2D Materials Development Engineer in Londonderry

The Research & Development group is at the heart of our mission to build the world’s most advanced data storage technologies. As part of a seasoned team, reporting to the R&D Manager, you’ll help define and drive groundbreaking innovations that shape the future of storage solutions. The Advanced Transducer Development team is leading the charge in delivering the next generation of high-performance readback sensors—critical to enabling cutting-edge data retrieval and reliability. If you're energized by pioneering technology, fueled by creativity, and driven to turn bold ideas into reality, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

About the role - you will:

• Leverage our high-tech wafer fabrication facility in Derry UK, with state-of-the-art manufacturing processes and design tools, as part of the research and development team responsible for Seagate’s future HDD products.
• Work closely with global development teams and product/design engineers to build, test, and characterise nano-scale devices based on 2D materials.
• Focus on vacuum deposition of metals and dielectrics plus etch process development for 2D devices.

You will:

• Drive innovation in nano-scale head devices, ensuring device performance and process sigmas.
• Develop, implement, and optimise deposition and etch processes to meet evolving performance targets.
• Leverage advanced modelling, metrology, defect analysis, and statistical tools to refine process efficiency.
• Lead innovation projects focused on performance and yield enhancements.
• Collaborate with vacuum equipment vendors to define, test, and integrate next-generation vacuum tooling aligned with future product roadmaps.
• Assess downstream impacts of new deposition and etch processes to drive continuous improvement.
• Manage experiments, projects, and wafer tracking to ensure timely and impactful results.
• Support technology transfers to the product development engineering team.
• Contribute to Seagate’s intellectual property portfolio, including invention disclosures, patents, and peer-reviewed publications.

About you:

• You are an innovative and self-motivated worker with an insatiable curiosity.
• You have excellent organisational, project management and problem-solving skills.
• You have a reputation for honesty, integrity, and showing respect toward others.
• You earn the technical respect of peers and can effectively influence technical decisions.
• You are analytical with excellent data analysis skills and with an ability to find breakthrough solutions.
• You have a track record of innovation and routinely use outside sources (journals, patents, university work and conferences) for developing new ideas and directions.

Your experience includes:

• Your educational background should be in physics, electrical engineering, materials science, or a related field.
• Graduated with PhD within the last 24 months or within the next 6 months.
• A solid physics background in plasma/ion sources related to film nucleation, growth and etching.
• Detailed knowledge of thin-film growth techniques of metals and dielectric materials (PVD/Evaporation/ALD), with particular focus on integration and interactions between metals/dielectrics and 2D materials.
• Detailed knowledge of ion beam and plasma etching with IBE/ICP/RIE techniques, especially related to patterning and contact of 2D materials with metals.
• Hands-on operation and control of vacuum tooling, with a deep understanding of process control variations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of vacuum system components and their influence on process stability.

Please note that you must demonstrate on the application how you meet the criteria for the role as identified above. To facilitate shortlisting, the company reserves the right to apply enhanced criteria. Completed applications should be submitted no later than midnight on Sunday, 15th February 2026. This is a Full-Time position working 39 hours per week, on-site working.

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: Derry / Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Our Springtown site is Derry/Londonderry’s largest manufacturer, we’re proud that Seagate is a flexible and inclusive place to work. We have more than 1,400 employees spanning research and development, manufacturing, and many other functions. Here at work, you can grab breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks at our subsidised 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 and 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, LinkedIn learning, Learning & development programmes.

Location: Springtown, United Kingdom

Travel: None