The posting
Introduction to the job
As a Senior Optical Sensor Design Engineer, you will develop advanced sensor technology for ASML’s semiconductor metrology systems. Your work will help improve the accuracy and performance of equipment used by leading microchip manufacturers. You will join the YieldStar Sensor Group in Wilton, Connecticut. The team develops optical and photonic sensor systems that combine light sources, detectors, fiber optics, electronics, and signal-processing software.
Role and responsibilities
As a Senior Optical Sensor Design Engineer, you will design and improve optical sensors operating in complex environments. You will use physics, mathematics, electronics, mechanics, and software to turn technical concepts into reliable sensor solutions.
- Design and model optical systems using CODE V, Zemax, or comparable optical design software.
- Perform optical tolerancing, wave-propagation modeling, partial-coherence calculations, and other physical optics simulations.
- Develop polarization models and error budgets to evaluate optical performance and system risks.
- Process and analyze sensor data using MATLAB or comparable data-analysis tools.
- Build, align, test, qualify, and troubleshoot complex optical and photonic sensor systems.
- Design test stands, including concepts, error budgets, hardware selection, and system realization.
- Investigate technical issues, determine root causes, and support new product introduction and field escalations.
Education and experience
- A bachelor’s degree in optical engineering, physics, or a related technical field, plus four years of relevant experience.
- A master’s degree in optical engineering, physics, or a related technical field, plus two years of relevant experience.
- A doctoral degree in optical engineering, physics, or a related technical field.
- Optical design and tolerancing using CODE V, Zemax, or comparable software.
- Physical optics modeling using FRED, MATLAB, or comparable simulation software.
- Optical sensor alignment using collimators, mechanical measurement tools, or interferometers.
- Optical metrology test design, test stand development, and hardware integration.
- Optical technologies including polarization devices, relay optics, objectives, light sources, fibers, cameras, and detectors.
- Data processing, performance trending, and technical root-cause analysis.
Skills
Working at the cutting edge of tech, you’ll always have new challenges and new problems to solve – and working together is the only way to do that. You won’t work in a silo. Instead, you’ll be part of a creative, dynamic work environment where you’ll collaborate with supportive colleagues. There is always space for creative and unique points of view. You’ll have the flexibility and trust to choose how best to tackle tasks and solve problems. To thrive in this job, you’ll need the following skills:
- Apply analytical thinking to complex optical and system-level problems.
- Work independently while seeking input from colleagues when needed.
- Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, service, and other technical teams.
- Communicate technical findings clearly through data, documentation, and presentations.
- Take ownership of assignments and remain accountable for results.
- Adapt effectively to changing priorities, workloads, and technical challenges.
- Identify design limitations, technical bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement.
- Maintain accuracy and attention to detail during design, testing, and troubleshooting.
Other information
This position is located on-site in Wilton, CT. It requires onsite presence to attend in-person work-related events, trainings and meetings and to further ensure teamwork, collaboration and innovation.
A flexible workplace arrangement may be available to employees working in roles conducive to remote work (up to two days a week).
The essential job functions for this position include, but are not limited to:
- Commute to ASML’s facility and report to work on a regular and timely basis and complete the scheduled workday on a consistent basis.
- Routinely required to sit; walk; talk; hear; use hands to finger, handle, and feel; stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, reach, and stretch. Occasionally required to move around the campus.
- Perform office tasks using simple hand grasping, fine hand manipulation and reach associated with assigned tasks such as paperwork, computer keyboarding (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint), filing, calculating, and use of telephone or other handheld electronic devices, continuously for up to 10 hours per day, five days per week.
- Have a sufficient ability to communicate, through sight, hearing, and/or otherwise, to perform assigned tasks and maintain proper job safety conditions.
- Occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
- May require travel (specify domestic and/or international) dependent on business needs – specify percentage of travel.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
- Can observe and respond to people and situations and interact with others encountered in the course of work.
- Can learn and apply new information or skills.
- Must be able to read and interpret data, information, and documents.
- Strong customer focus and commitment to customer satisfaction through prioritization, quality, efficiency and professionalism.
- Ability to complete assignments with attention to detail and high degree of accuracy.
- Proven ability to perform effectively in a demanding environment with changing workloads and deadlines.
- Result driven-demonstrate ownership and accountability.
- Identifies bottlenecks and drives improvements.
- Work independently or as part of a team and follow through on assignments with minimal supervision.
- Demonstrate open, clear, concise and professional communication.
- Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with manager, co-workers and customer.
- Work according to a strict set of procedures within the provided timelines.
- Perform other functions that may be assigned.
Additional Responsibilities (as needed in the cleanroom and/or labs):
The role will require some clean room engineering support during new product introduction and customer escalation to find root cause. Candidate is expected to occasionally:
- Work in a clean room environment, wearing coveralls, hoods, booties, safety glasses and gloves. Working under ISO 9000/14000 standards.
- The environment in the cleanroom is moderate in temperature with moderate to high noise level.
- Working around lasers; working with ladders; working on platforms; and working around chemicals.
- The employee is occasionally required to move around the campus.
The current base annual salary range for this role is currently: $117,750 - $173,000
Additional Responsibilities: There is potential for exposure to strong magnetic fields, high voltage and currents.
The current base annual salary range for this role is currently:
$0-0
Pay scales are determined by role, level, location and alignment with market data. Individual pay is determined through interviews and an assessment of several factors that that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, relevant education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and pay relative to other team members.
The Company offers employees and their families, medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are able to participate in the Company’s 401k plan. Employees will also receive eight (8) hours of vacation leave every month and (13) paid holidays throughout the calendar year. For more information, please contact the Recruiter or click on this link Compensation & Benefits in the US.
All new ASML jobs have a minimum application deadline of 10 days.
This position requires access to controlled technology, as defined in the United States Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. § 730, et seq.). Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to access such controlled technology prior to beginning work. Business demands may require ASML to proceed with candidates who are immediately eligible to access controlled technology.
Inclusion and diversity
ASML is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that inclusion and diversity is a driving force in the success of our company.
Need to know more about applying for a job at ASML? Read our frequently asked questions.
Request an Accommodation
ASML provides reasonable accommodations to applicants for ASML employment and ASML employees with disabilities. An accommodation is a change in work rules, facilities, or conditions which enable an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform the essential functions of a job, and/or enjoy equal access to the benefits and privileges of employment. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete an application, participate in an interview, or otherwise participate in the employee pre-selection process, please send an email to [email protected] to initiate the company’s reasonable accommodation process.
Please note: This email address is solely intended to provide a method for applicants to initiate ASML’s process to request accommodation(s). Any recruitment questions should be directed to the designated Talent Acquisition member for the position.



