry chemistry, pad interactions, and material removal concepts.
• Experience supporting semiconductor or wafer fabrication processes.
• Familiarity with thin-film or nanostructure characterization techniques (e.g., AFM, SEM, ellipsometry, or similar).
• Experience analyzing data and applying basic statistical methods.
• Experience supporting or operating process equipment in an R&D or manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work with data and contribute to problem-solving activities.

You might also have:

• Exposure to advanced characterization techniques or analytical tools.
• Experience with statistical tools such as JMP or similar.
• Familiarity with semiconductor process integration or advanced wafer technologies.
• Exposure to process development or R&D environments.

The estimated base salary range for this position is $92,310.00 - $131,995.00. 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:

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.

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