ETA Apprentice Mechanical Designer
- Location
- Grenchen Solothurn Switzerland
- Employment
- Apprenticeship
- Seniority
- Intern
- Industry
- Fine Watches & Horology
- Posted
- Aug 18, 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, a manufacturing division of the Swatch Group, seeks an apprentice mechanical designer to design and construct individual components and assemblies for devices, machines, tools, and production systems. The apprentice will prepare construction drawings and technical documentation, progressing from hand sketches to three-dimensional CAD drawings while performing necessary calculations, documenting geometric specifications, tolerances, surface properties, and material characteristics. This is a four-year vocational training programme (EFZ) based in Grenchen, Switzerland, incorporating active participation in new product development and project management under professional mentorship.
Role & Responsibilities
- Design and construct individual components and assemblies for devices, machines, tools, and production systems
- Create hand sketches for initial design concepts
- Prepare three-dimensional CAD construction drawings using computer systems
- Perform technical calculations and document geometric specifications, tolerances, surface finishes, and material requirements
- Participate actively in new product development initiatives
- Collaborate on and lead project work to meet evolving market and customer requirements
Qualifications
- Upper secondary school education (Höchste Volksschulstufe)
- Strong spatial reasoning and visualization ability
- Interest in complex technical problem-solving
- Willingness to assume responsibility
- Excellent communication skills
- Above-average learning aptitude
Skills
Experience
No prior professional experience required; this is an entry-level apprenticeship programme.
Education
Upper secondary school leaving qualification (Höchste Volksschulstufe) required.
Workplace
This position is based in Grenchen, Solothurn, Switzerland, within easy reach of Bern.
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 «Design Engineer Apprentice», «Technical Design Trainee», «CAD Design Apprentice», «Mechanical Draughtsman 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.