Senior Process Engineer – Optical Fabrication

ASML•Wilton, CT

2d•Onsite

About The Position

ASML Wilton is seeking a Senior Process Engineer to join the Optical Fabrication team with primary ownership of Generating & Polishing (GnP) processes. This role is responsible for process development, stabilization, and daily performance across grinding and polishing operations. The position requires a deep technical understanding of optical fabrication, strong analytical capability, and the ability to drive sustainable improvements in a fast-paced production environment. The engineer will directly support output, yield, and quality targets—including improving First Pass Yield (FPY) through stable, predictable, and well controlled process behavior. This role requires a proactive engineering mindset: anticipating issues before they impact production, driving structured 6P readiness, performing thorough RCA, and continuously evaluating new technologies and deterministic tools to strengthen long-term process control. This is not a reactive support role; the expectation is ownership, foresight, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

BS, MS, or PhD in Mechanical, Optical, Materials, or related engineering field
Minimum 5 years of experience in optical fabrication, precision machining, grinding, or polishing
Experience in grinding mechanics, polishing processes, metrology interpretation, and process development
Demonstrated ability in structured problem solving, data analysis, RCA, and process improvement
Strong understanding of grinding and polishing mechanics and material removal behavior
Proficiency with interferometry, profilometry, and surface inspection tools
Experience using JMP, Minitab, or equivalent statistical software
Strong communication, cross functional collaboration, and leadership in a production environment
Ability to manage multiple priorities under time sensitive conditions
Demonstrated capability in 6P readiness, structured RCA, and verification driven corrective action
Work authorized in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship

Responsibilities

Operate as a technical leader within Optical Fabrication with end-to-end ownership of grinding and polishing processes.
Define and optimize process parameters, ensuring removal rate stability, selecting consumables, and understanding machine behavior.
Manage polishing performance, conditioning strategies, coolant control, and subsurface damage removal while ensuring consistent behavior across tools and shifts.
Lead the introduction and qualification of new pad materials, slurry chemistries, pitch recipes, and machine upgrades.
Convert interferometry, profilometry, and surface inspection data into actionable decisions.
Establish strong process control: defining process windows, capability targets, and long-term monitoring systems.
Use JMP or Minitab to identify variation, drift, and chronic stability risks, ensuring processes are robust, documented, and repeatable.
Maintain process specifications, work instructions, and standard work while driving alignment across production and support teams.
Collaborate daily with production technicians, supervisors, metrology, quality, equipment engineering, and maintenance, balancing immediate production needs with structured long-term improvement projects.
Build process stability that prevents rework and FPY loss.
Detect and eliminate sources of variation impacting FPY and yield.
Lead structured RCA using statistical and analytical methods.
Ensure corrective actions are verified, embedded, and sustainable.
Own full 6P readiness for process, material, or equipment changes.
Proactively seek, evaluate, and integrate deterministic process control methods.
Proactively seek, evaluate, and integrate advanced metrology and insitu monitoring tools.
Proactively seek, evaluate, and integrate next generation pad, pitch, slurry, and consumable technologies.
Proactively seek, evaluate, and integrate equipment or software capabilities that improve stability, predictability, and throughput.