Blancpain Machining & Programming Manager
- Location
- Seniority
- Manager
- Industry
- Fine Watches & Horology
- Posted
- Apr 23, 2026
About Blancpain
Blancpain is a Swiss haute‑horlogerie manufacture renowned for mechanical watches and artisanal finishing. The maison operates integrated production sites for cases, bracelets and movements and is part of a major Swiss watchmaking group. Blancpain emphasises technical excellence, hand‑craftsmanship and product integrity across its manufacturing footprint.
Blancpain – Machining & Programming Manager in Delémont, Switzerland. Lead CNC machining and programming for luxury watch cases and bracelets.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead and develop the machining and CNC programming team at the Delémont production site, ensuring productivity, quality and safety targets are met.
- Oversee CNC programming (G‑code/CAM), process planning and optimisation for high‑precision watch cases and bracelets.
- Define tooling, fixturing and machining strategies; validate machining parameters and cycle times to achieve geometric tolerances and surface finishes.
- Collaborate with production planning, maintenance and engineering to ensure machine availability, preventive maintenance and rapid root‑cause resolution.
- Implement continuous improvement initiatives (lean methodologies, process standardisation) to reduce scrap and improve throughput.
- Ensure compliance with internal quality systems and supplier specifications; supervise first‑article inspections and corrective actions in partnership with metrology.
- Recruit, train and mentor machinists and programmers; conduct performance reviews and maintain skills matrices.
Qualifications
- Technical diploma or degree in mechanical engineering, micro‑mechanics, machining or equivalent vocational qualification.
- Strong knowledge of CNC machining principles, tooling, cutting parameters and machining metallurgy.
- Proven ability to author and optimise CNC programs (G‑code) and to translate engineering drawings into manufacturing processes.
- Demonstrated leadership in a production environment with experience managing small to medium teams.
- Familiarity with engineering drawings, GD&T and metrology practices (CMM) relevant to precision components.
Skills
Experience
Several years of hands‑on experience in precision machining or micro‑mechanics, with at least a few years in a supervisory or team‑lead capacity. Prior exposure to watchmaking or other ultra‑precision component manufacturing is highly desirable.
Education
Technical diploma or bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, micro‑mechanics, machining technology, or equivalent vocational qualification.
Workplace
The successful candidate will be located in Delémont, Jura, Switzerland, with easy access to Basel.
Culture
Blancpain combines traditional haute‑horlogerie craftsmanship with advanced production technologies. The workplace values precision, meticulous attention to detail and collaborative problem solving, supporting continuous skills development within a heritage‑driven manufacturing environment.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Blancpain, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «CNC Machining Manager», «Head of Machining and CNC Programming», «Precision Machining Manager», «Production Machining Supervisor», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.