Senior Laser & Optics Design Engineer

We are a part of ASML, located in beautiful San Diego. ASML provides chipmakers like Intel, Samsung, TSMC, Global Foundries and others with everything they need - hardware, software and services - to mass produce patterns on silicon, helping to increase the value and lower the cost of a semiconductor chip. Our key technology is the lithography system, which brings together high-tech hardware and advanced software to control the chip manufacturing process down to the picometer.

Our vision is a world in which semiconductor technology is everywhere and helps to tackle society's toughest challenges.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Laser & Optics Design Engineer to join our Source Research team. The mission of this role is to translate emerging laser and optical concepts into engineered, testable systems that advance next-generation high-power Laser Produced Plasma Extreme Ultraviolet (LPP-EUV) light sources and DUV lasers. Working within a dynamic Source Research environment, the engineer will define and execute the detailed engineering work needed to mature new technologies within the project goals and high-level technical direction established with the lead scientist, despite high-level and evolving requirements.

This role combines optical and laser system design, modeling, hands-on experimentation, integration, and validation to demonstrate system performance and prepare successful concepts for future product development.

• Execute the detailed design, integration, and validation of laser and optical systems, including optical architectures, laser subsystems, diagnostics, controls, and supporting hardware.

• Work as part of a multidisciplinary project team, partnering with laser scientists, system architects, mechanical engineers, software engineers, electrical engineers, and product development teams to deliver program objectives.

• Develop and utilize system models and engineering analyses including optical, thermal, gain, gas-flow, structural, and performance models to guide design decisions, predict system behavior, and reduce technical risk.

• Translate high-level and evolving system needs into implementable subsystem requirements, designs, interfaces, and verification criteria, maintaining appropriate bi-directional traceability within Source Research as the design matures.

• Working within the project goals and high-level technical direction established with the lead scientist, own the detailed engineering execution of assigned work packages, including developing the implementation approach, identifying required tasks, conducting design reviews, planning tests, managing technical risks, resolving issues, documenting results, and delivering against schedule and performance targets.

• Design, build, and commission experimental hardware and prototype systems to evaluate new concepts, mature technologies, and support future product development.

• Define and execute verification and validation activities to demonstrate compliance with performance, reliability, manufacturability, and safety requirements.

• Drive design improvements through data-driven engineering, analyzing test results and system performance to identify root causes, improve robustness, and increase system capability.

• Support technology transfer from research into development, ensuring designs are scalable, maintainable, manufacturable, and aligned with long-term product roadmaps.

• Demonstrate system-level performance against future technology roadmap objectives through analytical predictions, laboratory testing, and integrated system demonstrations.

• Perform other duties as assigned or required.

• Ph.D. with a minimum of 3+ years of experience or a Master's degree with at least 6+ years relevant experience in laser physics, optics, photonics, electrical engineering, or an equivalent field.

• Strong foundation in laser and optical system design, integration, alignment, characterization, and troubleshooting.

• Ability to translate high-level, incomplete, and evolving system requirements into practical subsystem designs, interfaces, specifications, and verification plans.

• Firm understanding of optical modeling, particularly Gaussian beam propagation, resonator behavior, and beam delivery; proficiency with Zemax Optic Studio is preferred. Ability to apply optical and multidisciplinary engineering analyses-including thermal, structural, gain, gas-flow, and performance models-to guide design decisions and reduce…