Materials Engineer

Introduction to the job

Help solve some of the most complex materials challenges in the semiconductor industry. As a Materials Engineer at ASML, you will serve as the primary materials expert within a multidisciplinary team developing advanced modules and components for the EUV Lithography Light Source. You'll help ensure our products achieve the highest levels of performance, reliability, and quality while supporting the technology innovation that continues to move the world forward.

Role and responsibilities

As a Materials Engineer, you will provide technical leadership and expertise related to material selection, compatibility, characterization, and reliability for components operating in demanding thermal, mechanical, vacuum, plasma, and contamination-sensitive environments. You will work closely with design engineers, scientists, suppliers, and quality teams throughout the product development lifecycle, helping to solve complex technical challenges and ensure long‑term product performance.

Materials Engineering & Technical Expertise

Evaluate material compatibility within the EUV Lithography Light Source, including interactions under high-temperature, vacuum, plasma, and contamination-sensitive environments. Provide expert materials guidance to design teams throughout concept development, detailed design, and verification phases. Analyze material interactions such as corrosion, diffusion, oxidation, and multi-material compatibility. Apply knowledge of engineering metals, including ferrous, non-ferrous, specialty alloys, and refractory metals.

Characterization, Testing & Microstructure Analysis

Perform and interpret materials evaluation techniques including hardness testing, tensile/compressive testing, fracture analysis, and metallography. Analyze material microstructures, including grain morphology and phase distribution. Evaluate surface conditions such as roughness, contamination, and cleanliness. Utilize advanced characterization techniques including SEM, EDS/EDX, XPS, and AFM to support technical investigations and decision‑making.

Failure Analysis & Problem Solving

Lead or support structured failure analysis and root‑cause investigations. Relate material behavior to system‑level performance and reliability. Document findings, recommendations, and mitigation strategies through clear technical reports and presentations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Project Support

Collaborate with development engineers, scientists, suppliers, and quality teams to resolve materials‑related challenges. Provide technical recommendations during design reviews and support project decision‑making. Support project planning activities, including key deliverables, schedules, resource planning, and budget considerations. Present technical data and findings to engineering teams, management, and external suppliers. Support domestic and international travel up to 10% as required. Other duties as assigned.

Education and experience

To help us tackle the technical challenges we face, you'll need a strong background in materials engineering, failure analysis, and characterization techniques used within advanced technology environments. To be successful in this role, you'll need:

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Nano Engineering, or a related field.
• Master's or PhD preferred.
• Must have 5 years of relevant experience in Materials Engineering.
• Strong understanding of engineering metals, specialty alloys, and refractory materials.
• Experience with material characterization, microstructural analysis, and surface evaluation techniques.
• Hands‑on experience with analytical tools such as SEM, EDS/EDX, XPS, AFM, or similar characterization technologies.
• Experience supporting failure analysis, root‑cause investigations, and reliability improvement efforts.
• Experience in semiconductor, high‑tech manufacturing, or advanced technology environments is preferred.

Skills

• Strong customer focus with commitment to quality, efficiency, and professionalism.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Strong attention to detail and dedication to technical accuracy.
• Ability to quickly learn and apply new technologies, methods, and tools.
• Strong ownership, accountability, and results‑driven mindset.
• Ability to identify technical risks, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities.
• Effective collaboration skills across multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while contributing effectively to team objectives.
• Flexibility and adaptability in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment with changing priorities.
• Ability to build productive working relationships across organizational boundaries.
• Comfortable working within established procedures, schedules, and project timelines.

Other Information

This position is located on‑site in San Diego, CA . 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). Routinely required to sit; walk; talk; hear; use hands to keyboard, finger, handle, and feel; stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, reach, and stretch. Occasionally required to move around the campus. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Must be willing to work in a clean room environment, wearing coveralls, hoods, booties, safety glasses and gloves for entire duration of shift.

Salary and benefits

The current base annual salary range for this role is currently: $109,200-150,150 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.

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.

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 View email address on click.appcast.io 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.

Company background

ASML is a leading supplier of lithography equipment, used by the world’s top chipmakers to print microchips that are increasingly powerful, fast and energy efficient. Working at ASML is inspiring, no matter what field you’re in. That’s because we push the boundaries of technology: if it’s moving the world forward, chances are, we’re behind it. In fact, we’re probably a part of the electronic device you’re using right now. We’re a global team of more than 32,000 people from 122 different nationalities and counting. Headquartered in Europe’s top tech hub, the Brainport Eindhoven region in the Netherlands, our operations are spread across Europe, Asia and the US.