Research Scientist in Optical Metrology (f/m/x)

Enabling smaller, more powerful and more energy-efficient microchips – working where tomorrow takes shape.

Around 80 percent of all microchips worldwide are manufactured using ZEISS technologies. As the heart of every electronically controlled system, they have become an indispensable part of our everyday lives – whether in smartphones, smart homes or smart factories.

ZEISS is a technology leader in semiconductor manufacturing equipment. With highly precise lithography optics, photomask systems and process control solutions, ZEISS enables the production of ever smaller, more powerful and more energy-efficient microchips – and, through its innovations, plays a key role in shaping the era of micro- and nanoelectronics.

Your Role

• Our high-end lithography optics demand continuous verification of dimensional accuracy at the picometer scale throughout production. In this role, you will design and advance cutting-edge optical metrology systems and measurement processes to qualify high-performance optics, collaborating with internal and external partners

• Develop and optimize end-to-end measurement processes for optical metrology, with a focus on algorithm development and data interpretation

• Design, implement, and validate Python-based algorithms for measurement data processing, calibration, error budgeting, and quality assessment

• Lead the software and workflow aspects of metrology campaigns on measurement machines used for qualifying high-performance optics

• Collaborate with R&D, engineering, and production to translate metrology concepts into robust, reproducible measurement routines

• Commission and qualify complex measurement systems, provide manufacturing support, and drive continuous improvement of measurement workflows

• Mentor and coordinate cross-functional teams on data-driven metrology methods and best practices

• Take ownership of work packages and projects related to measurement process development and software implementation

Your Profile

• A very good Master’s-level university degree (Physics, Technical Optics, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics or comparable), PhD welcome

• Solid knowledge in optical metrology, with practical experience in interferometric or spectroscopic measurement methods

• Proven ability to develop, implement, and validate measurement algorithms and data pipelines in Python (or MATLAB), including calibration and error budgeting

• Strong data analysis, data cleaning, and visualization skills, experience with statistical methods is a plus

• Experience with measurement machines and hands-on qualification campaigns; ability to operate, troubleshoot, and optimize hardware-software workflows

• Very good collaboration and communication skills; ability to work effectively with multi-disciplinary teams

• Self-motivated, proactive, and capable of managing work packages and small projects

• Professional proficiency in English; German language skills are an advantage

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team: