Sr. Factory Automation Engineer

The Equipment Engineering team is helping lead Seagate's transformation to an AI-enabled smart factory and is looking for an Automation Engineer to help drive this transformation. This engineer will develop and integrate automation solutions that improve material flow, equipment connectivity, manufacturing efficiency, and operational reliability across our wafer fabrication site.

As demand for AI continues to grow, so does the need for high-capacity data storage. Our team plays a critical role in enabling that future by modernizing how materials move through the factory and by connecting automated systems with the processes, equipment, and data platforms that support production.

This role will initially focus on the ownership, implementation, and continuous improvement of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and wafer stockers inside the fab. Over time, the scope will expand to include site-wide automation projects involving material handling, robotics, equipment interfaces, control systems, and factory software.

If you enjoy turning complex manufacturing needs into practical automation solutions, working across technical disciplines, and building systems that scale, we'd love to hear from you.

As a Senior Factory Automation Engineer, you will lead the investigation, selection, integration, and lifecycle management of automation solutions within our cleanroom wafer fabrication environment. Your initial focus will include AMRs and wafer stockers that interface with advanced manufacturing equipment and factory operations.

This is a highly visible engineering role that combines technical ownership, systems integration, vendor management, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration. Your work will improve material movement, reduce manual handling, increase system availability, and enable a more connected and scalable factory.

You will work both on the factory floor and at the system-design level, from troubleshooting and commissioning individual AMR and stocker applications to defining requirements and supporting site-wide automation initiatives.

• Own the technical performance, reliability, capacity, and lifecycle roadmap for AMRs and wafer stockers within the fab.
• Lead the evaluation, selection, design, commissioning, qualification, and production handoff of new factory automation solutions.
• Partner with vendors to develop solutions, define acceptance criteria, manage technical deliverables, and maintain productive long-term relationships.
• Develop system requirements and integration strategies across automation equipment, manufacturing tools, control systems, industrial networks, and factory software such as Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
• Lead complex troubleshooting and root cause investigations and implement corrective actions that improve safety, availability, throughput, and recovery time.
• Use system data and performance metrics to identify bottlenecks, improve material flow, increase uptime, and eliminate recurring failures.
• Work closely with Manufacturing, Process Engineering, Equipment Engineering, Facilities, IT, Quality, Safety, and technician teams to deliver automation projects without disrupting factory performance.
• Establish standards for automation design, documentation, change control, preventive maintenance, spare parts, training, and support.
• Build business and technical cases for future automation investments, including project scope, benefits, risks, cost, schedule, and resource requirements.
• Support the site's long-term automation strategy by delivering scalable automation solutions and identifying opportunities for future capability expansion.

• You're an engineer who enjoys solving problems that do not already have a playbook.
• You think in systems, understand how hardware, controls, software, data, and people interact, and can translate manufacturing needs into reliable automation solutions.
• You're comfortable moving between the factory floor, technical design reviews, vendor discussions, data analysis, and project planning.
• You communicate clearly, build trust across organizations, and can align diverse stakeholders around requirements, priorities, and practical implementation plans.

Most importantly, you take ownership from concept through sustained operation. You solve today's issues while helping build the systems, standards, and infrastructure that support tomorrow's factory.

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Computer, Materials, Physics, Information Technology, or related discipline) and 5+ years of experience; or a Master's degree in a related discipline and 3+ years of experience; or a PhD and 0+ years of experience; or equivalent education and experience.
• Experience designing, integrating, commissioning, supporting, or improving industrial automation systems such as AMRs, automated material handling systems, wafer stockers, robotics, or similar technologies.
• Experience translating operational needs into technical requirements and working with vendors or system integrators through design, acceptance testing, installation, and production handoff.
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting integrated systems that include mechanical equipment, sensors, controls, software, and industrial communications.
• Experience using data and structured problem-solving methods to improve system reliability, availability, capacity, and manufacturing productivity.
• Experience applying Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), risk assessment, or similar engineering methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical projects, manage competing priorities, and deliver solutions in an active manufacturing environment.
• Experience with factory automation architectures, equipment interfaces, industrial networks, control systems, MES, or related manufacturing technologies.

You Might Also Have:

• Semiconductor or wafer fabrication experience, particularly in cleanroom material handling or equipment integration.
• Knowledge of PLCs, robotics, motion control, sensors, machine vision, safety systems, fleet management software, and industrial communication protocols.
• Experience integrating automation with MES, dispatching, scheduling, equipment control, warehouse management, or other factory software platforms.
• Experience developing dashboards, alerts, or analytics solutions using SQL, Python, Power BI, or similar tools.
• Experience delivering capital projects, developing automation standards, or contributing to a multi-year automation roadmap.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, DMAIC, or other continuous improvement methodologies.

The estimated base salary range for this position is $94,140.00 - $134,625.00. The individual salary is based on work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Seagate offers comprehensive benefits to its eligible employees, including, but not limited to, eligibility to participate in discretionary bonus program, 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.

Our Normandale 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%