Western Digital Wafer Manufacturing Apprentice 

United States, California, San Jose 

226304337

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. Together, we can build the future of data storage.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Multiple compressed work shifts available. Standard shifts are 12-hours, alternating between 3-4 days per week.

As a Wafer Manufacturing Apprentice, you are responsible for learning to handle semiconductor wafer discs, operate tools and devices used to fabricate wafers, and/or perform electrical wafer test operations. You will become skilled in setting up, calibrating, loading, operating, and monitoring assigned machines and equipment. You will acquire proficiency with automated systems, tracking different batches, inspecting/verifying the quality of the product, and recording/analyzing data.

The production floor is a Class 100 Cleanroom which requires following documented procedures and safety policies while wearing PPE to protect the product from contamination.

In this role you will coordinate and communicate frequently with team members to ensure desired production flow in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Attend several required supplemental instruction classes in addition to full-time employment (one class per quarter). Courses will be part in-person, part virtual, starting January 2026 (Winter Term), offered by Foothill College in Sunnyvale. Courses include Quantitative Reasoning, Introduction to Semiconductor Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, and Introduction to Engineering. Over the duration of the apprenticeship, you will become:

• Responsible for setting up, loading, operating, and monitoring machines/equipment for wafer fabrication.

• Responsible for quality inspection, data collection, productivity, and cycle time.

• Accountable for individual results at assigned operations.

• Able to work in a Class 100 Cleanroom and follow all required PPE, safety policies and operational procedures.

• Able to react to Statistical Process Control (SPC), read and understand production reports, process instructions, and identify/resolve issues within areas of responsibility.

• Able to coordinate and communicate frequently with other team members to maintain desired workflow and meet production volumes.

• Candidate must be willing to work a 12-hour production shift on an alternating work schedule 3-4 days per week (standing and walking as required). Work schedule will be modified to ensure time is allotted for attending required onsite and virtual college course sessions.

• Minimum 1 year of work experience, or equivalent. Manufacturing experience is preferred.

• Classroom training, completion certificates, and college credits will be provided.

• Hands-on training and on-the-job certifications will be provided.

• Operators must wear a full lab gown on the production floor including jumpsuit, foot coverings, gloves, mask, and hood.

• Good attendance and punctuality are required.

• Excellent dexterity when handling small parts is required.

• Must be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English with an ability to communicate and work effectively within a multicultural team environment.

• Must be able to learn and apply new knowledge quickly and be capable of operating multiple tools within a production cell in a fast-paced environment.

• Must possess a strong sense of urgency, commitment, and be results oriented.

• Candidate should have basic computer skills, including knowledge of Windows and basic proficiency with Microsoft Excel. Intermediate/advanced level of Excel a plus.

Compensation & Benefits Details

• An employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
• The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York. This range may be modified in the future.
• If your position is non-exempt, you are eligible for overtime pay pursuant to company policy and applicable laws. You may also be eligible for shift differential pay, depending on the shift to which you are assigned.

• You will be eligible to be considered for bonuses under either Western Digital’s Short Term Incentive Plan (“STI Plan”) or the Sales Incentive Plan (“SIP”) which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance, depending on your role and your performance. You may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to Western Digital’s Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.

• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including 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; the Applause Program; employee stock purchase plan; and the Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan.
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.