Staff Engineer, Wafer Quality Assurance

WD is building the infrastructure behind the AI-driven data economy.

As AI scales, so does data. Every interaction, every model, every system generates data that must be stored, managed, and made accessible over time. That’s where we come in.

We combine deep engineering expertise with global-scale manufacturing to deliver the storage systems that make AI possible, powering hyperscale data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise infrastructure worldwide.

This isn’t theoretical work. It’s real systems, at real scale, people solving some of the hardest challenges in technology today.

We’re looking for people who want to build, solve, and operate at that level.

Join us and let’s shape the future of data.

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.

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.

Requirements

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

Benefits

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.