Karsten van der Waerden

Component Engineer ‘Connectivity’ // Being part of progress @ASML

Eindhoven, North Brabant, Netherlands

About

I am a Connectivity-focused Component Engineer at ASML with over 20 years of experience across engineering, quality, logistics, product management, and technical sales. I specialize in ensuring the right electronic components are selected, qualified, and secured for complex semiconductor systems, balancing technical requirements, long‑term availability, and supply chain risk. Before ASML, I spent 14 years at Molex in roles ranging from European Account Coordination to Regional Product Specialist and Sales Engineer. This blends deep product knowledge, customer interaction, distributor management, and hands-on problem solving. I thrive in cross-functional environments, working closely with R&D, Sourcing, Supplier Quality, Logistics, and global suppliers to enable robust designs and secure components throughout a product’s lifecycle. Core strengths: • Electronic component expertise • Supplier & distribution network collaboration • Obsolescence and risk management • Technical problem solving • Supporting engineering and sourcing teams • Strong communication across disciplines Open to roles in component engineering leadership, sourcing support, supply chain risk mitigation, and cross-functional technical positions. Industrial Engineering Quality Engineering Product Marketing Logistics Sales Customer Service

Experience

  • Component Engineer at ASML
    Jan 2020 - Present · 6 yrs 6 mos

    - Ensure selection and qualification of connectivity components for ASML applications - Collaborate with D&E to drive component availability, performance, and compliance - Mitigate component supply and lifecycle risks by developing alternative sources - Lead technical discussions with suppliers regarding specs, lifecycle status, and quality - Provide component expertise to sourcing during supplier strategy and negotiations - Manage reliability and failure investigation support for connectivity components

  • Molex (14 yrs 1 mo)
    • Sales Engineer, Molex BV
      Dec 2011 - Jan 2020 · 8 yrs 2 mos

      Responsible for sales in the Benelux on behalf of Molex BV, covering distributors, distribution customers and OEM's. - Grew Benelux revenue for multiple product families through the distribution network - Managed distributor relationships and improved line performance - Provided technical support to OEM customers to specify the right Molex solutions - Collaborated with product management and engineering teams to resolve technical issues

    • Regional Product Specialist, Commercial Product Division
      Mar 2008 - Dec 2011 · 3 yrs 10 mos

      - Translated global product strategies into European execution - Coordinated product life-cycle activities for assigned families - Supported sales teams with product training and technical insights - Act as a focal point for day-to-day support of the assigned product families in the European region

    • European Account Coordinator
      Jan 2006 - Mar 2008 · 2 yrs 3 mos

      - Improved order accuracy and customer satisfaction by managing fast-paced order changes - Acted as central point for technical questions between customers and internal teams - Coordinated quality issue resolution and reporting - Supported supply chain teams with VMI and JIT program execution

  • Logistics Engineer at Lexmark International Logistics B.V.
    May 2003 - Feb 2005 · 1 yr 10 mos

    - Streamlined packaging process - Led promotional packaging projects with marketing & suppliers - Improved customer complaint handling efficiency

  • Quality Engineer 'Team Nokia' at Philips Mobile Display Systems
    2002 - 2003 · 1 yr

    - Conducted failure root-cause analyses for mobile display components - Partnered with Nokia-facing teams to ensure quality requirements were met

  • Industrial Engineer at Ten Cate Enbi BV
    Aug 1999 - Nov 2002 · 3 yrs 4 mos

    - Developed and maintained quality manuals and work instructions - Implemented SPC measurement software - Led training for quality teams - Initiated preventive/corrective actions for customer issues