<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.30

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         This Agreement is entered into by and between August Technology
Corporation ("August Technology" or the "Company"), a Minnesota corporation,
with its principal place of business at 4900 West 78th Street, Bloomington,
Minnesota 55435, and Albert Eliasen of 17617 GeorgeMoran Drive, Eden Prairie,
Minnesota 55347, USA ("Employee").

         WHEREAS, Employee desires employment with August Technology or has been
employed with August Technology and wishes to continue employment under the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;

         WHEREAS, Employee acknowledges and agrees that he has and will continue
to have access to confidential, proprietary and trade secret information in the
course of his/her employment and continued employment with August Technology,
the unauthorized use or disclosure of which would cause irreparable harm to
August Technology;

         WHEREAS, August Technology and Employee wish to set forth the terms of
their agreement in writing;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration the
receipt and sufficiency of which is specifically acknowledged by the parties,
August Technology and Employee agree as follows:

         1. EMPLOYMENT. August Technology agrees to employ or continue to employ
Employee, effective March 1, 2002, and Employee accepts employment or continued
employment, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

         2. TERM OF EMPLOYMENT. August Technology shall continue to employ
Employee for an indefinite duration until his/her employment is terminated in
accordance with Paragraph 8 of this Agreement.

         3. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. Employee shall devote his/her time,
attention and best efforts to the duties and responsibilities of his/her
position, and to the business and affairs of August Technology. Employee's title
shall be as set forth in Exhibit A as "Employee's Title", reporting to the
person or office as set forth in Exhibit A as "Manager". Employee shall perform
all duties and responsibilities of the position he/she holds with August
Technology as those duties and responsibilities may change from time to time.
Employee shall comply with August Technology's standards, policies and
procedures in effect and as they may change from time to time; provided that to
the extent such policies and procedures are inconsistent with this Agreement,
the provisions of this Agreement shall control.

         4. COMPENSATION. August Technology shall pay Employee a gross annual
salary as set forth in Exhibit A as "Base Salary", less appropriate payroll
deductions. Employee may also receive incentive compensation in accordance with
the Annual Incentive Plan, as issued and as may change from time to time by the
Company, or any other similar plan authorized by the Board of Directors.
Employee's compensation may be periodically increased or adjusted as authorized
by the Board of Directors in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, or, in the
case of all others, as recommended by the Chief Executive Officer and approved
by the Board of Directors.
<PAGE>
         5. BUSINESS EXPENSES. August Technology will, in accordance with its
policies and practices as such may change from time to time, reimburse Employee
for all ordinary and necessary business expenses after receipt of appropriate
documentation of such expenses.

         6. BENEFITS. Employee shall be entitled to insurance and other benefits
provided to key management employees in accordance with applicable plan
documents and commensurate with vice president and higher positions within the
Company. Benefits provided to employees are subject to change in the discretion
of August Technology.

         7. STOCK OPTIONS. At the discretion of August Technology, Employee may
be granted stock options from time to time, which options shall be subject to
the terms and conditions of the August Technology Corporation 1997 Stock Option
Plan, as amended from time to time, or any successor plan, and the related stock
option agreements. Further, Employee shall be eligible to participate in the
August Technology Corporation 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended from
time to time, or any successor plan, subject to the terms and conditions
contained therein.

         8. TERMINATION. Employee's employment under this Agreement may be
terminated:


                  (a)      At any time upon mutual written agreement of the
                           parties;

                  (b)      By either Employee or August Technology at any time,
                           with or without cause, upon thirty (30) days' written
                           notice to the other;

                  (c)      By August Technology immediately upon notice to
                           Employee for cause which shall be defined as:

                           (i)      Employee's material failure or neglect, or
                                    refusal to perform, the duties and
                                    responsibilities of his/her position and/or
                                    the reasonable direction of the Board of
                                    Directors or his/her superiors;

                           (ii)     Commission by Employee of any willful,
                                    intentional or negligent act that has the
                                    effect of injuring the reputation, business
                                    or performance of August Technology;

                           (iii)    Employee's conviction of a crime, or
                                    commission of any act involving moral
                                    turpitude;

                           (iv)     Any material default or nonperformance of
                                    the terms of this Agreement, or any
                                    violation of Paragraphs 10, 11, 12, 14
                                    and/or 15 of this Employment Agreement; or

                  (d)      Employee's employment will terminate immediately upon
                           his/her death.


