Cartier Surface Treatment Specialist
Cartier — Le Locle: Surface Treatment Specialist required to lead coating and finishing processes at the Maison's precision manufacturing site.
Overview
Cartier is a globally recognised maison of high jewellery and watchmaking, known for exceptional craftsmanship and timeless design. As part of the Richemont group, Cartier combines artisanal heritage with rigorous industrial standards and a commitment to innovation and quality across its manufacturing sites.
Role & Responsibilities
- Serve as the technical reference for surface treatment processes across production lines, ensuring consistent application of coatings and finishes.
- Develop, validate and optimize surface finishing processes (electroplating, PVD, passivation, anodizing and chemical treatments) to meet aesthetic and functional specifications.
- Define and maintain process documentation, work instructions and control plans; ensure traceability and compliance with internal quality standards.
- Lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions for surface defects, implementing preventive measures and continuous-improvement initiatives.
- Collaborate with production, quality, R&D and external suppliers to qualify materials, baths and equipment; oversee supplier performance where relevant.
- Specify, commission and maintain process control and metrology equipment (surface roughness measurement, coating thickness gauges, spectrophotometry) and ensure calibration.
- Ensure adherence to environmental, health and safety requirements related to chemical handling, waste treatment and regulatory constraints.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or technical diploma in materials science, metallurgy, chemical engineering or equivalent technical qualification.
- Demonstrable expertise in surface finishing technologies (electroplating, PVD, passivation, anodizing) and process control.
- Strong knowledge of quality systems and methodologies (e.g., FMEA, SPC) applied to surface treatment processes.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional technical projects and to translate laboratory methods into robust production processes.
- Fluent technical report-writing skills and experience maintaining regulatory and production documentation.
Skills
Experience
Several years of hands-on experience in industrial surface treatment or finishing, ideally within watchmaking, jewellery, precision components or luxury goods production. Demonstrated track record of process optimization, defect reduction and cross-functional technical leadership.
Education
Bachelor's degree or technical diploma in materials science, metallurgy, chemical engineering or equivalent.
Workplace
This position is based in Le Locle, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, within easy reach of Neuchâtel. Cerulean lists 26 open roles in Le Locle. The broader Neuchâtel area accounts for 109 active listings on Cerulean, 3 of which are new. In Switzerland as a whole, Cerulean currently features 770 open positions, with 25 posted this week.
Culture
Cartier fosters a culture that balances artisanal excellence with industrial discipline; teams value meticulous attention to detail, respect for heritage craftsmanship and a collaborative approach to technical problem‑solving. The workplace emphasizes continuous improvement, quality and discretion appropriate to a luxury 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.