Mechanical Design Senior Staff Engineer

About our group:

The Advanced Mechanical Technologies team within Seagate's Advanced Heads Research & Development organization develops next-generation Head Gimbal Assemblies (HGA), flexure systems, suspensions, and micro-actuated positioning technologies that enable future recording density, performance, and reliability improvements. We work at the intersection of precision mechanics, piezoelectric actuation, structural dynamics, materials science, manufacturing, and controls engineering to solve nanometer-scale motion challenges in future HDD platforms.

As part of Seagate's global recording head development organization, our team collaborates across design, manufacturing, suppliers, materials, electronics, and system engineering disciplines to mature advanced technologies from research concepts through high-volume manufacturing.

About the role - you will:

• Physics-Driven Mechanical Design
  • Own the design and development of Head Gimbal Assemblies (HGA), flexures, suspensions, and micro-actuated mechanical subsystems from concept through validation.
  • Develop novel mechanical solutions to challenges involving bandwidth, resonance, stiffness, coupling, damping, and robustness in precision motion systems.
  • Apply strong fundamentals in dynamics, structures, and actuation to guide design decisions where empirical rules or existing templates are insufficient.
  • Design solutions that simultaneously achieve performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost objectives suitable for high-volume production environments
• Model Development, Closure & Interpretation
  • Build dynamic and structural FEA models to predict vibration, modal behavior, actuation response, and system interactions.
  • Develop, automate, and maintain reusable simulation methodologies and parametric modeling frameworks using ANSYS APDL, ANSYS Workbench, HyperWorks, MATLAB, or equivalent tools.
  • Use physical insight to define boundary conditions, material behavior, and model assumptions that ensure predictive simulation results.
  • Close models through experimental correlation, identifying where assumptions break down and refining them accordingly.
  • Interpret results beyond solver outputs by explaining why systems behave as they do and what must change to improve performance.
• Experimental Validation & Correlation
  • Design and execute experiments to validate dynamic behavior, including vibration, resonance, damping, and actuation performance.
  • Lead model-to-test correlation using LDV, oscilloscopes, function generators, NI data acquisition systems, and high-frequency instrumentation.
  • Translate model-hardware discrepancies into actionable engineering insight and design improvements.
  • Develop test methodologies that improve understanding of subsystem behavior and accelerate technology maturity.

• Innovation, Technology Strategy & Intellectual Property
  • Create novel mechanical architectures, actuation concepts, and subsystem innovations that enable future recording technologies and areal density scaling.
  • Generate and evaluate solutions to unresolved technical challenges where requirements, architectures, or modeling approaches are not fully defined.
  • Identify, develop, and protect intellectual property through invention disclosures, patent generation, and differentiated technology concepts.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies, materials, manufacturing approaches, and design concepts to influence future HGA technology roadmaps.
  • Mature concepts from exploratory research through feasibility demonstration and production-readiness assessment.
• Technical Leadership Across Disciplines
  • Serve as technical owner for cross-functional programs spanning R&D, manufacturing, suppliers, and global engineering teams.
  • Drive alignment across controls, materials, tribology, electronics, signal integrity, and manufacturing disciplines.
  • Resolve complex tradeoffs involving performance, manufacturability, reliability, yield, tolerance sensitivity, scalability, and cost.
  • Communicate technical maturity, risks, and engineering recommendations based on validated data and sound physical understanding.
  • Mentor engineers and contribute to technical best practices in modeling, testing, and mechanical system design.

About you:

• Passionate about understanding physical behavior and solving challenging engineering problems through first-principles thinking.
• Naturally curious and driven to determine why systems behave the way they do.
• Comfortable creating solutions where requirements and architectures are not fully established.
• Possess strong engineering judgment and the ability to challenge assumptions constructively.
• Thrive in collaborative, multidisciplinary environments.
• Capable of influencing technical direction through data, experimentation, and clear communication.
• Demonstrate ownership, accountability, and a bias toward innovation.

Your experience includes:

• Advanced experience in mechanical dynamics, structural mechanics, vibration analysis, and precision actuation systems.
• Demonstrated ability to apply fundamental physical understanding to build and refine models, assess simulation validity, and develop new mechanical designs.
• Proficiency in data analysis, using tools like, Python and/or MATLAB for automation, and modeling.
• Experience bridging research, design, validation, and manufacturing requirements.
• Proven ability to lead complex technical programs and influence cross-functional teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering related field (i.e. Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Computer Engineering, Materials, Physics, or Information Technology) and 12+ years of experience or master’s degree in the same and 8+ years’ experience or PhD and 5+ years’ experience or equivalent experience and education.

You might also have:

• Expert-level experience with ANSYS APDL (Classic), ANSYS Workbench, HyperWorks, MATLAB, or equivalent simulation tools.
• Demonstrated capability to develop automated and parametric simulation workflows.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory testing and experimental validation of dynamic systems.
• Experience with LDV, oscilloscopes, function generators, NI data acquisition systems, and related instrumentation.
• Strong background in piezoelectric materials, micro-actuators, and material characterization.
• Experience with MEMS or adjacent micro-scale technologies.
• Experience applying AI/ML, advanced analytics, surrogate modeling, optimization algorithms, or automated design exploration to engineering problems.
• Experience with invention disclosures, patent generation, and technology strategy development.
• Experience in HDD, semiconductor, aerospace, robotics, precision instrumentation, or other high-performance mechatronic systems.
• Experience developing first-of-a-kind technologies and transitioning them to manufacturing

Location:

Our Normandale campus spans two suburbs, Edina and Bloomington, and serves as the Recording Head development and manufacturing arm of Seagate. Located in the heart of a bustling community, Seagate offers an on-site café, or if you prefer, you can drive to one of many restaurants just minutes away. Need to grab a gift over lunch time? Shopping is abundant in the area. If working out is your thing, the on-site fully equipped fitness center hosts wellness programs, outdoor activities, tournaments and group workouts. Looking for something more laid back? Reset in one of our meditation rooms, or simply take a walk around our indoor walking path. On-site cultural festivals, celebrations and community volunteer opportunities also abound.

The estimated base salary range for this position is $132,974.00 - $193,816.00. The individual salary is based on work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Seagate offers comprehensive benefits to its eligible employees, including, but not limited to, , eligibility to participate in discretionary bonus program, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, short-and long-term disability, 401(k), employee stock purchase plan, health savings account, dependent care, and healthcare spending accounts. Seagate also offers paid time off, including 12 holidays, flexible time off provided pursuant to Seagate policy, a minimum of 48 hours of paid sick leave, and 16 weeks of paid parental leave. The benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year and may differ depending on work location.

Location: Normandale, United States
Travel: Up to 10%