Van Cleef & Arpels Methods Engineer
About Van Cleef & Arpels
Van Cleef & Arpels is a distinguished haute-joaillerie maison known for exceptional craftsmanship, intricate gem-setting and artisanal ateliers. The brand operates ateliers that combine traditional métiers with technical innovation and cultivates multidisciplinary teams focused on creative excellence and technical precision.
Van Cleef & Arpels in Lyon seeks a Methods Engineer (CDD) to industrialise and optimise haute-joaillerie production processes.
Role & Responsibilities
- Define, document and optimise manufacturing processes and work instructions for jewellery production and ancillary operations.
- Lead industrialisation of new models and collections: prototype-to-production transfer, tooling specification and validation.
- Conduct time-and-motion studies, method studies and capacity analyses to improve productivity and standardise processes.
- Collaborate with design, production, maintenance and quality teams to resolve technical issues and ensure manufacturability.
- Specify tooling, fixtures and shopfloor layouts; oversee trials and pilot runs to validate process parameters.
- Implement continuous improvement initiatives (lean principles, waste reduction, process reliability) and track KPIs.
- Train and coach operators on new methods, work instructions and correct use of tooling and equipment.
Qualifications
- Degree in mechanical, industrial or manufacturing engineering (or equivalent technical diploma).
- Practical knowledge of jewellery or precision metalwork manufacturing strongly preferred.
- Demonstrable experience in industrialisation, process engineering or methods engineering roles.
- Strong ability to read technical drawings and translate design intent into production methods.
- Excellent communication skills and capability to work with cross-functional stakeholders on the shopfloor.
Skills
Experience
Several years (typically 3–5+) of hands-on experience in manufacturing methods, industrialisation or process engineering; experience in jewellery, watchmaking, micro-manufacturing or precision metalwork is highly advantageous.
Education
Bachelor's degree or equivalent in mechanical, industrial, manufacturing engineering or a related technical discipline.
Workplace
The role is situated in Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.
Culture
The maison emphasises handcrafted excellence and meticulous attention to detail, blending traditional métiers with technical rigour. Teams operate in a collaborative, atelier-style environment where craftsmanship, quality and continuous improvement are central to daily work.
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 Van Cleef & Arpels, 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 «Process Engineer», «Industrialisation Engineer», «Manufacturing Methods Engineer», «Industrial Methods 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.