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<PAGE>
         Upon Employee's resignation or termination under this Paragraph 8 for
any reason, August Technology shall pay Employee his/her Base Salary through the
Employee's last date of employment, and any accrued and unused vacation or other
paid time off through the Employee's last date of employment. Employee's
entitlement to any vested pension, profit sharing or other benefits shall be
governed by applicable plan documents. In the event Employee's employment is
terminated either by Employee or August Technology under Paragraph 8 (b), August
Technology may elect, in its sole discretion, to pay Employee his/her salary for
the thirty (30) day notice period in lieu of Employee's continued performance of
duties during the notice period. In the event Employee is terminated by August
Technology in accordance with Paragraph 8 (b), August Technology shall, in
addition to the above, pay Employee a severance at his/her then current Base
Salary rate for the time period as set forth in Exhibit A as "Severance Period",
to be paid according to the normal payroll schedule, directly following the
thirty (30) day notice period, and August Technology shall, if the Employee
elects to continue group health or other group benefits as allowed by COBRA,
make the COBRA payments for the Severance Period. Employee shall not be entitled
to any further or other payments or benefits of any kind upon the Employee's
termination or resignation under this Paragraph 8. In the event, Employee is
entitled to Change in Control benefits as set forth in Paragraph 9, Employee
shall not be entitled to any severance or notice rights under this Paragraph 8.

         9. CHANGE IN CONTROL. If, within eighteen (18) months following a
Change in Control (as defined below), Employee's employment is terminated (as
defined below), then:

                  (a)      Employee shall be paid his/her last Base Salary on a
                           regular payroll cycle as of the effective date for
                           the time period as set forth in Exhibit A as "Change
                           In Control Severance Period" from the effective date
                           of such termination;

                  (b)      For the same Change In Control Severance Period from
                           the effective date of such termination as set forth
                           in Paragraph 9(b), the Company shall, if Employee
                           elects to continue group health or other group
                           benefits as allowed under COBRA, make the COBRA
                           payments for the Change In Control Severance Period;

                  (c)      The right to exercise all unexpired and non-vested
                           stock options in favor of Employee shall immediately
                           vest and accelerate; and

                  (d)      LIMITATION ON CHANGE OF CONTROL PAYMENTS. Employee
                           shall not be entitled to receive any Change of
                           Control Action, as defined below, which would
                           constitute an "excess parachute payment" for purposes
                           of Code Section 280G, or any successor provision, and
                           the regulations thereunder. In the event any Change
                           of Control Action payable to Employee would
                           constitute an "excess parachute payment," then the
                           acceleration of the exercisability of such stock
                           options and the payments to such Participant pursuant
                           to this Paragraph 9 shall be reduced to the largest
                           extent or amount as will result in no portion of such
                           payments being subject to the excise tax imposed by
                           Section 4999 of the Code. For purposes of this
                           Paragraph 9, a "Change of Control Action" shall mean
                           any payment, benefit or transfer of property in the
                           nature of compensation paid to or for the benefit of
                           Employee


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<PAGE>
                           under any arrangement which is considered contingent
                           on a Change of Control for purposes of Code Section
                           280G, including, without limitation, any and all
                           salary, bonus, incentive, restricted stock, stock
                           option, compensation or benefit plans, programs or
                           other arrangements, and shall include benefits
                           payable under this Agreement.

