At Lace Lithography, we're on a misson to enable the next 100 years of chip production. Our goal is to revolutionize semiconductor manufacturing by developing breakthrough lithography tools rooted in novel beam technology. 

Our team spans world-leading experimentalists, engineers, and designers building tools that push the limits of physics and precision. Join us as we build Emerald-1—our first lithography tool—and redefine what’s possible.

About the Role:

We are seeking an exceptionally skilled and visionary VP of Hardware Engineering to lead all experimental hardware development efforts in our facility in Bergen, Norway. This executive will oversee our hardware squads and play a pivotal role in developing a high-throughput metastable atom source capable of EUV-competitive performance. The role is deeply hands-on and technical, requiring a strong background in particle beam instrumentation.

You will be responsible for managing both people and technology—ensuring that day-to-day experimental operations run efficiently while charting the path toward a scalable source that integrates with our broader lithography roadmap.

What you’ll do:

• Lead and coordinate all hardware squads in Bergen.
• Establish and implement best-in-class, industry-standard hardware development practices, tailored to experimental, high-complexity systems—covering everything from design reviews and build validation to documentation, traceability, and quality assurance.
• Drive the overall engineering and experimental strategy for high-throughput source development.
• Serve as the technical voice for the technical planning to achieve the company hardware milestones & work closely with the Head of Hardware, CTO and CEO to define the overall tech strategy for the company.
• Collaborate closely with the design and instrument modelling team, and with other experimental hardware teams across Lace.
• Oversee operations and guide construction and staged implementation of our atom beam sources, including high-precision lithography and advanced laser cooling.
• Ensure rigorous integration between hardware systems and computer control, in line with company standards.
• Support ongoing beamline operations in Bergen, providing hands-on technical guidance while maintaining a clear structure of local supervision.
• Coordinate with simulation teams, hardware R&D, and CAD/design engineers to produce technical drawings for next-generation sources.
• Work closely with the Head of Hardware R&D to ensure that promising research developments are tested and incorporated in our lithography machines.
• Plan and lead/oversee the execution of experimental campaigns focused on:
  • Throughput optimization
  • Advanced laser manipulation
  • Design milestones for scalability
  • High-precision lithography
    

Who you are:

• Ph.D. or equivalent industry experience in physics, electrical engineering, applied physics, or a related field.
• 10+ years of hands-on experimental work, ideally in an R&D or hardware-intensive industry setting.
• Experience managing projects from innovation through to commercial launch.
• Proven leadership in managing multidisciplinary hardware teams (e.g. electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, physicists).
• Experienced in one or more of the following technical fields:
  • Ultrahigh vacuum systems
  • Neutral beams (e.g. atomic and molecular beams)
  • Lasers for atom manipulation (e.g. trapping, cooling, etc)
  • Charged particle beams (e.g. electron beams, plasma sources, etc)
  • Instrument control and automation

Our team here at Lace:

…consists of amazing people who’ve joined us from all over the world, driven by intense curiosity, the urge for exploration, and a desire to push the limits of physics. We promise to offer you a place among highly motivated Lacers, present you with extremely difficult problems—and have a lot of fun solving them.

Workplace & culture:

Lace operates out of two beautiful, vibrant, and strong-willed cities. Although we are cities apart, we strive to make the team feel as one.

We don’t define values—but we have one universal expectation:
Be the best team player you can be.

Perks and Benefits:

💸 Part of the team, part of the company
Competitive salary + equity through our incentive plan.

🏋️ Feel-good perks
€50 monthly gym allowance, weekly team lunches, monthly social events, and annual off-site with the whole team.

🚀 Personal Development
Quarterly development goals with your manager and your own budget to learn and grow.

✈️ No journey without travelling
We support relocation and immigration to make joining Lace as smooth as possible.