Rolex Materials Project Manager
- Location
- GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
- Seniority
- Mid-Level
- Industry
- Fine Watches & Horology
- Posted
- May 16, 2026
About Rolex
Rolex is a privately held Swiss watchmaker renowned for vertically integrated manufacturing, technical excellence and exacting standards of craftsmanship. The maison combines artisanal skills with advanced engineering to produce high-precision timepieces and maintains a discreet, performance-driven organisational culture.
Rolex seeks a Materials Project Manager in Geneva to lead materials development and supplier qualification for high-precision watch components.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end materials development projects from concept through industrialisation for high-precision watch components.
- Define material specifications, acceptance criteria and test programmes in collaboration with design, quality and production teams.
- Coordinate and supervise laboratory testing and prototype trials, ensuring robust validation of mechanical and surface properties.
- Qualify and develop suppliers for new alloys, coatings and technical materials; manage supplier audits and performance KPIs.
- Conduct risk analysis (including FMEA), cost/benefit trade-offs and sustainability assessments for material choices.
- Prepare technical documentation, specifications and project reports to support regulatory compliance and internal approvals.
- Manage project schedules, budgets and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure timely transfer to production.
- Provide technical support to manufacturing and quality teams during process ramp-up and corrective action implementation.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree or equivalent in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
- Minimum five years’ experience in materials development, metallurgy or materials engineering within precision manufacturing, aerospace, automotive or watchmaking sectors.
- Proven track record of managing cross-functional development projects and supplier qualification programmes.
- Deep knowledge of metallic alloys (including precious metal alloys, stainless steels, titanium) and surface treatments.
- Familiarity with materials characterisation techniques and failure analysis methodologies (mechanical testing, microstructural analysis, corrosion/wear testing).
Skills
Experience
At least five years of progressive responsibility in materials development or metallurgical engineering, with demonstrable experience leading projects and qualifying suppliers in a precision or luxury manufacturing environment.
Education
Master’s degree in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
Workplace
The successful candidate will be located in Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Culture
Rolex’s culture blends meticulous craftsmanship with rigorous engineering and long-term thinking. Teams operate with a high degree of technical autonomy, discretion and cross-disciplinary collaboration, prioritising quality, reliability and continuous improvement.
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 Rolex, 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 «Materials Development Manager», «Project Manager, Materials & Metallurgy», «Metallurgical Project Lead», «Materials Engineering Project 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.