Equipment Design Engineer, Sr Staff level

Do you like working with technology that pushes the limits of what a whole industry can do? There's a reason Seagate is the largest supplier of storage solutions in the world. Our technology and products are second to none.

Seagate is looking for a high-quality individual to lead in designing innovative equipment to support process technologies for precision lapping of recording heads, managing projects from ideation through transfer to Seagate's Thailand-based volume manufacturing site.

Recording heads (sliders) are a critical component in magnetic hard disc drives. Seagate slider factories manufacture millions of sliders every day. This team supportsthe research and development that defines future company success.

The Slider Lapping Development group located in Bloomington, MN designs and develops improvements in recording head row bar lapping equipment and processes to meet future product roadmap requirements, with a focus on recording head critical dimensions, surface finish, and shape.

Our team consists of experts in materials, mechanical engineering, physics, robotics, electronic sensors, and process control algorithms - this position encourages daily cross-functional team discussions.

As a Senior Staff Equipment Design Engineer, you will play a critical technical leadership role in designing and building Seagate's next generation of high-precision manufacturing equipment. You will identify and solve complex equipment and process challenges by working closely with equipment suppliers and cross functional teams to deliver robust, manufacturable solutions. You will lead equipment design projects end to end, from early ideation through transfer to Seagate's Thailand based volume manufacturing site.

In this role, you will:

• Identify and understand root cause sources of existing equipment and process challenges and define solutions
• Partner with suppliers to design the next generation of row bar lapping equipment capable of sub-nanometer dimensional control
• Lead projects through the full development lifecycle, including ideation, design, build, feasibility testing, system integration, preproduction, and transfer to Seagate's Thailand-based volume manufacturing site
• Collaborate with product and recording head development teams to gather requirements and translate them into clear, actionable equipment specifications
• Leverage advanced design and analysis tools to de-risk designs and provide confidence in technical outcomes
• Communicate project status, results, and technical tradeoffs to internal management and downstream customers

You are a technically deep, hands-on design engineer who thrives on innovation, problem solving, and precision engineering in a team-based environment. You bring a strong systems mindset and are comfortable leading complex technical efforts across organizational and geographic boundaries.

You are:

• Highly skilled in mechanical design with a strong foundation in CAD and electro-mechanical integration
• Passionate about ideation, prototyping, and turning concepts into production-ready solutions
• Comfortable working crossfunctionally and cross-culturally with process engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers
• Data-driven and analytical, with a strong root-cause and problem-solving mindset
• Organized and able to efficiently manage multiple projects
• Able to balance technical depth with clear communication to both technical and nontechnical stakeholders
• Curious and forward-looking, with a strong interest in digital fabrication, 3D printing, and emerging AI technologies applied to engineering workflows

• Proven experience designing high-precision equipment or working directly with suppliers and external partners to design advanced equipment and subsystems
• Proven success leading projects from concept through production ramp and transfer to high volume manufacturing, including offshore sites
• Hands-on experience with mechanical design and electro-mechanical integration
• Experience presenting technical results, risks, and recommendations to internal management and downstream customers
• Basic understanding of machine control software/automation system control logic and how it interfaces with mechanical tooling is a strong advantage
• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and 12+ years of experience, or Master's degree in the same or closely related discipline and 8+ years of experience, or PHD and 5+ years of experience

Salary: The estimated base salary range for this position is: $130,400.00 - $190,000.00. The individual salary is based on work location and additional factors, including job related skills, experience, and relevant education and training.

Benefits: Seagate offers comprehensive benefits to its eligible employees, including, but not limited to, eligibility discretionary bonus, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, short-and long-term disability, 401(k), employee stock purchase plan, health savings account, dependent care and healthcare spending accounts.

Seagate also offers paid time off, including 12 holidays, flexible time off provided pursuant to Seagate policy, a minimum of 48 hours of paid sick leave, and 16 weeks of paid parental leave. The benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year and may differ depending on work location.

Bloomington, MN (This is an onsite position)

Our Bloomington, MN campus spans two suburbs, Edina and Bloomington, and serves as the Recording Head development and manufacturing arm of Seagate. Located in the heart of a bustling community, Seagate offers an on-site cafe, or if you prefer, you can drive to one of many restaurants just minutes away. Need to grab a gift over lunch time? Shopping is abundant in the area. If working out is your thing, the on-site fully equipped fitness center hosts wellness programs, outdoor activities, tournaments and group workouts. Looking for something more laid back? Reset in one of our meditation rooms, or simply take a walk around our indoor walking path. On-site cultural festivals, celebrations and community volunteer opportunities also abound.

Location: Normandale, United States

Travel: Up to 10%