‘Choose Paths That Sound Like Fun.’ Lessons from a Physics Major Turned Production Engineer

Before becoming a production engineer (PE) at ASML, one of the world’s leading chip-making equipment manufacturers, Cait Battle-McDonald was a physics major. Despite her passion for physics, she was uncertain about her career trajectory. Seeking guidance, she turned to her advisor, who reassured her that her love for physics was enough and she didn’t need to plan too far ahead.

“I’ve taken that [advice] into my work life: I weigh my engagement and interest very highly when I make career decisions,” Battle-McDonald says, whose job at ASML is her first job out of college. “Simply put, I choose [career] paths that sound like fun.”  

Here, we caught up with Battle-McDonald to learn about her transition from physics to production engineering, the most fulfilling aspects of her work at ASML, and valuable advice for others as they navigate their careers.

Paint a picture of a typical day for me. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up and the last before you go to sleep?

The first thing I do when I wake up is get dressed and ready for work. I try to make time for a 30-minute walk outside every day before the sun sets. The last thing I do before going to sleep is read a chapter of a novel (right now, I’m in the middle of Mad Honey by Jennifer Finney Boylan and Jodi Picoult).

Tell us a bit about your job at ASML. 

I’m a production engineer (PE) in our factory; I’ve been in this role for four years. I troubleshoot problems on the manufacturing floor and work on long-term process improvements.

What do you find most rewarding and challenging about your work?

The most rewarding part of my work is collaborating with and helping other teams. As a PE, I work closely with our technicians, the people building our machines. Technicians bring problems with the manufacturing process to their PEs; my most rewarding moments are when I can develop a tool or change a process to solve those problems. 

The most challenging part of my work is making decisions about defects. We produce delicate machinery that often ends up with small defects; PEs have to decide whether to repair or scrap the parts. Because small imperfections can have large impacts on our machines, deciding what to do in these situations is challenging. 

Let’s talk about your ASML’s culture. What’s your favorite aspect of it, and how does ASML help you achieve balance?

My favorite part of the ASML’s culture is a focus on work-life balance.  Balance means integrating your work and personal life in a sustainable, fulfilling way, allowing yourself time to not work and not feeling guilty when you take that time.  I’ve had four managers over my time here, and everyone has emphasized how important it is to go home on time and take your PTO. 

If I decide to come in on the weekend because I think something needs to get done, my manager pushes back in a way that makes it clear he values my weekend as much as I do. They display the foresight to prevent burnout and keep employees happy.  

What advice do you have for someone new to your industry?

Don’t be afraid to reach out to people for help! Ask your questions even if you’re worried they’re obvious. It’s much better than not knowing what’s going on. As someone with a physics background working in engineering, I asked so many questions when I  started. Those questions were central to my becoming a successful engineer.  

Also, understand that most people do their best most of the time. When your colleagues fall short in a way that makes your work more difficult, it might be because of negligence or incompetence, but more often, it’s because people are busy, have been given priorities that don’t match your own, or don’t understand what you need from them. Rather than assuming people are intentionally making your life harder, offer people the benefit of the doubt; this will foster stronger, more productive working relationships. 

Looking back on your career, what has been your most valuable career mistake?

When I was fresh out of college, I really wanted a job at a particular company. I made it through part of the interview process but didn’t get an offer and was truly heartbroken. Then, I ended up at ASML, where I love my job. This helped me realize that you can take many different paths and still end up in a good place; you don’t need to obsess over one particular opportunity. 

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