AI & Metrology Development Engineer – Magnetic Recording Head

At WD, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible.

At our core, WD is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology. For decades, we’ve been doing just that—our technology helped people put a man on the moon and capture the first-ever picture of a black hole.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, HDDs, and platforms for business, creative professionals, and consumers alike under our Western Digital®, WD®, and WD_BLACK™.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest-growth organizations in the world. From enabling systems to make cities safer and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and hyperscale cloud providers, to meeting the massive and ever-growing data storage needs of the AI era, WD is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. Together, we can build the future of data storage.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

We are looking for a curious and driven candidate to join our Advanced Metrology team supporting magnetic recording head wafer fabrication. This is a hands-on technical role where you will apply data science, AI/ML, and programming skills to develop next-generation measurement solutions — while learning the fundamentals of semiconductor-class metrology tools and hard drive manufacturing processes.

You will be part of a team advancing measurement science at the intersection of AI and precision manufacturing for the hard drive industry.

Algorithm & Data Development

• Develop and apply data analysis algorithms and models to improve measurement accuracy and capability
• Use AI/ML techniques to extract insights from metrology images and measurement datasets
• Support development of new measurement methods in collaboration with senior engineers

Automation & Workflow

• Write scripts and tools to automate data collection, processing, and reporting workflows
• Apply AI/ML techniques to optimize measurement workflows and maximize tool throughput

Team Collaboration

• Work alongside experienced metrology specialists in CDSEM, AFM, and optical measurement
• Partner with wafer process and R&D engineers to understand measurement requirements and support DOE execution
• Participate in data reviews, technical meetings, and cross-functional project teams

Day-to-Day Execution

• Support routine measurement tasks across multiple active projects
• Learn to operate and troubleshoot metrology tools under guidance of senior team members
• Document results, maintain data quality, and contribute to technical reports

This role is part of WD's early career development program. WD's early career development program is ideal for individuals at the early stages of their professional career.  Participants receive foundational training through structured onboarding, mentorship, and a curated development curriculum. The responsibilities of this role are typically aligned with candidates who have approximately 0–2+ years of relevant professional experience, though candidates of all experience levels are encouraged to apply.

Required:

• Currently pursuing or recently completed BS or MS degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Physics, or a closely related field (recent graduate or graduating within 6 months)
• Programming proficiency in Python or LabVIEW; comfort working with real-world datasets
• Familiarity with machine learning or data analysis concepts (coursework, projects, or internship experience counts)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to work with complex, noisy data
• Collaborative mindset and willingness to learn in a cross-functional team environment

Preferred:

• Coursework or project experience in image processing, computer vision, or signal analysis
• Exposure to semiconductor, optics, or materials characterization topics

What You Will Learn

• How magnetic recording heads are fabricated at the wafer level
• How to operate and interpret data from industry-leading metrology tools (CDSEM, AFM, optical)
• How to apply AI and modeling in a real manufacturing R&D environment
• How to translate engineering problems into measurement and data solutions

What Success Looks Like (Year 1)

• Delivered at least one automated workflow or AI-driven analysis tool actively used by the team
• Demonstrated growing fluency with metrology data and tool concepts
• Established trusted working relationships with process and metrology engineers

WD is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person’s gender identity, gender expression, and gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster. Our pay transparency policy is available here.

WD thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.

WD is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at [email protected] to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 7/2/26, 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.

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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.

Notice To Candidates: Please be aware that WD and its subsidiaries will never request payment as a condition for applying for a position or receiving an offer of employment. Should you encounter any such requests, please report it immediately to WD Ethics Helpline or email [email protected].