Western Digital Technologies

Staff Engineer, Wafer Quality Assurance

Western Digital Technologies • $120K — $145K *
San Jose, CA 95123In-Person
Manufacturing & Automotive
Less than 5 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Material Science, Physics, Data Sciences; Master's preferred
  • 3+ years in quality assurance or quality engineering in semiconductor or wafer manufacturing
  • Strong problem-solving and root-cause-analysis abilities
  • Proficient in analyzing datasets and interpreting statistical results
  • Experience with AI/ML or generative AI systems is advantageous
  • Familiarity with FMEA and its applications in manufacturing systems
  • Strong collaboration skills across technical and operations teams

Responsibilities

  • Perform wafer paper failure analysis and provide customer issue disposition
  • Facilitate wafer manufacturing and process design readiness review meetings
  • Drive 8D closure with corrective and preventive actions
  • Lead and facilitate FMEA activities to identify and mitigate potential failures
  • Collaborate with teams to implement automated quality surveillance solutions
  • Drive digitalization initiatives to enhance quality improvement processes
  • Evaluate generative AI technologies to optimize engineering productivity

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance including medical, dental, and vision
  • Paid vacation time and sick leave
  • Tuition reimbursement opportunities
  • Employee stock purchase plan and 401(k) plan
  • Access to various voluntary benefit programs such as pet insurance and critical illness coverage
Full Job Description
Job Description

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Perform wafer paper failure analysis (FA) and provide disposition for issues flagged by customers.
  • Facilitate wafer manufacturing readiness review (MRR) and process design readiness (PDR) review meetings.
  • Drive 8D closure with corrective action and preventive action (CAPA) implementations to prevent reoccurrence
  • Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (FMEA): Lead and facilitate FMEA activities across wafer fab to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate potential failure modes and their impact on quality and reliability.
  • Partner with process, equipment, manufacturing, and data engineering teams to implement automated quality surveillance and anomaly detection solutions.
  • Drive digitalization initiatives that improve CAPA effectiveness, root cause identification, and risk assessment processes.
  • Evaluate and integrate generative AI and digital agent technologies to enhance engineering productivity, knowledge management, and quality decision-making.
  • Drive adoption of AI-powered quality engineering tools to increase engineering productivity, accelerate defect detection cycle times, and transition the organization from reactive quality management to predictive quality - anticipating and preventing excursions before they impact yield or customer deliverables.
  • Participate in developing and deploying AI-assisted quality monitoring solutions for Change Review Board (CRB), Material Review Board (MRB), Failure Analysis (FA), and FMEA activities.


Qualifications

REQUIRED
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Material Science, Physics, Data Sciences or a related technical field (Master's preferred)
  • 3+ years of experience in quality assurance, quality engineering, or a related role within semiconductor or wafer manufacturing
  • Strong problem-solving and root-cause-analysis skills.
  • Ability to analyze datasets and interpret statistical/model-performance results.
  • Experience working with AI/ML or generative AI systems a plus.
  • Familiarity with FMEA methodology and its application to IT and manufacturing systems
  • Basic understanding of wafer product, including HAMR and knowledgeable of SPC, wafer process build, interconnection between process, equipment, manufacturing, backend a plus
  • Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with the ability to engage both technical and operations teams
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a detail-oriented mindset

ADDITIONAL SKILLS
  • Experience with end-to-end quality management in semiconductor manufacturing
  • Experience developing or utilizing AI-enabled quality monitoring and reporting systems.
  • Knowledge of Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), Copilot technologies, or Digital Agents for engineering workflows.
  • Strong data storytelling and visualization skills to communicate complex technical findings to engineering and management teams.
  • Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to identify opportunities for automation and digital transformation.


Additional Information

Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 12/11/2026 (3 months from posting), although we reserve the right to close the application process sooner if we hire an applicant for this position before the application deadline. If we are not able to hire someone from this role before the application deadline, we will update this posting with a new anticipated application deadline.

#L1-RR1

Compensation & Benefits Details
  • An employee's pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
  • The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York. This range may be modified in the future.
  • If your position is non-exempt, you are eligible for overtime pay pursuant to company policy and applicable laws. You may also be eligible for shift differential pay, depending on the shift to which you are assigned.
  • You will be eligible to be considered for bonuses under either WD's Short Term Incentive Plan ("STI Plan") or the Sales Incentive Plan ("SIP") which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance, depending on your role and your performance. You may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to WD's Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
  • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical/dental/vision insurance; life, accident and disability insurance; tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program; other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity; tuition reimbursement; transit; the Applause Program; employee stock purchase plan; and the WD Savings 401(k) Plan.
  • Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole discretion, consistent with the law.

About Western Digital Technologies

Western Technology Investment is a venture capital firm that specializes in offering acquisition financing to revenue-generating firms. The firm provides debt and lease financing to venture capital backed technology companies.

Western Digital Technologies Careers

Join the innovative world of Western Digital Technologies, a leader in data storage solutions, where we are committed to empowering our global team of professionals. This is an unparalleled opportunity to advance your career with a company at the forefront of technological innovation and digital storage.

Work You’ll Do

At Western Digital Technologies, you will be part of a dynamic team that drives data innovation across various industries. Our commitment to excellence and leadership in the technology sector provides a unique platform for professionals to influence the future of digital storage and management solutions.

Explore Job Opportunities and Growth

Western Digital Technologies offers a variety of job opportunities that cater to a range of skills and experiences. Whether you’re looking for an entry-level position or a more senior role, our company is eager to support your professional growth through challenging projects and continuous learning opportunities.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with Western Digital Technologies through our internship programs. These positions are designed to give you hands-on experience and insights into our day-to-day operations, preparing you for a full-time role in our company. Interns at Western Digital Technologies gain invaluable industry knowledge, networking opportunities, and professional skills under the guidance of experienced mentors.

Benefits and Culture

We pride ourselves on a culture that fosters diversity, innovation, and leadership. Western Digital Technologies is dedicated to providing employees with a supportive work environment where everyone is encouraged to be their best. Our benefits package is comprehensive, including health, dental, and vision insurance, employee wellness programs, and significant career development opportunities.

Join Our Team

We are continuously hiring creative, curious, and motivated individuals who are ready to drive innovation in the technology space. Explore open positions that match your skills and interests on our careers page. At Western Digital Technologies, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Professional Development and Training

Advance your career with Western Digital Technologies through our professional development programs. We offer a range of training and development options, including leadership training, skills enhancement workshops, and diversity training sessions to help you grow as a leader and innovator in our industry.

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Apply Now

Ready to take the next step in your career? Submit your resume, prepare for your interview, and join a team that’s redefining the future of technology. At Western Digital Technologies, your future is waiting.

SEARCH WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES JOBS

Join us at Western Digital Technologies, where your career growth is integrated with innovation and leadership, empowering you to reach new heights in the technology industry.
Learn more about Western Digital Technologies
Size
65,600 employees
Market Cap
$9.9 billion
Industry
Enterprise Technology
Net Income
$167 million
Founded
1970
5 Year Trend
-0.3%
Revenue
$16.3 billion
NASDAQ
WDC
* Ladders Estimates

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