                  (e)      "CHANGE OF CONTROL." For purposes of this Agreement,
                           "Change of Control" shall mean any of the following
                           events occurring after the date of this Agreement:

                           (1)      A merger or consolidation to which the
                                    Company is a party, an acquisition by the
                                    Company involving the issuance of the
                                    Company's securities as consideration for
                                    the acquired business, or any combination of
                                    fully closed and completed mergers,
                                    consolidations or acquisitions during any
                                    consecutive twenty-four (24) month period,
                                    if the individuals and entities who were
                                    shareholders of the Company immediately
                                    prior to the effective date of such merger,
                                    consolidation, or acquisition (or prior to
                                    the effective date of the first of a
                                    combination of such transactions) have,
                                    immediately following the effective date of
                                    such merger, consolidation or acquisition
                                    (or following the effective date of the last
                                    of a combination of such transactions),
                                    beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule
                                    13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of
                                    1934) of less than fifty percent (50%) of
                                    the total combined voting power of all
                                    classes of securities issued by the
                                    surviving corporation for the election of
                                    directors of the surviving corporation;

                           (2)      The acquisition of direct or indirect
                                    beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule
                                    13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of
                                    1934) of securities of the Company by any
                                    person or entity or by a group of associated
                                    persons or entities acting in concert in one
                                    or a series of transactions, which causes
                                    the aggregate beneficial ownership of such
                                    person, entity or group to equal or exceed
                                    twenty percent (20%) or more of the total
                                    combined voting power of all classes of the
                                    Company's then issued and outstanding
                                    securities;

                           (3)      The sale of the properties and assets of the
                                    Company substantially as an entirety, to any
                                    person or entity which is not a wholly-owned
                                    subsidiary of the Company;

                           (4)      The stockholders of the Company approve any
                                    plan or proposal for the liquidation of the
                                    Company; or

                           (5)      A change in the composition of the Board of
                                    the Company at any time during any
                                    consecutive twenty-four (24) month period
                                    such that the "Continuity


                                       4
<PAGE>
                                    Directors" no longer constitute at least a
                                    seventy percent (70%) majority of the Board.
                                    For purposes of this event, "Continuity
                                    Directors" means (i) those members of the
                                    Board who were directors at the beginning of
                                    such consecutive twenty-four (24) month
                                    period or at the date of this Agreement if
                                    this Agreement was entered into less than
                                    twenty-four months prior to the change in
                                    composition of the Board; and (ii) any new
                                    director whose election to the Board of
                                    Directors or nominations for election to the
                                    Board of Directors was approved by a vote of
                                    at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors
                                    identified in the immediately preceding
                                    clause (i).

                           (6)      The Company enters into a letter of intent,
                                    an agreement in principle or a definitive
                                    agreement relating to an event described in
                                    Paragraph 9(e)(1), 9(e)(2), 9(e)(3),
                                    9(e)(4), or 9(e)(5) that ultimately results
                                    in such a Change of Control, or a tender or
                                    exchange offer or proxy contest is commenced
                                    that ultimately results in an event
                                    described in Paragraph 9(e)(2) or 9(e)(5).

                  (f)      TERMINATION. For purposes of this Paragraph 9,
                           "Termination" shall mean any of the following events
                           occurring within eighteen (18) months after a Change
                           of Control:

                           (1)      The termination of Employee's employment by
                                    the Company for any reason, with or without
                                    cause, except for termination resulting from
                                    conduct by Employee constituting (a) a
                                    felony involving moral turpitude under
                                    either federal law or the law of the State
                                    of Minnesota, or (b) Employee's willful
                                    failure to fulfill his/her employment duties
                                    with the Company; provided, however, that
                                    for purposes of this clause (c), an act or
                                    failure to act by Employee shall not be
                                    "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to
                                    be done, in bad faith and without any
                                    reasonable belief that Employee's action or
                                    omission were in the best interests of the
                                    Company; or

                           (2)      The termination of employment with the
                                    Company by Employee for Good Reason. Such
                                    termination shall be accomplished by, and
                                    effective upon, Employee giving written
                                    notice to Company of his/her decision to
                                    terminate. "Good Reason" shall mean a good
                                    faith determination by Employee, in
                                    Employee's sole and absolute judgment, that
                                    any one or more of the following events has
                                    occurred, at any time during the term of
                                    this Agreement or after a Change of Control;
                                    provided, however, that such event shall not
                                    constitute "Good Reason" if Employee has
                                    expressly consented to such event in writing
                                    or if Employee fails to provide written
                                    notice of his/her decision to terminate
                                    within sixty (60) days of the occurrence of
                                    such event:

                                    (a)      A material change in Employee's
                                             reporting responsibilities, titles
                                             or offices, or any removal of
                                             Employee from or any failure to
                                             re-elect Employee to any of such
                                             positions, which


