Jobs / United States / Western Digital Technologies INC
Principal Test & Characterization Engineer — Advanced Photonic and Semiconductor Systems
Western Digital Technologies INC · 🇺🇸 Ulm, BW, DE
Sponsorship verdict
Sponsorship possible
One solid signal, not two — worth applying, and worth asking about sponsorship early.
- Employer is on a government sponsor recordThe US Department of Labor certified 176 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest Jun 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. USCIS also records 56 H-1B approvals in FY2023. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
- The posting doesn’t mention sponsorshipSilence isn’t a refusal — ask the recruiter before investing much time.
- No salary bar for this routeH-1B has no fixed salary bar: the employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role and area. Cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level. Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23853/weighted-selection-process-for-registrants-and-petitioners-seeking-to-file-cap-subject-h-1b, rules effective 2026-02-27.
- What Western Digital Technologies INC paid sponsored hires in similar roles5 certified filings for “Senior Engineer, Test Engineering” (Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers) in CA: $92k–$153k, median $113k. Most were filed at wage level I (40%) — 1 lottery entry, ≈15% projected selection odds for cap-subject employers. Source: US Department of Labor LCA disclosure data (Oct 2025 – Jun 2026).
- Confirmed live todayWhen a source last listed this job as open.
US H-1B: cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level — Level I gets 1 entry, Level IV gets 4 (DHS projected selection odds ≈15% at Level I to ≈61% at Level IV). Universities and non-profit research employers are cap-exempt. The $100,000 fee for new petitions from abroad is currently blocked by a court order (appeal pending).
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Sponsor Radar — Western Digital Technologies INC
The US Department of Labor certified 176 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest Jun 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. USCIS also records 56 H-1B approvals in FY2023. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
Past sponsorship or register membership never guarantees sponsorship for this vacancy or for you. Full Sponsor Radar for Western Digital Technologies INC →
About the role
Modern intelligent systems increasingly depend on advanced semiconductor and photonic technologies that require entirely new approaches to characterization, measurement automation, and experimental analysis. We are looking for a Senior Test & Characterization Engineer to develop and operate advanced experimental platforms for next-generation device technologies. This role combines hands-on laboratory work, automated measurement infrastructure, large-scale data analysis, and AI-assisted characterization workflows. You will build the systems that transform experimental devices into actionable engineering insight. What you’ll be doing: • Develop and operate advanced electrical, optical, and electro-optical characterization platforms. • Design and build experimental setups including optics, motion systems, thermal control, RF instrumentation, imaging systems, and automated data acquisition. • Automate complex measurement flows using Python and modern software infrastructure. • Perform detailed device characterization, analysis, and correlation across wafer-level and packaged-device measurements. • Develop scalable data-analysis pipelines and visualization frameworks. • Apply AI/ML techniques to large experimental datasets for anomaly detection, trend analysis, classification, and predictive insights. • Collaborate closely with process, device, packaging, and modeling teams to close the loop between design, fabrication, and characterization. • Drive measurement reproducibility, calibration, reliability, and lab infrastructure improvements. • Build internal tools and frameworks that improve engineering productivity and experimental throughput. What we need to see: • BS, MS, or PhD in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Applied Physics, or related field. • 5+ years of hands-on experimental characterization experience. • Strong laboratory skills with optics, instrumentation, automation, and measurement systems. • Strong Python programming and data-analysis capability. • Experience with automated test systems and instrument control. • Strong debugging mindset and experimental rigor. • Ability to work across hardware, software, and data-driven engineering environments. Ways to stand out from the crowd: • Experience with advanced optical or semiconductor device characterization. • AI/ML experience applied to experimental datasets. • High-speed measurement or RF instrumentation experience. • Experience building custom laboratory infrastructure from the ground up. • Strong data visualization and analytics capabilities. • Experience scaling automated measurement platforms in R&D environments. #LI-BN1 WD thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution. WD is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at jobs.accommodations@wdc.com to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying. Notice To Candidates: Please be aware that WD and its subsidiaries will never request payment as a condition for applying for a position or receiving an offer of employment. Should you encounter any suc