Junior Experimental Physicist

At Lace Lithography, we're scaling our team and looking for a sharp, passionate teammate to join us to build something really, really small.

In our company we build chip lithography technology that will enable the next 100 years of chip manufacturing. Founded in 2023, we’re based in Bergen (Norway), Eindhoven (The Netherlands) and Barcelona (Spain), and backed by some of the world’s most ambitious investors.

We are seeking to appoint an Junior Experimental Physicist to join our York Team to help develop our critical technologies. The role will be extremely hands‑on and experience in operating high and ultrahigh vacuum systems is a must. Working alongside physicists, chemists and engineers, you will be involved in developing advanced instrumentation, planning and conducting experiments, and contributing to cross‑team projects.

This role is based in York (UK), and will involve regular travel between our key locations throughout the year.

This list is not exhaustive; additional duties may be assigned as we grow.

• Develop and test complex instrumentation that can operate under high‑vacuum and ultra‑high‑vacuum conditions.
• Conduct tests and experiments to verify operational parameters of developed systems.
• Analyse and interpret experimental data and compare to theoretical models and simulations.
• Automate experimental setups and instrument control for efficient data collection and analysis, e.g. using Python.
• Prepare complete and high‑quality technical documentation and reports for company‑wide distribution.
• Develop company IP by identifying solutions to problems in beam physics, vacuum architecture and atom beam diagnostics.

• Advanced degree (MSc, MPhys/MEng or PhD) in Physics, Engineering, or a related technical subject.
• Hands‑on experience of working with high or ultrahigh vacuum systems and knowledge of vacuum practice and theory.
• Strong practical skills and a proactive approach to problem solving.
• Extremely self‑motivated, willing to get hands dirty and curious about new technologies.

• Experience with any of the following topics in an academic or industry setting: molecular/atomic beams; charged particle beams; electron spectroscopy.
• Basic proficiency with CAD software (e.g., Solid Works, Fusion 360, etc.).

Consists of amazing people who’ve joined us from all over the world, driven by intense curiosity, the urge for exploration, and a desire to push the limits of physics. We promise to offer you a place among highly motivated Lacers, present you with extremely difficult problems and have a lot of fun solving them!

Lace operates out of 3 beautiful, vibrant, and strong‑willed cities. Although we are cities apart, we strive to make the team feel as one.

We don't define values but we have one universal expectation:

Be the best team player you can be.

Competitive salary + equity through our incentive plan.

€50 monthly gym allowance, weekly team lunches, monthly social events, and annual off‑site with the whole team.

Quarterly development goals with your manager and your own budget to learn and grow.

We support relocation and immigration to make joining Lace as smooth as possible.

Compliance clause:
The scope of this role may encompass technology, software, or technical data that is, or may become, subject to export control regulations. Consequently, employment is contingent upon the candidate’s eligibility to obtain and maintain any necessary export control licenses or authorizations from relevant authorities, if and when required.

At Lace, we develop breakthrough chip patterning technology, which extends Moore's Law a decade beyond current tech.