                                       5
<PAGE>
                                             has the effect of materially
                                             diminishing Employee's
                                             responsibility or authority;

                                    (b)      A reduction by the Company in
                                             Employee's base salary (as
                                             increased from time to time);

                                    (c)      A requirement imposed by the
                                             Company on Employee that results in
                                             Employee being based at a location
                                             that is outside of a twenty-five
                                             (25) mile radius of Employee's
                                             prior job location;

                                    (d)      Without the adoption of a
                                             replacement plan, program or
                                             arrangement that provides benefits
                                             to Employee that are equal to or
                                             greater than those benefits that
                                             are discontinued or adversely
                                             affected:

                                             i.       A failure by the Company
                                                      to continue in effect,
                                                      within its maximum stated
                                                      term, any pension, bonus,
                                                      incentive, stock
                                                      ownership, stock purchase,
                                                      stock option, life
                                                      insurance, health,
                                                      accident, disability, or
                                                      any other employee
                                                      compensation or benefit
                                                      plan, program or
                                                      arrangement, in which
                                                      Employee is or has been
                                                      participating;

                                             ii.      The taking of any action
                                                      by the Company that would
                                                      adversely affect
                                                      Employee's participation
                                                      or materially reduce
                                                      Employee's benefits under
                                                      any of such plans,
                                                      programs or arrangements;
                                                      or

                                    (e)      Any action by the Company that
                                             would materially adversely affect
                                             the physical conditions in or under
                                             which Employee performs his/her
                                             employment duties; or

                                    (f)      Any material breach by the Company
                                             of this Employment Agreement
                                             between Employee and the Company.

                                    Termination for "Good Reason" shall not
                           include Employee's death or a termination for any
                           reason other than the events specified in clauses (a)
                           through (f) above.

         10. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. During the term of this Agreement and at
all times thereafter, Employee shall not directly or indirectly use or disclose
any trade secret, proprietary or confidential information of August Technology
or any subsidiary for the benefit of any person or entity other than August
Technology or any subsidiary without prior written approval of August
Technology's Board of Directors. For purposes of this Agreement, in addition to
all materials and information protected by applicable statute or law, the
parties acknowledge that confidential information shall include any information,
whether in print, on computer disc or tape or otherwise,


                                       6
<PAGE>
which is not public information and which relates to August Technology or any
subsidiary, or August Technology's or any subsidiary's existing or reasonably
foreseeable business, including but not limited to information relating to
research, development, technology, manufacturing processes, purchasing and
sales, information relating to sales and other financial strategies, plans
and/or goals, information relating to proprietary rights and data, ideas,
know-how, and/or trade secrets, information regarding the identity and/or needs
of clients or customers, client or customer lists and other client or customer
information, information regarding active and inactive accounts of August
Technology or any subsidiary, and information relating to August Technology's or
any subsidiary's methods of operation.

         11. NONCOMPETITION OBLIGATIONS. As a condition to and in consideration
of his/her employment and continued employment, and in exchange for the
severance and Change of Control provisions as set forth in Paragraphs 8 and 9 of
this Employment Agreement, and the mutual covenants herein, Employee agrees
that, during his/her employment and for a period of one (1) year following
his/her voluntary or involuntary resignation or termination for any reason, the
Employee will not, on behalf of himself/herself or any other person or entity:

                  (a)      Directly or indirectly solicit, on Employee's own
                           behalf, or on behalf of another, any of August
                           Technology's or any subsidiary's customers or
                           potential customers with whom Employee or Employee's
                           supervisees had contact, either directly or
                           indirectly, within the twelve months immediately
                           preceding Employee's resignation or termination of
                           employment, for the purpose of providing, selling, or
                           attempting to sell any products or services competing
                           with those provided or sold by August Technology or
                           any subsidiary, or clearly contemplated thereby due
                           to research, development, engineering, applications,
                           licensing, or other like projects in process, at the
                           time of resignation or termination; or

                  (b)      hire or attempt to hire, or influence or solicit, or
                           attempt to influence or solicit, either directly or
                           indirectly, any employee of August Technology or any
                           subsidiary to leave or terminate his/her or her
                           employment, or to work for any other person or
                           entity.

