Staff Engineer, Process Development & Sustaining Engineering

Company Description

At Western Digital, 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, Western Digital 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™ Professional brands.

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, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

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

Job Description

Job Description
The Staff Engineer, Process Development & Sustaining will lead the development, optimization, and sustaining of manufacturing processes for WD's HDD storage products. This is a technically deep, cross-functional role requiring strong foundation in chemistry, materials science, or chemical engineering.

You will drive process characterization, chemical/material qualification, and yield improvement initiatives while ensuring manufacturing processes remain stable, compliant, and cost-competitive. You are expected to operate with high technical autonomy, interface with global R&D and process teams, and mentor junior engineers on the Penang floor.

This role is ideal for a PhD's, or Master's graduate in Chemical Engineering or Materials Science who is passionate about translating lab-scale science into high-volume manufacturing solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Process Development

• Design and develop new manufacturing processes or significantly improve existing ones for HDD production
• Conduct Design of Experiments (DOE) to characterize process windows, identify critical process parameters (CPPs), and optimize process outputs
• Evaluate and qualify new chemicals, materials, and process consumables for manufacturing use
• Develop process recipes, control plans, and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Translate R&D/lab-scale processes into robust, scalable, high-volume manufacturing processes

Process Sustaining

• Own sustaining engineering for assigned process modules — ensure processes remain stable, in control, and within specification
• Monitor Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts; respond to out-of-control signals with structured problem-solving
• Lead Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) for process changes, chemical substitutions, and material updates
• Manage process deviation requests and ensure timely resolution
• Maintain process documentation, control plans, and work instructions per WD QMS

Chemical & Material Engineering

• Lead chemical/material qualification activities including incoming material testing, process compatibility studies, and shelf-life evaluations
• Evaluate alternative chemistries and materials for cost reduction, sustainability, or supply chain risk mitigation
• Work with EHS team to ensure safe handling, storage, and disposal of process chemicals per regulatory requirements
• Support RoHS, REACH, and PFAS compliance reviews for process chemicals and materials

Yield & Quality Improvement

• Lead yield loss analysis and drive structured RCCA (Root Cause and Corrective Action) for process-related defects
• Apply Six Sigma / SPC / Lean methodologies to reduce process variation and improve Cpk
• Partner with Quality Engineering to resolve customer escapes and field returns linked to process issues
• Drive continuous improvement projects with measurable cost and quality impact

NPI & Technology Transfer

• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) process readiness — from process concept to mass production release
• Lead or support technology transfer of new processes from R&D/HQ to Penang manufacturing
• Develop process qualification protocols (PQ), installation qualification (IQ), and operational qualification (OQ) plans

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Interface with R&D, Product Engineering, Quality, EHS, Supply Chain, and Equipment Engineering teams globally
• Present process data, findings, and recommendations to senior management and global stakeholders
• Collaborate with equipment engineers on process-equipment interactions and optimization

People & Mentorship

• Mentor and coach junior and mid-level process engineers
• Lead technical reviews, knowledge-sharing sessions, and engineering forums
• Support capability building within the Penang process engineering team

Qualifications

Qualification :        

• Master's Degree (MSc/MEng) in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Polymer Science, or related field
• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or related discipline 

Required :

• Minimum 5-8 years experience in process or manufacturing environment ( Master ) 
• Minimum 2-4 years experience in process or manufacturing environment ( PhD ) 
• Knowledge on HDD media cleaning technology will be added advantage.
• Knowledge in SPC, FMEA, Technical Report Writing and DOE run.
• Green Belt or Lean Six Sigma will be and added advantages.
• Good technical presentation skill.
• Good communication skill.

Skills :

• Strong fundamentals in chemistry, materials science
• Proficiency in DOE methodologies (full factorial, RSM, Taguchi)
• Working knowledge of Statistical Process Control (SPC) and statistical analysis tools (JMP, Minitab, or equivalent)
• Familiarity with thin film, surface treatment, wet chemical, cleaning
• Understanding of failure analysis techniques (SEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, or equivalent)
• Knowledge of chemical safety, EHS regulations, and REACH/RoHS compliance

Additional Information

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 jobs.accommodations@wdc.com 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.

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 compliance@wdc.com.