Semiconductor giant ASML announced today, January 28, 2026, a major restructuring to prioritize engineering and innovation, streamlining its Technology and IT organizations. The move comes as the company anticipates significant growth within the semiconductor ecosystem and seeks to recapture a faster pace of development. ASML intends to shift its engineering teams to focus on specific products and modules, simplifying processes and decision-making after feedback indicated current workflows had become “less agile.” While the changes may result in a net reduction of around 1,700 positions, primarily in the Netherlands and the United States, ASML simultaneously plans to create new engineering jobs to support growth and customer demand, stating, “Engineers in particular have expressed their desire to focus their time on engineering, without being hampered by slow process flows.”
FY2025 Results Position ASML for Semiconductor Ecosystem Growth
ASML’s recently released FY2025 results reveal a strategic restructuring designed to capitalize on anticipated expansion within the semiconductor industry, despite acknowledging internal inefficiencies. The company reports the semiconductor ecosystem “is poised to experience significant growth in the coming years,” and intends to position itself advantageously to benefit from this upswing. This proactive move follows a thorough internal assessment revealing that growth, while successful, has inadvertently introduced agility challenges. Feedback from colleagues, suppliers, and customers highlighted a need to refocus operational workflows, particularly for engineering teams.
This simplification aims to streamline decision-making and restore a “fast-moving culture” crucial to ASML’s historical success. However, ASML emphasizes continued growth, with plans to create new engineering roles to bolster existing and future projects. “Improving our processes and systems will allow us to innovate more and innovate better,” stated the ASML Board of Management, signaling a commitment to responsible growth and stakeholder value.
Technology & IT Organizations Streamlined for Engineering Focus
ASML is enacting significant organizational changes designed to accelerate innovation and optimize workflows within its Technology and IT departments, announced January 28, 2026. The restructuring follows an internal assessment and feedback indicating that existing processes had become “less agile,” hindering engineers’ ability to concentrate on core technical work. ASML attributes its past successes to “customer dedication, engineering talent and collaborative approach to the ecosystem,” and aims to recapture a “fast-moving culture” conducive to rapid development.
The company plans to move away from a project/matrix structure within the Technology organization, dedicating most engineers to specific products and modules to “simplify processes and decision-making.” A foundational team will be maintained to ensure continued development of core technical competencies and standardization across engineering domains. Despite the reduction in roles, ASML emphasizes continued growth in areas like Manufacturing, Customer Support, and Sales to meet increasing customer demand.
We can attribute our success to our customer dedication, engineering talent and collaborative approach to the ecosystem.
ASML Board of Management
Proposed Changes Anticipate 1,700 Net Position Reduction
ASML anticipates a net reduction of approximately 1,700 positions, primarily within its Technology and IT organizations, as the semiconductor manufacturer recalibrates its structure for sustained innovation and agility. The planned streamlining, revealed alongside the company’s FY 2025 results, isn’t a response to financial hardship, but a proactive measure to capitalize on “significant growth” expected within the semiconductor ecosystem. Internal assessments revealed that existing workflows were hindering engineers, prompting a shift towards dedicated product and module focus within the Technology organization. This restructuring aims to simplify decision-making and revive a “fast-moving culture” that ASML credits with past successes.
While leadership roles are most affected, ASML intends to offset losses by creating new engineering positions to bolster existing and future technology projects, aligning with both internal and customer growth plans. The majority of the 1,700 impacted roles are located in the Netherlands, with a smaller number in the United States, and discussions with social partners are underway to manage the transition responsibly.
Dedicated Teams Safeguard Deep Technical Competence
ASML is strategically restructuring its Technology and IT departments to bolster core engineering capabilities, a move prompted by internal feedback indicating a need for increased agility. The semiconductor manufacturer, reporting strong 2025 financial results, recognizes that rapid growth can inadvertently hinder innovation if processes become cumbersome. “We are safeguarding what makes us strong: a dedicated foundational team which will ensure that we continue to develop our deep technical competence, and drive fit-for-purpose commonality and standards across all engineering domains.” Simultaneously, new engineering positions will be created to support both ASML’s and its customers’ expansion plans. “Every colleague is someone that we value and appreciate,” the company stated, promising transparency and support throughout the process.
