Wafer Process Engineering Senior Manager - CMP, Plating, Wet-Etch

Location: 

Bloomington, MN, US

Posting Date:  May 1, 2025
Job ID:  12024

About our group:

 

 The wafer process engineering team is responsible for controlling all tooling in our stat of teh art clean room that is used to fabricate Magnetic REcording Heads used within Seagate Hard Disk Drives (HDDs). We employ both traditional process-control methods as well as more novel Advanced Process Control (APC) algorithmic systems to analyze the health of our processes in real time, making required adjustments automatically. Our recording head manufacturing line delivers the latest generation of magnetic recording heads based on HAMR technology.

In this position you will be a leader responsible for managing a sub-set of the existing team. Our team consists of CMP, electroplating, wet-etch, and cleans process engineers and technicians responsible for improving factory processes. You will also collaborate with other teams including process development, design, equipment engineering, manufacturing, industrial engineering, and yield.

If you are passionate about innovative technology, a proven leader, excellent communicator, and enthusiastic about quality assurance and continuous improvement, this could be the perfect opportunity to advance your process engineering career

About the role - you will:

 

  • Act as a leader in the process engineering organization
    • Be responsible for building, leading, and developing a high-performing process engineering team, fostering a culture of accountability, results, and continuous improvement.
    • Develop engineers and technicians by training, coaching, evaluating, and reinforcing engineering principles.
    • Provide strong leadership to the engineering team by collaborating on project completion, assigning roles that align with team members' strengths, and ensuring consistent productivity.
    • Mentor the team offering guidance, support, and opportunities for personal growth to achieve departmental and company objectives.
    • Offer strategic planning insights focused on enhancing process efficiency, implementing automation, improving manufacturability, and driving innovation in new product and process development.
    • Work closely with various departments such as design, yield, equipment engineering, industrial engineering, production, and operations to ensure smooth integration of new products and processes.
  • Take on the role of project manager.
    • Support the oversight and implementation of capital and process improvements to optimize both new and existing processes.
    • Manage and drive engineering projects from initial concept through to full implementation, ensuring solutions are effective, timely, and cost-efficient.
    • Actively monitor current production performance within the wafer process engineering organization, providing technical solutions to achieve Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Production targets
    • Apply Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing methodologies to promote continuous improvement across the factory and oversee regular metrics reporting.
    • Oversee the selection, installation, qualification, and troubleshooting of wafer manufacturing equipment.

About you:

​​​​​​​

  • Proven leadership experience in managing engineering teams and projects.
  • Strong background in process improvement, automation, and manufacturability enhancement
  • Excellent collaboration skills with cross-functional teams, including design, yield, equipment engineering, industrial engineering, production, and operations.
  • Ability to drive innovation in new product and process development.
  • Exceptional problem-solving skills and a strategic mindset
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Experience with project management tools and methodologies
  • Passion for continuous improvement and staying updated with industry trends.
  • Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on optimizing processes and enhancing productivity

Your experience includes:

 

  • Prior wafer process engineering experience dealing with CMP, electroplating, wet-etch, and/or cleans.
  • You have a proven track record of leading teams through challenging situations.
  • You have demonstrated ability to set priorities for a team and run meetings to coordinate team activities.

 

You might also have:

 

  • Proven experience in transitioning processes from proof-of-concept to high-volume manufacturing
  • Expertise in process integration
  • Experience in capital equipment evaluation and acquisition
  • Strong teamwork and innovation skills, with a willingness to take risks and navigate ambiguity.
  • Demonstrated ability to balance and manage both short-term and long-term company objectives.
  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering related field (i.e. Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Computer Engineering, Materials, Physics, 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.

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 $139,609.00 - $203,494.00. 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: 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. 

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