Full-Time
Manufactures lithography systems for microchips
No salary listed
Senior, Expert
Company Does Not Provide H1B Sponsorship
Wilton, CT, USA
Ability to travel up to 30% of the time.
ASML is a leader in the semiconductor industry, specializing in machines that help chipmakers mass produce microchips. Their primary product is lithography systems that utilize ultraviolet light to etch billions of tiny structures onto silicon wafers, which are essential for creating microchips. This process allows chipmakers to produce smaller, faster, and more powerful chips. Unlike many competitors, ASML not only provides the hardware but also offers software and services to support the entire production process. The company aims to push the boundaries of technology to meet the evolving demands of the semiconductor market.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Veldhoven, Netherlands
Founded
1984
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Flexible Work Hours
Remote Work Options
ASML recently introduced its High-NA EUV systems, which feature larger numerical apertures allowing for ultra-precise chip patterning at sub-2 nm scales.
👩🍳 How we use AI at Tech in Asia, thoughtfully and responsibly.🧔♂️ A friendly human may check it before it goes live. More news hereASML’s High NA chipmaking machine, which costs US$400 million, represents a significant development in Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography.The Dutch company, the sole manufacturer of EUV machines, designed High NA to produce smaller and more efficient microchips.The machine was first used commercially at Intel’s chip fabrication plant in Oregon in 2024, with components sourced globally and transported via complex logistics.High NA boosts chip resolution and efficiency, with Intel, TSMC, and Samsung reporting strong gains.Due to US export controls, ASML cannot sell EUV machines to China, focusing instead on Deep Ultraviolet (DUV) models.ASML plans to launch the next-gen Hyper NA by 2035 and scale High NA production to meet demand.🔗 Source: CNBC🧠 Food for thought1️⃣ ASML’s two-decade EUV journey reveals massive R&D gamble that nearly failedWhile the High NA machine represents ASML’s latest breakthrough, it’s the culmination of an extraordinary technological bet that began more than 20 years ago.ASML invested over €6 billion in EUV R&D, facing numerous technical challenges with no guarantee of success before achieving viable systems for high-volume manufacturing 1.The company shipped its first EUV prototype in 2006, but it took another decade of refinement before the technology became production-ready around 2016-2018, demonstrating the massive time horizons required for fundamental semiconductor advancements 2.CEO Christophe Fouquet’s comment that “we barely made it” reflects how this immense R&D gamble could have easily failed, potentially derailing Moore’s Law progression for the entire semiconductor industry.The EUV development timeline shows why new competitors can’t simply enter this space. ASML’s technology represents decades of accumulated expertise and billions in sustained investment, creating a natural monopoly in advanced lithography.2️⃣ High NA economics: $400 million machines that actually reduce chip costsDespite their eye-popping $400 million price tag, High NA machines help drive down the per-chip production costs they’re designed to manufacture.High NA’s larger lens opening enables higher resolution in a single step, eliminating the need for multiple exposures that would otherwise be required with standard EUV systems, significantly improving manufacturing efficiency 3.This technical advantage translates to real production benefits, with Samsung reporting that High NA could reduce cycle time by 60%, while Intel has demonstrated improved reliability and yield from the 30,000 wafers it has processed 3.The economics exemplify Moore’s Law in action: though the equipment cost increases substantially, the resulting improvements in yield (more usable chips per wafer) and simplified manufacturing processes create economies of scale that reduce the final cost per transistor.These cost economics help explain why chipmakers are willing to invest in $400 million machines. They are essential to maintaining the industry’s fundamental economic model of delivering more computing power at lower costs over time.3️⃣ Geopolitical complexities threaten ASML’s global supply chainASML’s business model relies on a complex global supply chain that is increasingly vulnerable to geopolitical tensions and export controls.The company’s machines integrate components from multiple countries, with modules manufactured in Connecticut, California, Germany, and the Netherlands, making them particularly susceptible to export restrictions 4.China represented 49% of ASML’s business in Q2 2024 (primarily purchasing DUV machines), but this is expected to normalize to 20-25% in 2025 due to export controls that prevent selling advanced EUV systems to Chinese companies 45.This shift reflects broader semiconductor industry disruption, as U.S. export controls aimed at restricting China’s technological advancement have created complex challenges for equipment manufacturers operating in global markets 6.The intricate assembly process, where machines are built across multiple countries, assembled in the Netherlands, then disassembled for shipping, highlights why export restrictions and tariffs create particular complications for ASML’s business model compared to companies with simpler supply chains.Recent ASML developments
wSAP becomes Europe's most valuable company, ASML holds fourth place oemits laser light to produce 3D maps of the environment.
In the 1990s, ASML introduced its breakthrough platform, the PAS 5500 lithography system.
In December 2023, ASML and Samsung announced a joint investment of 1 trillion won (approximately $760 million) to build a research and development facility in South Korea.