ETA Apprentice Automated Machine Operator
- Employment
- Internship
- Seniority
- Intern
- Industry
- Fine Watches & Horology
- Posted
- Sep 1, 2026
About ETA
ETA is a benchmark of Swiss horological expertise, renowned for designing and producing precision movements that power many of the world’s most respected watches. As part of the Swatch Group, the manufacture combines industrial excellence, technical innovation, and a deep respect for traditional watchmaking savoir-faire. As an employer, ETA offers a highly specialized environment where engineers, micromechanics, technicians, and operational talents contribute to products defined by reliability, accuracy, and refinement. The company values discipline, craftsmanship, continuous improvement, and collaborative expertise, providing careers at the heart of Switzerland’s watchmaking ecosystem and the future of mechanical and quartz movement technology.
ETA SA in Fontainemelon: 3-year Automated Machine Operator apprenticeship with professional manufacturing training at the Swatch Group's watchmaking subsidiary.
Role & Responsibilities
- Configure and monitor modern production and packaging machinery installations, including screw tightening and position verification systems
- Maintain optimal production capacity utilization and productivity levels throughout operations
- Track the entire production chain from raw materials to finished product
- Coordinate and manage individual production processes while supervising machinery during fabrication
- Perform basic mechanical maintenance tasks as required
- Identify and respond immediately to machinery malfunctions; escalate to technicians when necessary
Qualifications
- Manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination
- Logical thinking and analytical capabilities
- Genuine interest in practical and technical tasks
- Ability to quickly identify and remedy technical defects
- Willingness to assume responsibility and work independently
- Capacity to concentrate and manage stress in fast-paced environments
- Comfortable learning continuously in evolving technological environments
- Flexibility to work irregular and shifting schedules (shift work)
Skills
Education
Compulsory secondary education or equivalent lower-secondary qualification
Workplace
This position is based in Fontainemelon, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, within easy reach of Neuchâtel.
Benefits
Professional vocational training and mentorship from experienced trainers throughout the apprenticeship
Culture
ETA offers a workplace culture rooted in Swiss precision, technical mastery, and continuous innovation within the watchmaking industry. As an employer, it fosters collaboration between engineers, artisans, and production specialists, valuing reliability, quality, and the transmission of specialized expertise across generations.
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 ETA, 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 «Production Machine Apprentice», «CNC Machine Operator Trainee», «Industrial Machine Apprentice», «Automated Systems Apprentice», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.