Summer 2025 Intern, X-Ray Characterization (XRD, XRR, XRF, EPMA) Engineer

Western Digital, the premiere producer of hard disk drives (HDDs), is seeking a scientist with experience performing XRD, XRR, and/or XRF on thin-film materials. Magnetic sensor, writer, and disk development are critical to the advancement of data storage. Magnetic media used to store information in hard drives is composed of stacks of thin films ranging from angstroms to tens of nanometers in thickness. Electromagnetic HDD head technology also relies on thin-film stacks, and are produced in wafer fabs applying the same processing techniques used in the semiconductor industry. The primary purpose of our work is to characterize these thin-films in support of the next generation of HDD technology. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  The position involves the use of Rigaku and Panalytical XRD, XRR, and XRF instruments to collect and interpret data to extract parameters from a variety of samples. Experience and/or willingness to learn electron microprobe quantitative analysis is also needed. The candidate will work closely with our head and media development teams to provide expert measurement, data interpretation, and input on technological advancement. This is an opportunity to join a team of dozens of X-ray scientists, electron microscopists, and chemists who support Western Digital's research, development, and manufacturing efforts world-wide.