Scientist in Optical & System Design – Illumination (m/f/x)

Enabler for smaller, more powerful, and more energy-efficient microchips

Working for tomorrow today.

Around 80 percent of all microchips worldwide are produced using ZEISS technologies. As the centerpiece of every electronically controlled system, they have become an integral part of our everyday lives – whether in smartphones, smart homes or smart factories. ZEISS is a technology leader in the field of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. With high-precision lithography optics, photomask systems and process control solutions, ZEISS enables the production of ever smaller, increasingly powerful, and more energy-efficient microchips, and thus plays a pivotal role in the age of micro- and nanoelectronics.

Your Role

You develop and use software for the simulation and optimization of ultra-precise optical systems.

You ensure the optical performance of our systems — analytically, numerically, and in close collaboration with colleagues from mechanics, electronics, and other optics design teams.

You take initiative, challenge existing approaches, and actively contribute to continually rethinking solutions.

Your Profile

Completed Master’s degree in STEM or a PhD (e.g., Physics, Simulation Technology, Computer Science or related fields)

Professional experience in academia or industry (e.g., as a Postdoc) is a plus, but not required

Basic knowledge of scientific programming (e.g., Matlab, Python)

Experience with simulating complex physical systems.

The specific domain and tool are secondary (Ray tracing, CFD, FEM, etc.); the mindset counts

Strong natural science curiosity and willingness to work independently to deeply understand the physics of lithography systems and their modeling

Experience with AI methods (e.g., for optimization or data analysis) is welcome but not required

Communication skills: you can explain complex technical concepts to colleagues from different disciplines

Enjoyment of self-motivated, structured work and learning in an interdisciplinary team

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team: Matthias Sonnentag