Patek Philippe Tooling Workshop Manager
- Location
- GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
- Seniority
- Manager
- Industry
- Fine Watches & Horology
- Posted
- May 13, 2026
About Patek Philippe
Patek Philippe is a privately owned Swiss manufacture revered for haute horlogerie and hand‑finished timepieces. The maison is known for exacting artisanal standards, in‑house movement development and a culture that values technical mastery and multigenerational craftsmanship.
Patek Philippe in Geneva seeks a Tooling Workshop Manager to lead the toolroom and ensure precision tooling for haute horlogerie production.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead and organise the toolroom/workshop activities to support production and prototyping for high‑precision watch components.
- Supervise, coach and develop a multidisciplinary team of machinists, toolmakers and maintenance technicians.
- Plan, prioritise and execute tooling fabrication, modification and preventive maintenance to ensure uninterrupted manufacturing flow.
- Manage workshop capacity, tooling lifecycle, spares inventory and calibration schedules to guarantee dimensional integrity and traceability.
- Collaborate with engineering, production, quality and prototyping teams to translate technical specifications into manufacturable tooling solutions.
- Implement continuous improvement initiatives (lean practices, cost reduction, cycle time optimisation) and enforce safety and compliance standards.
- Select and manage relationships with external suppliers and service partners for specialised machining, heat treatment and tool refurbishment.
- Maintain technical documentation, tooling drawings, risk assessments and workshop procedures in accordance with internal quality requirements.
Qualifications
- Technical diploma or degree in mechanical engineering, precision engineering, toolmaking or equivalent vocational qualification.
- Formal watchmaking qualification (WOSTEP, Swiss Federal Certificate) or significant experience in the watch industry is a strong advantage.
- Demonstrable leadership experience managing small technical teams in a high‑precision or micro‑manufacturing environment.
- Proven knowledge of precision tooling, fixtures, jigs, and maintenance best practices.
- Fluency in industry safety standards and quality management principles applicable to precision manufacturing.
Skills
Experience
Typically 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in toolroom or precision manufacturing environments, including at least 2 years in a supervisory or managerial role; prior exposure to watchmaking or micro‑mechanics is highly desirable.
Education
Technical diploma or degree in mechanical/precision engineering or an accredited toolmaker/watchmaking qualification; continuous professional training in machining/CAD is expected.
Workplace
The role is situated in Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Culture
Patek Philippe cultivates an atelier ethos where artisanal craftsmanship, technical rigour and long‑term apprenticeship coexist. The working environment emphasises precision, discretion and a commitment to sustaining traditional watchmaking savoir‑faire within a modern manufacture.
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 Patek Philippe, 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 «Toolroom Manager», «Workshop Tooling Supervisor», «Tooling & Maintenance Manager», «Precision Tooling Manager», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.