Internship, Physical Analysis Engineering Intern, Materials Science Lab

Western Digital, the premiere producer of storage solutions including hard disk drives (WD and G-Technology brands) and solid-state drives (SanDisk brand), is seeking an intern to join the team in our microelectronic component destructive physical analysis (DPA) laboratory. Our team is responsible for electrical and physical qualification of new microelectronic component suppliers, auditing component quality on an ongoing basis, and performing root cause failure analyses when problems arise. The successful candidate will work with state-of-the-art passive component and semiconductor packaging technology. This position will support physical and electrical analysis of various microelectronic components, including system on chip (SoC), integrated circuits, connectors, capacitors, inductors, resistors, DRAM, and NAND. Characterization methods include optical microscopy, optical and mechanical measurement, X-ray examination, materials sample preparation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning acoustic microscopy (CSAM), and various mechanical and chemical de-processing techniques. The ideal candidate will practice each of these analysis techniques and show proficiency in technical communication of DPA results to product engineering teams. This is challenging work – the successful applicant will be patient, detail oriented, and ready to perform hands-on laboratory work.  

The candidate should be a current BS or MS candidate in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or other related discipline. Some experience with materials preparation and analysis is preferred. Strong problem-solving abilities and the desire to work in a team environment are essential. The candidate will join an experienced and talented team of electron microscopists, materials scientists, and technicians who support Western Digital's development, quality, and manufacturing efforts world-wide. This position is located in our Analytical Sciences Laboratory in Irvine, California.