Co-Op - Optical Sensor System - Spring 2026 (Internship)

Introduction to the job

ASML US brings together the most creative minds in science and technology to develop lithography machines that are key to producing faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient microchips. We design, develop, integrate, market and service these advanced machines, which enable our customers - the world’s leading chipmakers - to reduce the size and increase the functionality of their microchips, which in turn leads to smaller, more powerful consumer electronics. Our headquarters are in Veldhoven, the Netherlands, and we have 18 office locations around the United States including main offices in Chandler, Arizona, San Jose and San Diego, California, Wilton, Connecticut, and Hillsboro, Oregon.

Roles and responsibilities 

ASML’s Wafer Alignment Sensor department in Wilton CT is seeking a Physicist/Optical Engineer for a co-op position to support & develop complex optical/photonic sensor systems used within ASML’s photolithography tools. These systems typically include light sources, detectors, optical/electro-optical components, fiber optics, electronics and signal processing SW functioning in close collaboration with the rest of the lithography system. Understanding the components in their relation to the sensor system and understanding the interaction with the rest of the tool is of fundamental importance.

Key component of this position are:

• General:  Using general Physics, Optics, and Software knowledge and an understanding of the sensor systems and tools to de-bug functionality or performance issues in the optical alignment sensors in lithography machines.  Having hands-on skills of building optical system such as imaging, testing, alignment or detector system.

• Experience on designing integrated photonic devices including free-space to on-chip couplers, waveguides, wavelength multiplexing and de-multiplexing.

• Leadership:  the candidate must have the potential to lead executing activities for determining problem root cause, execute complex tests, gather data, and effectively communicate results on different levels of abstraction (from technical colleagues to high level managers).

• Problem Solving:  the candidate should be interested in troubleshooting complex technical problems, develop / debug data signal processing algorithms; develop and execute test plans in order to determine problem root cause.

• Communications/Teamwork:  Good communication skills during brainstorm/troubleshooting sessions; Good listening skills. Good analytical skills. Draw your own conclusions, based on the input from different stakeholders.  Capability to clearly communicate the information on different level of abstraction.

• Programming: The candidate must possess the ability to implement data analysis techniques into functioning MATLAB codes. Optimization skills, GUI building experience, and familiarly with Labview and Python are a plus.

Education and experience

• Minimum: Candidate should be a Master/PhD  student in Physics, Optics, or other related engineering disciplines.

Candidate must:

• Be able to break down complex problems with limited data to come to solutions – strong critical thinking capability.

• Have strong written and oral communication skills and a commitment to achieving results while under time constraints;  High energy, high level of dedication.

• Be willing to jump in on new issues, get to the bottom of the causes and propose practical solutions. 

• Be able to interface with multidisciplinary groups and work effectively in a team and be willing to take on responsibility, follow through and keep multiple simultaneous assignments on schedule.

• Be able to quickly acquire technical knowledge from documentation and on-the-job training and be capable of thoroughly investigating technical issues (analytically and through experiments).

Preferred:

• Hands-on experience with microscopy and/or tabletop setups

• Data processing skills with MATLAB, and Python

• Knowledge of bright and dark-field microscopy, and Fourier-optics, interferometry, and wave-optics

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 tackl