         12. WORK PRODUCT AND INVENTIONS. August Technology shall be entitled to
all of the benefits, profits, results and work product arising from or incident
to all work, services, advice and activities of Employee, including without
limitation all rights in inventions (as set forth below), trademark or trade
name creations, and copyrightable materials. Employee shall not, during the term
of his/her employment by August Technology, be interested, directly or
indirectly, in any manner, including, but not limited to, as partner, officer,
advisor, or in any other capacity in any other business similar to, or in
competition with, August Technology's or any subsidiary's business.

         Employee agrees to communicate promptly and fully to August Technology
all inventions, discoveries, improvements or designs conceived or reduced to
practice by Employee during the period of his/her employment with August
Technology (alone or jointly with others), and, except as provided in this
Paragraph 12, Employee will and hereby does assign to August Technology and/or
its nominees all of the Employee's right, title and interest in such inventions,
discoveries, improvements or designs and all of his/her right, title and
interest in any patents, patent applications


                                       7
<PAGE>
or copyrights based thereon without obligation on the part of August Technology
or any subsidiary to make any further compensation, royalty or payment to
Employee. Employee further agrees to assist August Technology and/or its nominee
(without charge but at no expense to Employee) at any time and in every proper
way to obtain and maintain for its and/or their own benefit, patents for all
such inventions, discoveries and improvements and copyrights for all such
designs.

         This Agreement does not obligate Employee to assign to August
Technology any invention, discovery, improvement or design for which no
equipment, supplies, facility or trade secret information of August Technology
or any subsidiary was used and which was developed entirely on Employee's own
time, and (1) which does not relate (a) directly to the business of August
Technology or any subsidiary, or (b) to August Technology's or any subsidiary's
actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (2) which does
not result from any work performed by Employee for August Technology or any
subsidiary.

         13. EXEMPT INVENTIONS. Identified under Exempt Inventions in Exhibit A
by descriptive title are all of the Inventions, if any, in which Employee
possesses any right, title or interest prior to Employee's employment with
August Technology or execution of this Employment Agreement which are not
subject to the terms hereof.

         14. COPYRIGHTS. Employee acknowledges that any documents, drawings,
computer software or other work of authorship prepared by Employee within the
scope of his/her employment is a "work made for hire" under U.S. copyright laws
and that, accordingly, August Technology exclusively owns all copyright rights
in such works of authorship. For purposes of this paragraph, "scope of
employment" means that the work of authorship (a) relates to any subject matter
pertaining to his/her employment, (b) relates to or is directly or indirectly
connected with the existing or reasonably foreseeable business, products,
projects or confidential information of August Technology or any subsidiary, or
(c) involves the use of any time, material or facility of August Technology or
any subsidiary.

         15. RETURN OF PROPERTY. Employee shall, immediately upon his/her
involuntary or voluntary resignation or termination from employment for any
reason, deliver to August Technology all documents and other items, whether on
computer disc or tape or otherwise, including all copies thereof, belonging to
August Technology or any subsidiary or in any way related to the business of
August Technology or any subsidiary or the services Employee performed for
August Technology or any subsidiary, including but not limited to any documents
or items containing trade secret, proprietary, or confidential information,
documents in any way relating to any inventions or copyrights, client or
customer information, information relating to August Technology's or any
subsidiary's processes or procedures and any other materials or documents of any
sort relating to August Technology or any subsidiary. Employee shall not retain
any copies or summaries of any kind of documents and materials covered by this
Paragraph 15.

         16. REMEDY UPON VIOLATION. Employee and August Technology agree that a
breach or threatened breach of Paragraphs 10, 11, 12, 14 or 15 would cause
irreparable harm to August Technology and/or its subsidiaries, and that monetary
damages alone would not be an adequate remedy. Employee agrees that August
Technology and any subsidiary shall be entitled, in addition to any other remedy
it may have at law or in equity, to an injunction, without the posting of a bond
if allowed by applicable law or with the posting of a minimal bond if required,
enjoining or


                                       8
<PAGE>
restraining Employee from any violation or violations or threatened violation or
violations of Paragraphs 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15, and/or for specific performance
of duties and obligations under such paragraphs, and Employee hereby consents to
the issuance of such injunction. If any rights or restrictions contained in
Paragraphs 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15 shall be deemed to be unenforceable by reason
of the extent, duration or geographic scope, or other provision thereof, the
parties contemplate that the Court shall reduce such extent, duration or
geographic scope or other provision and enforce Paragraphs 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15
in their reduced form for all purposes in the manner contemplated by such
Paragraphs.

