Sr. Equipment Engineer - Automation & Smart Manufacturing

About our group:

The Equipment Engineering team is helping lead Seagate's transformation to an AI-enabled smart factory. Our engineers combine advanced manufacturing equipment, automation, predictive analytics, and data-driven engineering to deliver the performance, reliability, and innovation needed to produce the world's most advanced magnetic recording heads.

As demand for AI continues to grow, so does the need for high-capacity data storage. Our team plays a critical role in enabling that future by designing and implementing smarter ways to monitor, optimize, and improve complex manufacturing systems.

This is far more than a traditional equipment engineering role. We leverage advanced factory control systems, AI-driven monitoring, predictive analytics, and automation to improve equipment performance before problems occur. Working alongside Manufacturing, Process Engineering, Automation, Quality, and Data Science teams, you'll help shape the future of one of the industry's most advanced wafer manufacturing operations.

If you enjoy solving difficult technical problems, influencing how manufacturing technology evolves, and making a measurable impact on factory performance, we'd love to hear from you.

About the role - you will:

As a Senior Equipment Engineer, you'll own the technical performance, reliability, and continuous improvement of some of Seagate's most advanced manufacturing equipment, including photolithography, electroplating, and precision metrology systems operating in a cleanroom environment.

This is a highly visible, hands-on engineering role where you'll combine technical expertise, data analytics, automation, and cross-functional leadership to improve equipment reliability, increase manufacturing throughput, and enable next-generation data storage technology.

You'll spend time both on the manufacturing floor solving challenging technical problems and using data, automation, and AI-driven tools to eliminate recurring failures before they impact production.

• Own the technical performance, reliability, and long-term evolution of advanced wafer fabrication equipment.
• Lead complex troubleshooting efforts, identify root causes, and implement permanent corrective actions that improve equipment reliability and performance.
• Analyze equipment data using statistical tools to identify opportunities to improve throughput, reduce scrap, increase uptime, and eliminate recurring issues.
• Develop and implement AI-driven equipment monitoring and predictive maintenance strategies that improve factory performance.
• Drive equipment upgrades, new tool installations, automation initiatives, and capital improvement projects that expand manufacturing capability.
• Partner closely with technicians, Process Engineering, Manufacturing, Automation, Quality, and fellow Equipment Engineers to solve complex technical challenges.
• Build strong working relationships across multiple organizations while providing technical leadership and mentoring less experienced engineers and technicians.
• Influence equipment strategy by identifying opportunities to improve automation, equipment reliability, operational efficiency, and smart factory capabilities.
• Occasionally provide technical leadership during major equipment installations, critical factory events, or complex troubleshooting activities.

About you:

• You're the type of engineer who enjoys solving problems that don't already have a playbook.
• You like understanding how complex systems work, using data to uncover hidden failure mechanisms, and developing solutions that make equipment more reliable, more efficient, and easier to operate.
• You're equally comfortable troubleshooting equipment on the manufacturing floor, analyzing large datasets, leading technical discussions, and collaborating across multiple engineering disciplines.
• You build trust quickly, communicate effectively, and enjoy working alongside technicians, engineers, manufacturing, and automation teams to solve difficult technical challenges.
• Most importantly, you're someone who takes ownership. You don't simply solve today's problem—you build solutions that prevent tomorrow's.

Your experience includes:

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Information Technology, or a related engineering field and 5+ years of experience, or Master’s degree in the same fields and 3+ years of experience, or PhD and 0+ years of experience or equivalent education and experience.
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting, optimizing, and improving complex manufacturing equipment.
• Strong electrical and mechanical troubleshooting skills.
• Experience using statistical analysis tools such as JMP, Minitab, SPC, DOE, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.
• Experience applying Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), or other reliability engineering methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to improve equipment performance, reliability, throughput, and manufacturing productivity through data-driven decision making.
• Experience working with equipment control strategies, factory automation systems, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), or related manufacturing technologies.

You might also have:

• Experience leveraging AI or machine learning tools to improve equipment performance, automate monitoring, or optimize manufacturing operations.
• Semiconductor or wafer fabrication experience, particularly with photolithography, electroplating, metrology, or similar process equipment.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, TPM, DMAIC, Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM), or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Knowledge of robotics, motion control, PLCs, sensors, machine vision, and industrial networking.
• Experience developing dashboards, automated monitoring tools, or analytics solutions using SQL, Python, Power BI, or similar technologies.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.

The estimated base salary range for this position is $94,140.00 - $134,625.00. 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 a 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%