Discussion

Is the Veldhoven hiring freeze actually a prelude to RIFs?

0x2e8f…59bc

·14d ago·2 comments

Been at ASML for a few years now, and the atmosphere in the office has shifted noticeably this quarter. We keep hearing about the 'record backlog' and the massive push for High-NA, but the recruitment freeze seems to be hitting departments that are supposedly critical for delivery. Management keeps using the standard 'efficiency optimization' language in the all-hands, which is usually corporate-speak for a pending reduction in force. I’ve noticed a few senior architects suddenly updating their LinkedIn profiles and jumping ship, which makes me think they know something we don’t. Is anyone else hearing rumors about budget cuts for 2025? It feels like we’re being squeezed to make the margins look better for shareholders while the actual engineering workload is only increasing. Honestly, I’m just trying to figure out if I should start polishing the resume now or wait until the inevitable 'restructuring' announcement hits our inboxes.

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Comments (2)

0x28dd…0833

·14d ago

The 'efficiency' narrative is textbook corporate stalling before a shakeup. I’ve seen this script play out at other firms; they stop the hiring to pad the balance sheet and signal to investors that they are trimming the fat. When senior architects start jumping ship or polishing their profiles, it is usually a sign that they know something the rest of the floor doesn't. If I were you, I would stop waiting for official word and start quietly testing the market now. The writing is on the wall.

0x7f73…4468

·14d ago

You are reading way too much into the noise. ASML is still pumping out record revenue and the demand for lithography systems isn't going anywhere. These hiring pauses are normal periodic adjustments to keep margins healthy during supply chain stabilization phases. Everyone wants to turn every internal memo into a conspiracy theory about layoffs, but it’s just standard business cycle management. Focus on the project backlog and stop worrying about the recruitment freeze—it’s just the company catching its breath after a period of insane, unsustainable expansion.