         17. OTHER AGREEMENTS. By Employee's signature to this Agreement,
Employee warrants that he/she is not subject to any employment, noncompetition,
confidentiality, inventions or other obligations or agreements which would
prevent or restrict the Employee in any way from accepting employment with
August Technology and fully performing his/her duties and responsibilities as
described in this Agreement. Employee, by his/her signature to this Agreement,
further warrants that he/she has not taken and will not take any trade secret,
proprietary or confidential information of any former employer, and will not use
or disclose any such information to anyone in the performance of duties and
responsibilities under this Agreement.

         18. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of August Technology.

         19. NOTICES. All notices and other communications to be given under
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be given when
delivered personally, or when mailed by registered or certified mail, addressed
to the party to whom such notice is intended to be given, at the last known
address for that party or at such other address as the party may specify by
written notice.

         (a)      In the case of August Technology, the notice shall be provided
                  to:

                           General Counsel
                           August Technology Corporation
                           4900 West 78th Street
                           Bloomington, MN 55435

         (b)      In the case of Employee, the notice shall be provided to:

                           Al Eliasen
                           17617 GeorgeMoran Drive
                           Eden Prairie, MN 55347

         Either party may, by written notice hereunder, designate a change of
address. Any notice, if mailed properly addressed, postage prepaid, registered
or certified mail, shall be deemed dispatched on the registered date or that
stamped on the certified mail receipt, and shall be deemed received within the
fifth business day thereafter, or when it is actually received, whichever is
sooner.

         20. SURVIVAL OF PROVISIONS. Employee acknowledges and agrees that the
restrictions and obligations set forth in Paragraphs 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and
16 of this Agreement are


                                       9
<PAGE>
reasonable, shall survive his/her resignation from or the termination of his/her
employment, and shall apply to him/her whether his/her resignation or
termination from employment is voluntary or involuntary and regardless of the
reason for such resignation or termination.

         21. NONWAIVERS. No failure on the part of either party to exercise, and
no delay in exercising, any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy
hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
right or remedy granted hereby or by any related document or by law.

         22. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted
according to the laws of the State of Minnesota, without reference to its
conflict of laws provisions.

         23. PARAGRAPH HEADINGS. Paragraph headings are included in this
Agreement for convenience of reference only, and are not intended to be full or
accurate descriptions of the contents hereof.

         24. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall
constitute one (1) and the same instrument.

         25. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement states the entire Agreement of the
parties on the subjects set forth herein, and merges and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings between the parties. No modification, termination,
or attempted waiver of any provision of this Agreement will be valid unless it
is made in writing and signed by the party against whom the same is sought to be
enforced, and is specifically identified as a modification, termination,
release, waiver or discharge of this Agreement. If any term, clause or provision
of this Agreement shall for any reason be adjudged invalid, unenforceable or
void, the same shall not impair or invalidate any of the other provisions
contained herein, all of which shall be performed in accordance with their
respective terms.

                                                  AUGUST TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

Dated:________________________, 2002              By____________________________
                                                           Its__________________



Dated:________________________, 2002              By____________________________
                                                           EMPLOYEE


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<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT A

Employee's Name                     =       Al Eliasen

Employee's Title                    =       V.P. Engineering

Manager                             =       Chief Operating Officer

Base Salary                         =       $138,000

Severance Period                    =       twelve (12) months

Change In Control Severance Period  =       eighteen (18) months

Exempted Inventions                 =       _________________________
                                            _________________________
                                            _________________________
                                            _________________________
Initials of approval of Exhibit:    AUGUST TECHNOLOGY CORP.   _______

                                    EMPLOYEE                  _______


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