Computational Materials Engineer Staff Engineer

Western Digital • San Jose, CA

322d

About The Position

This is a postdoctoral position in Western Digital Research, a world-class research laboratory in San Jose, California with ~80 employees. Research activities in the lab focus on information storage, sensors, spintronics, superconducting devices, and AI memory/compute architectures. The materials team engages in experimental and computational research activity with the mission to develop novel materials for emerging technologies. The team is well-equipped with thin film deposition tools, related characterization methods and support staff, located in a fully functional cleanroom with the capability to fabricate a wide array of nanoscale devices using novel materials. This postdoctoral position requires conducting and developing capability in computational simulations of materials, interfaces and devices, including all forms of transport phenomena (e.g., thermal, electronic, spin). The postdoctoral candidate will work on new materials exploration and evaluating key material properties and interactions for device design. The work environment rewards innovative thinking and a highly collaborative attitude.

Requirements

• 3+ years or higher experience in computational materials science with strong background in solid-state physics and devices.
• PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering or Chemistry.
• Expert knowledge of atomistic computational modeling techniques such as density functional theory and classical molecular dynamics.
• Experience with first principles codes including Quantum ATK, VASP, Quantum Espresso, Questaal, and KKR-CPA approaches.
• Experience with classical molecular dynamics approaches such as LAMMPS.
• Familiarity with PAOFLOW or WANNIER90.
• Experience with broad computational material searches and machine learning techniques relevant for atomistic simulations.
• Experience in magnetism and magnetic materials, spin-orbit interactions, ordered and disordered materials, electronic, spin and thermal transport.
• Experience predicting transport properties from first principles using either non-equilibrium Green's function techniques (NEGF) or Kubo-Greenwood formalism would also be a plus.
• Competent programming skills and familiarity with high performance computing environments.
• Excellent written communication and organizational skills.
• High attention to detail.
• Strong work ethic.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and develop capability in computational simulations of materials, interfaces, and devices.
• Explore new materials and evaluate key material properties and interactions for device design.

Benefits

• Paid vacation time
• Paid sick leave
• Medical/dental/vision insurance
• Life, accident and disability insurance
• Tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts
• Employee assistance program
• Other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity
• Tuition reimbursement
• Transit benefits
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree