Quality Engineer

Overview

The Swatch Group is a globally recognized Swiss watch manufacturer encompassing multiple well-known brands across all price segments. The group is distinguished by its vertical integration and capacity to perform key fabrication steps in-house, from raw materials to finished mechanical and electronic timepieces. The central corporate research laboratory (Asulab) drives advanced materials, processes and technologies through internal R&D and collaborations with academic and research institutions.

Role & Responsibilities

• Ensure that organizational processes and the Swatch Group R&D quality management system conform to ISO 9001 requirements and applicable Swatch Group regulatory and environmental directives.
• Develop, maintain and continuously improve quality procedures, work instructions and documentation for Asulab activities.
• Plan and execute internal audits, manage external audit interactions and coordinate corrective/preventive actions (CAPA) until closure.
• Support R&D project teams with quality planning, risk analyses (e.g., FMEA), verification protocols and design transfer reviews.
• Investigate nonconformities, lead root-cause analysis (8D or equivalent) and implement sustainable corrective measures.
• Coordinate calibration, test equipment qualification and control of measuring devices used in development and testing.
• Provide training and guidance on quality standards and best practices to interdisciplinary engineering teams.
• Interface with suppliers and external partners on quality expectations, supplier assessments and incoming inspection criteria.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, materials science, physics or a related technical discipline; a Master’s degree is advantageous.
• Demonstrated knowledge of ISO 9001 quality management principles and experience implementing ISO-compliant systems.
• Proven ability to conduct internal audits and to lead corrective/preventive action processes; ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification preferred.
• Experience with risk analysis methodologies (FMEA), root-cause analysis (8D) and statistical problem-solving techniques.
• Strong organisational skills, meticulous documentation practice and capacity to work across multidisciplinary R&D teams.
• Fluency in English; working knowledge of French or German is advantageous given the Swiss site and cross-functional interactions.

Skills

Experience

Typically 3–5 years of professional experience in quality engineering within precision manufacturing or R&D environments; experience in watchmaking, micro-mechanics or related high-precision industries is highly desirable. Proven track record in ISO 9001 system implementation and leading cross-functional quality initiatives.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, materials science, physics or equivalent; Master’s degree and ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification are preferred.

Culture

The Swatch Group fosters a culture of technical excellence, precision and continual innovation rooted in Swiss manufacturing heritage. Asulab emphasizes collaborative research, interdisciplinary problem solving and partnerships with academic institutions to remain at the forefront of horological and materials technology.