ASML Holding NV, the Dutch powerhouse monopolizing extreme ultraviolet lithography machines, faces internal turmoil. The company plans to axe 1,700 jobs—mostly middle managers—despite soaring demand for its gear from AI-hungry chipmakers. A leaked internal presentation reveals the scope. It lists roles like department managers, group leaders, team leaders, project leads, scrum masters, and program managers for elimination. Architects face sharper duties. Engineering teams shift into manufacturing and support units. Announced in January 2026 alongside record 2025 results—€32.7 billion in revenue and €9.6 billion net profit—the cuts target bureaucracy. Employees and customers complained of excess layers slowing innovation. ASML’s 44,000 workers span the globe. The purge hits hardest in the Netherlands (1,400 roles) and the U.S. (now 185, down from 300). Yet the firm eyes 1,400 new engineering spots and hundreds more in AI, manufacturing, and support. A six-week summer hiring freeze adds tension.…