Growing up in Kolkata, India, Shilpita Biswas quickly realized that software engineering and Silicon Valley were at the heart of global technological innovation and progress. After earning her bachelor’s degree in electronics and communications engineering, she worked as an IT engineer in Chennai, a city in southern India. A few years later, Biswas decided to forge a career abroad and applied to master’s programs at American universities.
At Arizona State University (ASU), she pursued her master’s degree in electrical engineering. The experience opened Biswas’s eyes to new professional opportunities and fields of study. She developed an interest in software engineering, photolithography (a process used to make microchips), optics, and how lithography correction tools play a pivotal role in developing the chips used in processors, memory devices, and automotives.
After she graduated from ASU in 2021, Biswas found a role at Micron Technology, a memory-making semiconductor company. While there, she learned about optical proximity correction (OPC) and how these computational lithography software tools are key innovations in helping FAB engineers print the intricate circuits on silicon wafers at a nanometer scale (FABs are fabrication laboratories where semiconductor chips are made).
“ASU and Micron were pivotal in shaping my career path,” Biswas says.
Today, she is a software engineer at ASML, the world’s leading semiconductor lithography machine manufacturer. She shares why she values the company culture, how ASML leadership supports professional growth, and advice for women aiming to make their mark in male-dominated industries.
What led to your job at ASML, and how did you know the company would be a good fit?
ASML is the world’s largest supplier of photolithography machines in the semiconductor industry—one of the most critical machines needed to design and manufacture a semiconductor chip. ASML is also the leading supplier of extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) photolithography machines. In the world of nanometers, physical and chemical processes lead to deformed patterns on silicon wafers; as we continue to shrink the size of chips, it becomes all the more challenging. This is where key technologies like EUVL come into play.
It was clear that being a part of ASML would benefit my learning and career journey. ASML engineers are some of the most talented engineers I know—they’re “changing the world, one nanometer at a time.” I knew I would be a good fit because I was passionate about learning from these brilliant engineers.
What’s your current role, and how long have you been in this role? What are your core responsibilities?
I joined ASML in May of 2024. Now, I’m a software engineer in the OPC Product Engineering group of ASML’s Computational Lithography division. OPC is a lithography enhancement technique (a step in the semiconductor manufacturing process) to compensate for image distortions caused by the diffraction of light from an optical source of the scanner, improving the accuracy of the patterns printed on silicon wafers. To achieve this, software and computational tools are designed to enable OPC capabilities for next-generation lithography processes.
My responsibilities involve evaluating OPC tool performance, analyzing limitations, and testing performance against customer specifications. I also develop real-time system software, write design documents, and prepare unit test plans. I work on the product development life cycle, including planning, collecting requirements, designing, coding, testing, and maintenance. Finally, I engage in work-product reviews.
What do you find most rewarding and challenging about your work? Why?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced is transitioning to the product engineer role, which requires technical knowledge and client-relationship experience. Product engineers own the product, its features, and improvements. They need to understand the customer requirements and effectively convey them to ASML’s research and development teams. They also fix bugs and make improvements based on customer feedback.
As a junior engineer, meeting these demands can be challenging. It’s also rewarding to be part of the change ASML is bringing to the semiconductor industry—and the world. I’m empowered to push the limits of innovation. From AI to medical advancements and the global energy transition, microchips made on ASML machines are enabling the solutions to some of humanity’s toughest challenges.
How have you found your passion, purpose, and voice at work? What important lessons have you learned from this experience?
While I was pursuing my master’s at ASU, I participated in a lot of student organizations. I was selected as the Graduate Student Chair for the IEEE Student Branch at ASU (IEEE is an esteemed technical organization for electrical and electronics engineers from around the world).
As the Graduate Student Chair, I represented my university at the 2020 IEEE Rising Stars Conference and attended the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. After I became the Chair of ASU’s IEEE Student Branch in 2020, I organized career sessions with semiconductor companies like Texas Instruments, Micron, ASML, Maxim Integrated (now a part of Analog Devices), and TSMC.
Additionally, I joined the ASU Graduate and Professional Student Association as a travel and research grant reviewer. These experiences contributed to finding my passion, purpose, and voice at work. My communication and presentation skills have improved a lot from these experiences. I’m always willing to leave my comfort zone and participate in events, whether for career advancement or social good.
What’s your favorite aspect of ASML’s culture, and how has it helped you thrive in your career?
I deeply appreciate how ASML encourages employees to participate in social and volunteering activities throughout the year. Building relationships with coworkers is a key skill for junior engineers who strive for professional growth.
From a technical perspective, I love being surrounded by brilliant minds. It makes me realize how little I know about the vast field of lithography and OPC. I still have a long way to go before I reach their level of expertise and knowledge.
ASML provides numerous opportunities to engage in meaningful volunteer work and fun outings. Your experiences include volunteering at Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, participating in a chocolate-making class, and attending the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest. How do these initiatives and programs reflect ASML’s overall culture?
ASML champions innovation and strives to bring out the best in people. These opportunities are different ways to promote cultural diversity.
Working at ASML requires a lot of networking and communication within different teams, so it can be stressful at times—these initiatives and programs allow employees to enjoy themselves for a few hours before they return to their busy work lives. These opportunities also allow employees to network with professionals beyond their direct teams and learn more about other people’s journeys.
How have these experiences contributed to your professional development and growth? How have they allowed you to build relationships and make a positive impact?
These experiences have advanced my personal and professional growth. When I sort 27,000 pounds of produce at Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, I help feed thousands of families in need. Additionally, I often meet ASML employees from other teams and countries. I love learning about the different kinds of work people do; it helps me understand the various departments within ASML and how they contribute to technological innovations.
How does ASML help all employees achieve work-life balance? What resources or tools do you rely on to attain work-life balance?
ASML Silicon Valley organizes family events all year, where everyone can enjoy good food and spend quality time together. For example, I attended last year’s Winterfest at California’s Great America amusement park with my partner. The company also organizes an annual picnic for employees and their families. Additionally, ASML offers events for Chinese New Year, Diwali, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and other multicultural holidays.
ASML also provides resources and tools to maintain employees’ mental health. Along with robust health insurance benefits, employees can sign up for free subscriptions to wellness apps like Calm. We also have access to Foodsmart, a nutrition app, which allows us to schedule a free appointment with a dietitian and discover healthy recipes based on our dietary requirements. Wellable is a valuable platform that encourages employees to participate in daily exercises by rewarding them with prizes. Sick time and vacation leave are also provided by ASML, which allows employees to maintain a good work-life balance.
What advice would you give those looking for their passion or voice at work? Are there any resources you recommend for women looking to find their passion or authentic voice in the workplace?
Students and working professionals should find time for extracurricular or social activities. It could be joining technical student organizations like IEEE, attending conferences or technical talks, participating in STEM mentoring, or other volunteer activities. Don’t be afraid to try different things or connect with people with different viewpoints. Before you can make your voice heard, you need to listen and learn first.
It’s often difficult for women to navigate male-dominated industries. Some of the resources I recommend are:
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai
Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles
Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology by Chris Miller
Acquired (business podcast)