Optical Integration Sr. Staff Engineer

Location: 

Shakopee, MN, US Longmont, CO, US Fremont, CA, US

Posting Date:  Jan 15, 2026
Job ID:  13529

About our group:

The Advanced Recording Subsystem organization is responsible for integrating heads, media, preamps, and channels into hard disk drives. This includes defining recording subsystem architecture, specifying electrical and magnetic component requirements, designing system features, validating and integrating these components and features into new HDD products, and ensuring successful product ramps. 

About the role - you will:

  • Use knowledge of optics physics and laser design to integrate new laser, channel wave guide, and NFT designs into HDDs. 
  • Design calibration methods that accommodate manufacturing variation in light delivery in the drive. 
  • Design tuning and optimization techniques that accommodate thermal, head-disk-spacing, and other sources of variation during the drive operating lifetime. 
  • Work with the laser and head manufacturing team to specify and validate light delivery CTQs. 
  • Serve as an optical and laser subject matter expert in cross-functional technology development teams. 
  • Work to understand laser failure modes and design in-situ burn-in techniques, runtime failure detection features, and post-failure analysis techniques. 
  • Design integrated-laser characterization tests that can be performed in the formatting and test process to improve both screening efficiency and design and manufacturing feedback. 
  • Understand sources of fast-time-constant variation that can lead to areal density capability loss and specify design opportunities for areal density improvement. 
  • Demonstrate and validate new early design samples using drive bench techniques and tools. 
  • Contribute to Seagate’s IP portfolio in the form of invention disclosures, patents, trade secrets, journal articles, and/or white papers. 

About you:

  • You are an innovative and self-motivated worker driven by curiosity.  
  • You have excellent verbal and written communication skills.  
  • You have a reputation for honesty, integrity, showing respect toward others, and effectively collaborating within a diverse team.  
  • You are a recognized subject matter expert that can provide technical leadership across organizational boundaries. 

Your experience includes:

  • Bachelor's Degree in Physics or Electrical Engineering and 12+ years of experience, or Master’s degree in Physics or Electrical Engineering and 8+ years of experience, or PHD and 5+ years of experience or equivalent education and experience.
  • Demonstrated expertise in optics, optoelectronics, optical system design, laser sources, and integrated photonics.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.

 

You Might Also Have:

  • Understanding of magnetic recording physics, including head, media, preamp, and channel interactions.

 

The estimated base salary range for this position is $144,164.80 - $210,107.40. 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 Shakopee campus is located 25 minutes southwest of Minneapolis in a setting with a rural vibe – it overlooks a horse racing track and stables, yet it has great entertainment venues close by as well. With wide-open spaces, the campus has plenty of space for running, biking, shooting some hoops or playing volleyball over lunch. If working out is your thing, the on-site fully equipped fitness center hosts wellness programs, tournaments and group workouts. Hungry? Seagate offers an on-site café with freshly sourced foods and specialty coffees, or if you prefer, drive to one of many restaurants just minutes away.

 

Our Longmont product-design campus is nestled against the foothills with exceptional views of the Rocky Mountains. Here at work, you can grab breakfast and lunch in the on-site cafeteria or get an afternoon espresso, prepared by a professional barista. Our 600+ employees enjoy an active on-site experience from sporting activities (get in a few laps at lunch on our 1-mile walking path around campus, play ping-pong or volleyball, or stop in our 24- hour fitness center for a group or individual workout). We also offer opportunities for community service and participation in various employee resource groups. 

 

Our Gold LEED-certified Fremont product-design campus drives innovation, bringing together a diverse set of engineering, design, operations, support and administrative teams. The site is equipped with state-of-the-art clean room and lab space. On-site social activities are popular, including our annual BBQ, ice cream social, and holiday events. Wellness programs, gaming rooms and the on-site fitness center help round out and balance your Seagate work-life experience, along with opportunities to give back to our local community. 

 

Location: Shakopee, United States, Fremont USA Research Center, Longmont, 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.