Hardware R&D Engineer/Physicist (York)
Join us to design the heart of our chipmaking tech. Help build precision systems that push the boundaries of physics.
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We’re on a mission to do something really, really small. You’ll shape the technology that makes it possible.
At Lace Lithography, we're reinventing chipmaking - atom by atom. Backed by top-tier investors and the European Innovation Council, we’re developing a novel lithography platform that will push semiconductor manufacturing into its next frontier. Our teams are located across Bergen, York, and Barcelona, and we're growing fast.
We’re now hiring a Hardware Development Engineer/Physicist to join our Source squad in Bergen, where you’ll work on the design, build, and integration of the high-precision beam systems that lie at the heart of our platform.
About the Role
This is a hands-on engineering role at the intersection of physics and hardware. You’ll be developing systems that generate and manipulate particle beams - working with mechanical components, vacuum instrumentation, and experimental test rigs.
You’ll collaborate with physicists, CAD designers, and optical engineers to build robust, high-performance subsystems that meet demanding experimental and manufacturing requirements. If you’ve worked on ion or electron sources, vacuum instrumentation, or particle beam systems, this is your chance to shape foundational technology in an ambitious deep-tech environment.
This role is based in York and will involve occasional travel to our sites in Bergen and Barcelona.
What you’ll do
- Design, develop, and test complex high vacuum (HV) and ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) atom beam systems
- Oversee hands-on assembly, integration, and commissioning of vacuum systems and associated instrumentation
- Work on our instruments to undertake beam characterisation, diagnostics, alignment, and system troubleshooting
- Collaborate closely with Source and Atom Optics teams to ensure smooth cross-functional alignment
- Liaise with the Design & Simulations team in Barcelona to advance our instruments and technology
- Support system documentation and iterative design reviews
Who you are
- Degree (MSc or PhD) in Physics, Engineering, or a related technical discipline
- Experience with high or ultrahigh vacuum hardware and instrumentation
- Familiarity with atomic, ion, or electron beam generation systems
- Strong hands-on skills: experimental prototyping, system debugging, and test bench operation
- Additional desirable skills:
- Knowledge of electron emitters and diagnostics
- Systematic and robust approach to conducting experiments
- Experience in precision instrumentation
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.
🏋️ Wellness & Team Culture
€600 annual wellness allowance, weekly team lunches, monthly social events, and an annual off-site with the whole team.
🚀 Personal Development
Quarterly development goals with your manager and your own budget to learn and grow.
🛬 Smooth onboarding, wherever you're coming from
We support relocation and immigration to make joining Lace as smooth and welcoming as possible.
✈️ Travel between Lace locations
We encourage cross-site collaboration and support travel between our York, Barcelona, and Bergen locations to stay connected and aligned.
- Department
- Source
- Locations
- York Office

About Lace Lithography
At Lace, we develop breakthrough chip patterning technology, which extends Moore's Law a decade beyond current tech.
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