Sr. Vacuum Equipment Engineer - Early Career

Equipment Engineering is the backbone of Seagate’s wafer manufacturing excellence. Our team ensures every piece of tooling on the factory floor operates at peak performance to fabricate the Magnetic Recording Heads that power Seagate’s world-class HDDs. We combine proven equipment-control strategies with cutting-edge KPIV streamline systems to monitor equipment health in real time and take proactive, automated actions. We also manage the development and deployment of new wafer manufacturing tools. You will interact with a range of team members from technicians, operators, engineers, and management, sharing knowledge and learning from others to support both personal and company growth.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deploy equipment (deposition, reactive etching, and annealing) within a manufacturing setting, with evolving ownership for professional growth.
• Oversee manufacturing equipment issues, including equipment scrap, MDA, cycle-time reduction, and multiple-path maintenance.
• Develop factory automation systems to improve tool performance using C#, Python, or R.
• Create systematic and automated methods for tool control across multiple tools, implementing streamline KPIV controls, Out-of-Control Action Plans (OCAPs), Preventive Maintenance (MP) instructions, equipment manufacturers’ training plans, and safety protocols.
• Use Six Sigma methodologies to maximize tool performance or minimize variability.
• Evaluate, recommend, and ensure the most appropriate and cost-effective tools, parts, and materials for manufacturing.
• Oversee installation, modification, upgrade, and maintenance of manufacturing equipment.
• Maintain all equipment control documents and ensure congruency across Seagate’s recording-head manufacturing sites.
• Provide technical support to manufacturing equipment repair and process engineering organizations.
• Apply AI-driven workflows to improve operational excellence.

Requirements

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to persuade and gain agreement with cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data and perform KPIV analysis to predict tool performance or catch tool excursions.
• Willingness to work after hours on an "as-needed" basis.
• Experience with wafer manufacturing and semiconductor production equipment.
• Knowledge of design of experiments (DOE) methodologies.
• Proficiency with statistical analytic tools, Six Sigma, JMP, Minitab, or other statistical software.
• Familiarity with AI and Machine Learning.
• Hands-on experience with vacuum-related tooling and processing, such as physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, atomic layer deposition, ion beam milling, ICP etching, or anneal technology in high to ultra-high vacuum applications.
• Experience in computer hardware and/or programming.
• PhD in Material Science, Chemistry, Chemical & Electrical Engineering, or Physics.

Location

Our Bloomington, MN campus (Normandale) spans Edina and Bloomington, serving as the Recording Head development and manufacturing arm of Seagate. The campus offers an on-site café, fitness center with wellness programs, meditation rooms, and an indoor walking path. The area features abundant shopping, dining, cultural festivals, celebrations, and community volunteer opportunities.

Pay

The estimated base salary range for this position is $94,000 - $117,000. Individual salary is based on work location and factors such as job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Benefits

• Eligibility to participate in a discretionary bonus program.
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Employee stock purchase plan.
• Health savings account (HSA).
• Dependent care and healthcare spending accounts.
• Paid time off, including 12 holidays, flexible time off, a minimum of 48 hours of paid sick leave, and 16 weeks of paid parental leave.