Seagate Technology
Material Scientist / Engineer
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About Our Group
From the videos, music and documents we share with friends and family on social networks, to the servers that form the backbone of enterprise data centres and cloud-based computing, Seagate products help people store, share and protect their valuable digital content. As an industry leader, Seagate provides unique career opportunities to be part of today’s major technology shifts.
Seagate’s Springtown facility in Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland is among the most advanced in the world in the design, development and volume manufacturing of recording heads.
About The Role - You Will
We are seeking highly motivated Material Scientists / Material Engineers to join our Process Engineering team supporting recording-head wafer manufacturing. This is a rare opportunity to work at the forefront of photonic and advanced materials, thin-film engineering, plasma processing and nanoscale device fabrication. You will work on the development, optimisation, characterisation and sustaining of photonic materials and associated wafer processes for Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) heads, helping to enable next-generation magnetic recording technologies.
We strongly encourage applications from recent PhD graduates, as well as experienced scientists and engineers looking to expand their expertise in a fast-moving, high-technology environment.
You Will
- Develop, optimise and characterise photonic materials and thin-film processes used in HAMR recording-head wafer fabrication.
- Investigate the optical, physical, chemical and structural properties of photonic materials, and relate these properties to device and process performance.
- Develop, optimise and characterise other thin-film materials used in recording-head fabrication, including metals, dielectrics, magnetic alloys and barrier layers.
- Drive improvements in film structure, composition, stress, uniformity and functional properties through rigorous experimentation and analysis.
- Support advanced wafer-process modules such as sputter deposition, ALD, PECVD, etch, CMP, annealing and metrology.
- Apply principles of materials science, physics and chemistry to diagnose material-related defects, yield excursions and process instabilities.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Equipment Engineering, Integration, Metrology, Product Engineering and R&D, to accelerate process maturity and technology readiness.
- Implement statistical and data-driven methodologies, including DoE, SPC, FDC and data modelling, to ensure process robustness and stability.
- Document and communicate results through technical reports, presentations and cross-site collaboration.
About You
- Strong experimental-design and problem-solving capabilities.
- Excellent analytical skills, with an ability to interpret complex materials, optical and process data.
- A strong understanding of composition-structure-property-performance relationships in thin films and photonic materials.
- Curiosity, creativity and a proactive approach to learning.
- Strong written and verbal communication, and the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
- Ability to work in a dynamic, high-volume manufacturing environment.
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What We Offer
- Opportunity to work on photonic materials and state-of-the-art wafer manufacturing technology for HAMR recording heads.
- Close collaboration with leading engineers and scientists.
- Mentorship for early-career PhD graduates.
- Clear development pathways into technical leadership.
Your Experience Includes
Candidates must meet one of the following criteria:
- PhD in Materials Science / Materials Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Photonics, Nanotechnology or another closely related discipline; or
- Equivalent industrial or research experience in advanced materials, thin-film technology, photonic materials, semiconductor processing, micro/nanofabrication, or physical and chemical characterisation.
- A strong technical foundation across materials science, physics and chemistry, with the ability to apply this knowledge to material selection, process development and problem solving.
We particularly welcome candidates who have recently completed their PhD and are looking to begin a career in advanced manufacturing and applied materials research.
Desired Experience
- Experience in photonic materials, optical materials, or the fabrication and characterisation of photonic thin films is highly desirable.
- Knowledge of optical and photonic material properties and relevant characterisation methods, such as ellipsometry, spectroscopy or other optical testing techniques.
- Experience in thin-film deposition, including PVD, sputtering, ALD, PECVD or CVD.
- Experience in surface engineering, plasma processing, semiconductor or wafer-level manufacturing, magnetic materials, advanced functional materials, or micro/nanofabrication.
- Experience with physical and chemical characterisation techniques such as TEM, SEM, XRD, XPS, AFM or ellipsometry.
Please demonstrate on your Cover Letter or CV how you meet the criteria set out in the job description identified above.
Completed applications should be submitted no later than midnight on 26th October 2026.
This is a Full-Time position working 39 hours per week, onsite in our Springtown Office in Derry/Londonderry.
Please note that you must be eligible to live and work in the UK without the requirement to be sponsored by Seagate. This role does not meet the criteria set by the Home Office for sponsorship on a Skilled Worker Visa as such sponsorship of this visa cannot be offered.
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At Seagate we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. To see all vacancies that Seagate has available, please sign up - Register your interest in career updates with our Talent Network and to be considered for future opportunities: Seagate Careers
Seagate Technology is committed to equal opportunity in employment and welcomes applications from all sections of the community irrespective of sex, marital status, religious affiliation, age, disability or ethnic origin. The Company specifically welcomes applications from the protestant community who are currently underrepresented in this job category. All applications will be considered strictly on the basis of merit.
Location:
Springtown, Northern Ireland.
Our Springtown site is Derry/Londonderry’s largest manufacturer, we’re proud that Seagate is a flexible and inclusive place to work.
Here at work, you can grab breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks at our subsidized on-site cafe.
Looking for an active break from your workday? We’ve got you covered. Take a group or individual exercise class during lunch or after work at our on-site gym.
Network with your colleagues through the Young Professionals Network, Women’s Leadership Group, the Carers Café (for caregivers of individuals with disabilities), Volunteer in the community with our support! Join our creative network, which includes a choir, foreign language classes and even a cookery class!
Join our Employee Resource Groups (ERG), a voluntary, employee-led community built on a shared diversity identity and/or an appreciation of that identity, open to ALL current employees at Seagate!
See list below of many of our Springtown Company Benefits:
Health
- Private Healthcare, for employees and dependents
- Company sick pay and medical leave
- Occupational healthcare service
- Employee assistance programmes
- Group income protection
- On-site gym/ exercise classes / personal trainer
Work Life Balance
- Annual leave
- Flexible working hours
- Part-time working
- Enhanced maternity pay
- Enhanced paternity pay
- Bereavement leave
Finance
- Pension – employer contributory scheme
- Life assurance
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Competitive base pay
- Company bonus scheme
- Reward and recognition
- Employee savings scheme
- Perks at work discount programmes
- Employee discount scheme
- Pay for civil / jury duty
Career
- Degree / non degree assistance
- Externally accredited training and development opportunities
- Service awards
- Udemy learning
- Learning & development programmes
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