Probe Process Engineer

Western Digital · Fremont, CA, United States

  • Junior
  • Full-time
  • Posted 2026-09-24
  • Confirmed live on 25 September 2026

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Job description

Job Description
The Process Engineer will support wafer probe operations for both product development and high-volume manufacturing environments. This role is responsible for developing, sustaining, and optimizing wafer probe processes, test methodologies, SPC systems, probe card configurations, and test setup infrastructure. The engineer will work closely with Test Engineering, Product Development, Yield Engineering, Manufacturing, and Operations teams to ensure robust process control, measurement integrity, and successful new product introductions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop, qualify, and sustain wafer probe processes for new and existing products, including probe recipes, operating specifications, setup requirements, and engineering controls across both product development and high-volume manufacturing environments.

• Define, validate, and maintain probe card configurations and wafer test setups, supporting qualifications, releases, maintenance strategies, and change management to ensure test readiness for engineering builds, qualifications, and production ramps.

• Monitor and optimize process performance using SPC, EDC, and statistical analysis; develop and maintain control limits, OCAPs, screening methodologies, and engineering dashboards to ensure measurement integrity and data accuracy.

• Investigate process excursions and implement data-driven corrective actions through characterization studies, gauge capability evaluations, and tool correlation analyses to improve yield, quality, and cycle time.

• Lead wafer probe readiness for New Product Introductions (NPI), defining product-specific test plans, specifications, and qualification strategies while coordinating cross-functional activities to ensure seamless transfer from development to high-volume manufacturing.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives targeting yield enhancement, cycle time reduction, productivity gains, process simplification, measurement system improvements, and equipment utilization optimization.

• Partner with Test Engineering, Product Engineering, Yield Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Quality, and IT teams to provide technical leadership in root cause analysis, corrective action implementation, engineering reviews, and documentation of best practices and knowledge transfer materials.

Qualifications
• BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.

• Experience in semiconductor manufacturing, wafer probe engineering, or test engineering.

• Demonstrated proficiency in electrical measurement techniques with hands-on experience in laboratory and cleanroom environments.

• Strong understanding of statistical process control (SPC), design of experiments (DOE), and semiconductor test methodologies.

• Proficiency with data analysis tools such as SQL, Python, JMP, Minitab, or equivalent platforms.

• Demonstrated knowledge of measurement system analysis (MSA), gauge R&R, and process capability studies.

• Proven experience with yield optimization, maintenance protocols, and failure analysis.

• Track record of driving process improvements through automation, machine learning, or AI-based initiatives.

• Exceptional troubleshooting and root-cause analysis capabilities.

• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills with manufacturing, design, and quality teams.

Additional Information
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 wor

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