Manufacturing Equipment Engineering
Posted 14 Oct 2026
Advertised as “Staff Engineer, Manufacturing Equipment Engineering”
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Expected experience
- 8–12 yrs
- Management level
- People management
- Employment
- Hybrid
- Contract
- Full-time
No salary listed for this role.
Field of studyElectrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (or related)
Study levelBachelor's or higher
Company Description
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.
Job Description
As a Staff Equipment Engineer specializing in sputter media, you will be responsible for overseeing the operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of sputtering equipment used in the production of hard disk media. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure optimal equipment performance, minimize downtime, cycle time improvement and contribute to the development of new processes and technologies.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Oversee day-to-day equipment maintenance activities, troubleshooting, and line issue management to ensure high equipment availability and minimal production downtime.
- Lead equipment reliability, maintenance, and engineering improvement initiatives to support stable and efficient manufacturing operations.
- Drive preventive and predictive maintenance strategies to improve equipment reliability, reduce failures, and sustain long-term operational performance.
- Lead equipment upgrades, machine conversions, and technology improvements to support next-generation HDD product requirements.
- Manage new equipment installation, commissioning, and acceptance testing to ensure systems meet operational, safety, and process specifications before production release.
- Monitor and analyze equipment performance, reliability, and OEE data to identify improvement opportunities and drive operational excellence.
- Lead root cause analysis for equipment failures, implementing effective corrective and preventive actions to prevent recurrence.
- Collaborate with Process Engineering and Sputter Yield teams to improve yield performance, reduce defects, and enhance process capability.
- Coordinate closely with Production, Quality, Facilities, and other cross-functional teams to ensure smooth production operations and achieve manufacturing targets.
- Manage engineering projects related to equipment upgrades, modifications, and system improvements, ensuring timely execution within scope and budget.