Explore ASML San Diego

San Diego at a glance

In San Diego, ASML focuses on the R&D and manufacturing of deep ultraviolet (DUV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light sources for lithography systems, which are used to make microchips.

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Specialties

Find your passion at ASML San Diego

Mechanical engineering

Design, build and test exceptionally high-performance systems as a mechanical engineer at ASML.

Electrical engineering

Work at the leading edge of electrical innovation. Explore the opportunities for electrical engineers at ASML.

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Software engineering

Find out what it’s like working as a computer scientist or software developer at ASML working in C++, C#, Python or Java.

Manufacturing

No two days are alike in this fast-paced, high-precision cleanroom environment.

Logistics & supply chain

Discover jobs in supply chain management and logistics at ASML and start planning for your future.

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Our technology in San Diego

We develop light sources for lithography machines, which chipmakers use to project patterns and ‘print’ them onto a silicon wafer. The smaller the wavelength of light produced, the smaller the features that can be printed, enabling faster, more energy-efficient chips.

EUV light source technology

The team at ASML San Diego designs, develops and qualifies the EUV (extreme ultraviolet) laser-produced plasma light source, and manufactures a critical system component called the droplet generator. The droplet generator is the heartbeat of the light source, delivering a steady stream of 50,000 liquid tin droplets per second, which fly at more than 241 km per hour in a vacuum vessel. The size, spacing and frequency of the droplets all impact the amount of EUV light produced.

Each droplet – whose size is a fraction of the thickness of a human hair – is individually imaged and targeted by two high-powered CO2 laser pulses, generating a plasma that emits EUV light. A highly polished, multilayered mirror collects and reflects the 13.5-nanometer EUV light to a precise exit point of the vessel directed at the scanner.

This requires a veritable orchestra of lasers, cameras and other sensors (collectively called ‘vessel metrology’) to ensure the creation, optimization and regulation of stable plasma for EUV light generation. ASML engineers in San Diego must determine the optimal points in space and time for the laser to target droplets to generate the plasma, requiring extreme precision and synchronization. The resulting EUV light output must meet precise energy profile requirements for the scanner so that the surface of the wafer is evenly exposed with EUV light.

Tin management is also a unique and challenging problem within the EUV source, since the material is both necessary and problematic: it is required to create the light source, but it can contaminate the optics. ASML San Diego focuses on researching and developing effective mechanisms to capture and remove tin from the vessel, as well as transport the tin out of the system.

DUV light source technology

ASML San Diego develops, markets, sells and services DUV light sources from the independently operated business, Cymer. Cymer’s product portofolio includes excimer lasers using argon flouride (ArF) or krypton fluoride (KrF) gases to generate light in the deep-ultraviolet spectrum. These lasers generate the light that photolithography scanners use to image patterns on silicon wafers. Cymer research and development has been enabling semiconductor manufacturing since the introduction of the first KrF light source in 1988. Since then, Cymer has introduced significant advances in product performance through Solid State Power technology, 193 nanometer lithography and dual chamber architecture, among many others.

Cymer technology has been adopted worldwide as the source for semiconductor manufacturing and is the workhorse of every modern fab. Through that impact, Cymer light sources directly enable the electronics that have transformed the world. Innovation at Cymer continues as the need for improved electronics continuing to push DUV technology forward. Find out more about Cymer light source technology and products.

EUV light source engineers win Leibinger international award

ASML is recognized for its decades of research and development efforts to industrialize extreme ultraviolet lithography.

Read the story

Working and living in San Diego

Located in southern California, San Diego is on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It is a coveted place to live and work for its idyllic climate, and 70 miles of spectacular coastline and beaches. San Diego is also a burgeoning center for healthcare and biotechnology companies.

4.1/2822 ratings

Culture & Values

3.8

Work/life balance

3.7

Senior Management

3.4

Compensation and Benefits

3.9

Career opportunities

3.8

Diversity & Inclusion

4.2

Jayson Stewart, Head of Research, ASML San Diego

"Our San Diego site has a bit of a unique role within ASML, which is that we really have the end-to-end ownership of the product. We have the research department, which is doing the deepest innovation, but we also have the factory on site that's going to build the components. We really have to manage and maintain the innovation all the way from conception to how will this eventually get built and how we get it built onsite in our factory.”

Vivian Wang, Department Manager Software Engineering

"In San Diego, we welcome all different types of talents to join us such as mechanical engineering, software engineering, controls engineering and physics as well.”

Ted Cacouris, Head of CLS Installed Base Operations, DUV Light Source Worldwide Customer Support

"ASML San Diego is unique in the sense that we have established what we call the Center of Excellence for Light Source Development. It brings a lot of talent from different disciplines with a focus on advanced technology that is created nowhere else in the world. This is the only place on Earth that we create some of the most advanced light source technologies.”

Grace Polasko, Manufacturing Quality Engineer

"The San Diego site is an exciting mix of a lot of different talent and cultures. Beyond the amazing people, you also get to work at a company with cutting-edge technology.”

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Visit ASML in San Diego

17075 Thornmint CourtSan Diego, California 92127United States(858) 385-7300

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San Diego, California

San Diego at a glance

In San Diego, ASML focuses on the R&D and manufacturing of deep ultraviolet (DUV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light sources for lithography systems, which are used to make microchips.

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Our technology in San Diego

We develop light sources for lithography machines, which chipmakers use to project patterns and ‘print’ them onto a silicon wafer. The smaller the wavelength of light produced, the smaller the features that can be printed, enabling faster, more energy-efficient chips.

EUV light source technology

DUV light source technology

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EUV light source engineers win Leibinger international award

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Working and living in San Diego

Located in southern California, San Diego is on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It is a coveted place to live and work for its idyllic climate, and 70 miles of spectacular coastline and beaches. San Diego is also a burgeoning center for healthcare and biotechnology companies.

Southern California lifestyle

‘America’s finest city’

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ASML's Glassdoor rating

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EUV light source technology

DUV light source technology

EUV light source engineers win Leibinger international award

Southern California lifestyle

‘America’s finest city’

ASML's Glassdoor rating

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San Diego, California

San Diego at a glance

In San Diego, ASML focuses on the R&D and manufacturing of deep ultraviolet (DUV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light sources for lithography systems, which are used to make microchips.

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Our technology in San Diego

We develop light sources for lithography machines, which chipmakers use to project patterns and ‘print’ them onto a silicon wafer. The smaller the wavelength of light produced, the smaller the features that can be printed, enabling faster, more energy-efficient chips.

EUV light source technology

DUV light source technology

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EUV light source engineers win Leibinger international award

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Working and living in San Diego

Located in southern California, San Diego is on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It is a coveted place to live and work for its idyllic climate, and 70 miles of spectacular coastline and beaches. San Diego is also a burgeoning center for healthcare and biotechnology companies.

Southern California lifestyle

‘America’s finest city’

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ASML's Glassdoor rating

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EUV light source technology

DUV light source technology

EUV light source engineers win Leibinger international award

Southern California lifestyle

‘America’s finest city’

ASML's Glassdoor rating

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