8 ms·

Kinda off-topic but what's it like working at ASML? They are hiring for a lot of software roles at the moment. I've been mulling about applying there but from t

by as1mov 5y ago

Kinda off-topic but what's it like working at ASML? They are hiring for a lot of software roles at the moment. I've been mulling about applying there but from the outside it looks very bureaucratic (at least that's what the Glassdoor reviews seem to indicate).

br4m 5y ago
As someone who currently works there it is indeed bureaucratic. But I also feel like it is an environment that focuses less on cost/money and optimizes for the highest quality. I.e., there is room to explore the best way of doing something and there is less pressure to do it ASAP or for the lowest price.
- as1mov 5y ago
  Ah fair enough, thanks for the insight. I've worked in a heavily regulated domain for the past few years and just wanted a change to something different. Perhaps I'll still give it a shot if nothing else turns up.
- megablast 5y ago
  So, just like any rich company really.
  - nzmsv 5y ago
    No, companies can be rich and still have a culture of cutting corners and rushing stuff to market.
    - mszyndel 5y ago
      Ekhm, Boeing, ekhm
whazor 5y ago
It really is. The machines are highly sophisticated and downtime is very costly. Code bases are heavily documented and have a bureaucratic process to protect them. ASML does have less crucial software projects that have a more normal process.
- burntoutfire 5y ago
  Some of the jobs look pretty cool, can you share what is the salary range to be expected? The website is silent about that, which in Europe almost always means underwhelming numbers.
  - whazor 5y ago
    I have heard they pay in the higher end of Dutch companies, which is still underwhelming especially compared to FAANG.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
    - mark_mart 5y ago
      Yes they pay pretty well. 13 salary, instead 12.(travel bonus)
  - Dma54rhs 5y ago
    They pay much better in USA where they also hire. SE salaries are obviously a lot smaller in Europe, thinking about FAAMG numbers is fairytales :)
    - saddlerustle 5y ago
      Optiver hires in Amsterdam with comparable compensation to top US companies.
      - sabas123 5y ago
        Optiver works in a vastly different and super tiny sector (in employee count) which is renowned for having higher salaries than any other sector (including tech) and is a massive outlier.
        saddlerustle 5y ago
teekert 5y ago
I applied there, they asked me what I would do if there was too much work for the week. Of course I answered I would just work nights, np. No, they said: Go to your team lead tell her/him you can do one thing and discuss what to choose. They don’t want people getting burned out, they are too important. I liked that.
- brailsafe 5y ago
  > Of course I answered I would just work nights Was this intended as a joke or would you really work nights just because there was too much work?
  - mypalmike 5y ago
    In most interview situations, the interviewer is looking for someone who will "go the distance" to deliver no matter what, i.e. someone who will work nights
    - sirsinsalot 5y ago
      If that's your interviewer or what the company wants then walk out. They've done you a favour flagging their toxicity.
    - pelorat 5y ago
      Not in Europe because that would most likely be illegal.
    - sumedh 5y ago
      You can use this question to show your strength, you can say if its a one off situation you will go the distance but if its happening regularly then you will try to raise questions like why are projects always going into crunch mode, are we not estimating the tasks properly etc. This shows that you are a team player but also willing to push back.
      - teekert 5y ago
matmatmatmat 5y ago
I have a group of friends who all worked there (San Diego office, formerly Cymer), half of whom have quit. They complained of massive inefficiency (very bureaucratic, lots of meetings), relatively low pay, difficulty moving around, feeling overworked but still shipping buggy software, and some difficult colleagues. I also happen to know a project manager there who had a bit of a rocky time getting started (overworked), but I think is now happy there. To be honest, my friends have put me off from working there, but who knows, it could just be a biased impression and maybe the company is working to turn things around.

by as1mov 5y ago

br4m 5y ago

As someone who currently works there it is indeed bureaucratic. But I also feel like it is an environment that focuses less on cost/money and optimizes for the highest quality. I.e., there is room to explore the best way of doing something and there is less pressure to do it ASAP or for the lowest price.

as1mov 5y ago
Ah fair enough, thanks for the insight. I've worked in a heavily regulated domain for the past few years and just wanted a change to something different. Perhaps I'll still give it a shot if nothing else turns up.
megablast 5y ago
So, just like any rich company really.
- nzmsv 5y ago
  No, companies can be rich and still have a culture of cutting corners and rushing stuff to market.
  - mszyndel 5y ago
    Ekhm, Boeing, ekhm

whazor 5y ago

It really is. The machines are highly sophisticated and downtime is very costly. Code bases are heavily documented and have a bureaucratic process to protect them. ASML does have less crucial software projects that have a more normal process.

burntoutfire 5y ago
Some of the jobs look pretty cool, can you share what is the salary range to be expected? The website is silent about that, which in Europe almost always means underwhelming numbers.
- whazor 5y ago
  I have heard they pay in the higher end of Dutch companies, which is still underwhelming especially compared to FAANG.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - mark_mart 5y ago
    Yes they pay pretty well. 13 salary, instead 12.(travel bonus)
- Dma54rhs 5y ago
  They pay much better in USA where they also hire. SE salaries are obviously a lot smaller in Europe, thinking about FAAMG numbers is fairytales :)
  - saddlerustle 5y ago
    Optiver hires in Amsterdam with comparable compensation to top US companies.
    - sabas123 5y ago
      Optiver works in a vastly different and super tiny sector (in employee count) which is renowned for having higher salaries than any other sector (including tech) and is a massive outlier.
      - saddlerustle 5y ago

teekert 5y ago

I applied there, they asked me what I would do if there was too much work for the week. Of course I answered I would just work nights, np. No, they said: Go to your team lead tell her/him you can do one thing and discuss what to choose. They don’t want people getting burned out, they are too important. I liked that.

brailsafe 5y ago
> Of course I answered I would just work nights Was this intended as a joke or would you really work nights just because there was too much work?
- mypalmike 5y ago
  In most interview situations, the interviewer is looking for someone who will "go the distance" to deliver no matter what, i.e. someone who will work nights
  - sirsinsalot 5y ago
    If that's your interviewer or what the company wants then walk out. They've done you a favour flagging their toxicity.
  - pelorat 5y ago
    Not in Europe because that would most likely be illegal.
  - sumedh 5y ago
    You can use this question to show your strength, you can say if its a one off situation you will go the distance but if its happening regularly then you will try to raise questions like why are projects always going into crunch mode, are we not estimating the tasks properly etc. This shows that you are a team player but also willing to push back.
    - teekert 5y ago

matmatmatmat 5y ago

I have a group of friends who all worked there (San Diego office, formerly Cymer), half of whom have quit. They complained of massive inefficiency (very bureaucratic, lots of meetings), relatively low pay, difficulty moving around, feeling overworked but still shipping buggy software, and some difficult colleagues. I also happen to know a project manager there who had a bit of a rocky time getting started (overworked), but I think is now happy there. To be honest, my friends have put me off from working there, but who knows, it could just be a biased impression and maybe the company is working to turn things around.