Western Digital: Staff Engineer, Manufacturing Equipment Engineering — Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia

About Western Digital

Western Digital develops and manufactures data-storage technology for data centres, cloud platforms and enterprise infrastructure. Its employer introduction connects this work with the need to retain, manage and access information generated by digital systems and AI applications. The business brings engineering and manufacturing together around the physical systems behind data storage. Its described purpose is to make growing volumes of information available over time, supporting the infrastructure on which other digital services depend.

The position and its setting

Western Digital lists Staff Engineer, Manufacturing Equipment Engineering in Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia, under reference REF34659B. The details below separate the work described by the employer from essential conditions, preferred experience and practical preparation advice.

• Employment type: Full-time
• Employer listing date: 14 October 2026
• Business Function: Manufacturing Equipment Engineering
• Brands: Western Digital
• Work Location: Bayan Lepas PN2

Responsibilities and work described

• 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
• 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
• Oversee day-to-day equipment maintenance activities, troubleshooting, and line issue management to ensure high equipment availability and minimal production downtime
• Leadership: 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
• Leadership: equipment upgrades, machine conversions, and technology improvements to support next-generation HDD product requirements
• Management: new equipment installation, commissioning, and acceptance testing to ensure systems meet operational, safety, and process specifications before production release
• Monitoring: and analyze equipment performance, reliability, and OEE data to identify improvement opportunities and drive operational excellence
• Leadership: root cause analysis for equipment failures, implementing effective corrective and preventive actions to prevent recurrence
• Collaboration: with Process Engineering and Sputter Yield teams to improve yield performance, reduce defects, and enhance process capability
• Coordination: closely with Production, Quality, Facilities, and other cross-functional teams to ensure smooth production operations and achieve manufacturing targets
• Management: engineering projects related to equipment upgrades, modifications, and system improvements, ensuring timely execution within scope and budget
• Delivery: technical leadership, guidance, and mentorship to junior engineers and technicians to strengthen team capability and technical competency
• Development: and maintain engineering documentation, including SOPs, maintenance procedures, and best practices for equipment operation and sustainment
• Quality / delivery: all equipment and related systems comply with safety regulations, company policies, and industry standards
• Support: continuous improvement initiatives by introducing new technologies, automation solutions, and engineering best practices

Essential requirements and candidate background

• REQUIRED:
• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, Materials Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• Minimum 8–12 years of experience in equipment engineering, preferably in sputter media, semiconductor, vacuum coating, or advanced manufacturing environments
• Knowledge: vacuum systems, sputtering equipment, automation systems, and equipment control architecture
• Analytical and data analysis skills to evaluate equipment performance, reliability trends, and OEE improvements
• Project management skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams
• Proficiency: Microsoft Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Access) and ability to analyze and present technical data effectively
• Knowledge: vacuum systems and thin-film deposition processes, with the ability to support sputtering equipment operation and performance optimization
• Experience: PLC systems, automation, and equipment control systems, including supporting system modifications and interface improvements
• Proficiency: using diagnostic tools and equipment for troubleshooting
• Understanding: Statistical Process Control (SPC), equipment performance analysis, and data-driven decision-making
• Work independently while also contributing effectively to a team environment
• Communication skills with the ability to clearly present technical information to engineers, technicians, and management
• Technical writing skills for creating detailed reports and documentation

Preferred experience and additional strengths

• Experience: a sputter media or semiconductor manufacturing environment
• Knowledge: high-vacuum technology and plasma physics

Location, schedule and contract conditions

For this overseas or regional listing, confirm work authorisation and any location restrictions with the employer. The location does not establish visa sponsorship or permission to work remotely from India.

• Work arrangement: Hybrid
• Advertised location: Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia

Pay and application dates

A verified salary figure is not established in this article. An online estimate for another Staff Engineer, Manufacturing Equipment Engineering vacancy is not an offer for reference REF34659B; use the employer’s own pay disclosure and recruitment communication.

A closing date is not confirmed in this article. Check the current employer page before submitting: an undated posting can change or be withdrawn.

How to apply to Western Digital

Applications follow the official employer page linked below. The source includes these application-specific points:

Open the official Western Digital posting below and match the title and reference REF34659B.

Compare your qualifications and experience with the essential conditions for the Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia position, then read the preferred criteria separately.

Prepare an accurate CV and the supporting items requested in that employer’s application. Provide only information and documents you are authorised to share.

Use the employer’s application option, complete the required fields and review the submission. Retain the acknowledgement when one is provided. Job Alerts World does not receive the application.

• Accommodation requests: jobs.accommodations@wdc.com
• Employer states that applications and employment offers do not require payment

Practical preparation: Excel

Excel examples should identify the task, the data and the checks used to avoid an incorrect result. Explain whether you built a reporting workbook, reconciled records, automated a process or maintained an existing model.

Relevant skills

• Excel
• PowerPoint
• MS Office
• manufacturing
• maintenance
• root-cause analysis
• problem resolution
• data analysis
• project management
• communication