Systems Engineer - Optical Design

Lam Research; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 80,000

Job description

The Group You’ll Be A Part Of

The Customer Support Business Group focuses on enabling our customers with premier customer support throughout their lifecycle with Lam. We drive performance, productivity, safety, and quality of customers' installed base performance and deliver service and lifecycle solutions for their most critical equipment and processes.

The Impact You’ll Make

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Systems Engineer (Optical Design) to join our semiconductor metrology innovation team. The successful candidate will play a critical role in designing, developing, and optimizing advanced metrology systems used in semiconductor manufacturing processes. This position involves collaboration with cross-functional teams, including mechanical, electrical, and software engineers, to deliver innovative optical solutions that meet industry-leading performance standards.

What You’ll Do

Optical System Design & Development:
• Design, model, and simulate high precision optical systems and components (e.g. lenses, mirrors, illumination sources, and sensors) for semiconductor metrology applications.
• Develop specifications for optical subsystems and ensure solutions meet system requirements.
Prototyping & Testing:
• Build and test optical prototypes to validate designs.
• Perform optical alignment, calibration, and characterization to ensure required performance is achieved.
Product Integration & Optimization:
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and software teams to integrate optical systems into the metrology tools.
• Optimize optical systems for throughput, resolution, SNR, and precision.
Troubleshooting & Maintenance:
• Identify and resolve performance issues in optical systems during development, type-testing, pilot manufacturing, and beta-evaluation phases.
• Develop methods for improving optical system robustness and reliability.
Simulation & Analysis:
• Experience in the use of illumination/optical design software (Zemax, CodeV, LightTools, etc.).
• Ability to conduct statistical optical component and system tolerancing analyses and determine associated error budgets.
Research & Innovation:
• Stay updated on emerging optical technologies and trends in the semiconductor industry.
• Identify and research potential third-party partners who can be leveraged to accelerate our development plans and/or further our in-house expertise.
• Contribute to the innovation of next-generation optical systems.
Documentation & Communication:
• Document designs, testing procedures, and results.
• Present findings and proposals to stakeholders and collaborate with global teams.
• Conduct optical design reviews in order to achieve project approvals.

Who We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience in high precision optical system design.
• Experience with semiconductor metrology and/or other optical inspection systems is an advantage.

Skills

• Proficiency in optical design tools such as Zemax, CodeV, LightTools, etc.
• Strong knowledge of optical principles, including ray optics, wave optics, and imaging systems.
• Hands-on experience with lasers, light sources, detectors, and interferometers.
• Familiarity with opto-mechanical integration and alignment techniques.
• Proficiency in programming/scripting (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or C++) is an advantage.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills.
Soft Skills:
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Innovative mindset with a focus on continuous improvement.

Why Join Us?

• Work on cutting-edge technologies driving semiconductor advancements.
• Be part of a collaborative and innovative team.
• Competitive salary, benefits, and career development opportunities.

Our Commitment

We believe it is important for every person to feel valued, included, and empowered to achieve their full potential. By bringing unique individuals and viewpoints together, we achieve extraordinary results.

Lam Research ("Lam" or the "Company") is an equal opportunity employer. Lam is committed to and reaffirms support of equal opportunity in employment and non-discrimination in employment policies, practices, and procedures on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, or military and veteran status or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. It is the Company's intention to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Company policy prohibits unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees.

Lam offers a variety of work location models based on the needs of each role. Our hybrid roles combine the benefits of on-site collaboration with colleagues and the flexibility to work remotely and fall into two categories – On-site Flex and Virtual Flex. ‘On-site Flex’ you’ll work 3+ days per week on-site at a Lam or customer/supplier location, with the opportunity to work remotely for the balance of the week. ‘Virtual Flex’ you’ll work 1-2 days per week on-site at a Lam or customer/supplier location, and remotely the rest of the time.