Chemical Product Engineer

IPG Photonics is revolutionizing the laser industry as the pioneering developer and leading producer of fiber lasers and amplifiers. Headquartered in Marlborough, MA, IPG has over 4,800 employees in more than 30 locations around the world. We aspire to work together with our employees and customers to apply light in ways that improve life.  

Our mission is to develop innovative laser solutions to make the world a better place. To accomplish this mission, we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent and an engaged and thriving workforce that drives a sustainable future for our company and society.

 

Working at IPG Photonics you can expect challenging projects, a motivating and friendly environment, and working hand-in-hand with skilled teams of software and hardware engineers.

 

Job Summary

 

We are seeking a highly experienced engineer with a strong chemistry foundation to lead manufacturing and contamination control for deep-ultraviolet (DUV) laser systems operating at 266 nm and shorter wavelengths. This role requires deep understanding of photochemistry, surface chemistry, and contamination mechanisms that limit performance and lifetime in DUV optical systems. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience diagnosing and mitigating chemically driven degradation in high-energy UV environments.

 

This is a technically deep role with significant influence on materials selection, process definition, and long-term system reliability.

 

Key Responsibilities:

• Own and advance contamination control strategy for DUV laser manufacturing (≤266 nm)
• Analyze and mitigate photochemical and surface-driven degradation mechanisms affecting optics, coatings, crystals, and surrounding materials
• Evaluate and select materials (polymers, metals, adhesives, coatings, solvents, cleaners) for compatibility with deep-UV exposure
• Develop and qualify cleaning, passivation, and handling processes based on chemical and surface-science principles
• Lead root cause analysis of DUV-induced failures
• Model and experimentally validate contamination transport, adsorption, and photo-induced reactions in DUV environments
• Work closely with R&D to translate laboratory-scale DUV solutions into robust manufacturing processes
• Define contamination-related specifications, cleanliness requirements, and acceptance criteria
• Support supplier engagement and audits focused on chemical cleanliness and material compatibility
• Mentor junior engineers and act as a subject-matter expert in DUV contamination and chemistry

 

 

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Chemistry (strongly preferred), Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science
• Extensive hands-on experience with DUV systems at 266 nm or shorter wavelengths in manufacturing, process engineering, or applied research
• Deep understanding of photochemistry, surface chemistry, and molecular contamination under deep-UV irradiation
• Proven experience identifying and resolving contamination-driven performance or lifetime limitations
• Knowledge of organic and inorganic contamination sources, outgassing, adsorption/desorption, and UV-induced chemical reactions
• Experience working in contamination-sensitive environments (cleanrooms, precision optics manufacturing)
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to connect chemical mechanisms to system-level behavior
• Experience with surface analysis or contamination diagnostics including XPS, GC-MS, ICP-MS, TOF-SIMS, residual gas analysis preferred
• Background in reliability engineering for UV optical systems preferred
• Experience defining cleanliness standards for high-energy UV or photolithography-related applications preferred