- Location
- Schild Rust-Strasse 17 (View map)2540 GrenchenSwitzerland
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Mid-Level
- Industry
- Fine Watches & Horology
- Posted
- Oct 24, 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 is seeking a Tribology and Materials R&D Engineer for an 80%–100% position in its Research & Development department in Grenchen. The role leads tribology development projects and technical support, including lubrication processes for quartz movements, characterization analyses, and collaboration with laboratories and production teams.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead development projects and provide technical support in tribology, with a particular focus on lubrication processes and lubrication instructions for quartz movements.
- Conduct characterization analyses using optical profilometry and tribometry.
- Identify needs, propose solutions, and manage their evaluation and implementation in close collaboration with laboratories and production departments.
- Provide technical expertise in the field to internal departments and Swatch Group companies.
Qualifications
- Hold a Master's-level engineering qualification from a University of Applied Sciences (HES) or an equivalent qualification.
- Several years of experience in tribology are an additional asset.
- Be dynamic and creative, with an open mind and a strong sense of responsibility.
- Be comfortable in interpersonal interactions and motivated to work as part of a team.
- Be a native French or German speaker, have good knowledge of the other language, and be motivated to communicate in both.
- Good knowledge of English is an asset.
Skills
Experience
Several years of experience in tribology are an additional asset.
Education
Master's-level engineering qualification from a University of Applied Sciences (HES) or equivalent.
Workplace
This position is based in Grenchen, Solothurn, Switzerland.
Explore jobs in Solothurn or in Switzerland.
Benefits
Continuing education opportunities; internal mobility and career prospects; five or six weeks of annual vacation depending on age and/or function; a 40-hour workweek under the collective labor agreement; attractive pay policy and good social benefits; three weeks of parental leave for fathers and up to 19 weeks for mothers; company restaurant; staff discounts on Swatch Group and partner products; sports activities and company events; financial contribution toward health insurance.
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 «Tribology Development Engineer», «Materials Research Engineer», «Tribology Research Engineer», «Materials Development Engineer», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.