Declan Macken Email & Phone Number

Eden Prairie, Mn, Us

Bloomington, Minnesota, United States

Minnesota, United States

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

I invented and integrated advanced Head-Disk contact detect methodologies thermal, capacitive and inductive. I had Design Integration Ownership for a number of projects addressing thermal protrusions and head-disk interface challenges resulting from addition of laser heating with Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording. I Invented and integrated a sensor to establish head-disk operational spacing to a 2nm value despite laser-based material accumulation on the disk surface. In addition, I oversaw data analysis by the Thailand test team for electrical testing of mechanically motivated experiments covering a wide portfolio of evaluations. Continued membership of the Patent Review Board allowed me leverage to help drive Seagate’s patent portfolio for maximum advantage.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

As lead electrical design engineer in the Mechanical R&D department, I integrated advanced contact detect and defect mapping devices, which went on to become industry standards. I saved considerable revenue by introducing a number of bond pad sharing schemes employed in products. I improved understanding of the head - disk charge offset utilizing a novel control system which additionally allowed for head actuation. I revised and updated structures and measurements for mechanical accommodation of Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording. I was a member of the Mechanical Patent Review board, where I was active in recommending patenting and trade marking submissions from the engineering community. Overall, a very productive time resulting from improved electrical and mechanical collaboration.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Seagate relocated me to the US to become a Design Engineer in the Transducer Design Technology group. Here I continued to focus on areas of magnetoresistive head magnetic stabilization from reader shields leading to multi-million dollar yield enhancements. In addition, I designed head level improvements for the mitigation of stray magnetic field effects which earned a Seagate Technology Achievement Award due to it’s cost savings. I was instrumental in identification of the need for a thermomechanical approach to head design due to performance differentials between cold and hot write cycles. This led ultimately to Seagate’s market leadership in this within the industry.

Derry City, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

I was hired as part of the initial formation of the Ireland R&D Department. My role involved both wafer design and processing. I created a cost-effective means to solve a magnetic instability which I had identified as affecting early magetoresistive heads. I introduced magnetic stabilization methods to both tape and disk recording heads clearing impediments to product release. I originally introduced Rapid Thermal Processing to the wafer fabrication leading to a 10+% increase in wafer yields. This success resulted 10s of millions of dollars in additional revenue as highlighted by the Executive VP/Divisional Head of Wafer.

Lurgan, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

I explored alternative processing schemes for next generation vascular catheter guide wires to allow for the elimination of freon as necessitated by the Montreal Protocol. I outlined range of degreasing techniques and created a final report highlighting pros and cons of each, resulting in a revised process being deployed. I also identified approaches to allow for improved cost and throughput for some of the steel brightening processes. I explained the purpose behind the chemical polishing processes and suggested alternative methods and preferred materials. I identified a viable option for the desired cost savings by replacing the grade of steel being utilized in order to eliminate much of the polishing. This resulted in improved throughput, yields and cost for the vascular catheter guidewires.

Jordanstown, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

For the treatment of epilepsy, I worked with a London based surgeon on implantable electrodes for neural sensing and stimulation. This involved collaborating in the development of a viable thin film device which successfully overcame adhesion challenges of structures consisting of chemically inert constituents.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Dphil, Zinc Sulphide As An Electroluminescent Phosphor

Bsc Honors, Combined Sciences, Second Class Upper Division

Activities and Societies: Richardson Prize for highest grade in Chemistry

Higher National Diploma, Physical Sciences