Watchmaker – Belfast

Job Role: Watchmaker 

Location: Belfast 

Nomadic Watches is an independent watch brand on a mission to put Belfast on the watchmaking map - creating timepieces that connect people to their roots and their defining moments in life.

We are a fast-growing company with a global customer base, an award-winning team, and an immersive flagship store in the heart of Belfast. As we scale, we are building a specialist workshop team focused on quality, precision, and craftsmanship.

Through partnerships with organisations such as the Irish Football Association (IFA) and the North West 200, alongside a growing portfolio of international collaborations, we are expanding both the technical complexity and global reach of our watches. This gives our watchmakers the opportunity to work on increasingly ambitious projects and contribute directly to products that are gaining recognition on a global stage.

Joining Nomadic at this stage offers a rare opportunity to shape the future of a growing watchmaking operation, influence how a modern workshop is built, and help develop the next generation of watchmakers in Belfast.

The Role

You will be the technical leader within the workshop, providing expertise, stability, and mentorship to a growing watchmaking team.

You will act as the primary escalation point for complex technical issues, oversee service and repair operations, develop workshop standards, and support the introduction of new products into production.

This role combines hands-on watchmaking with technical leadership, training, continuous improvement, and operational support. You will play a key role in ensuring Nomadic's workshop capability grows in line with the company's ambitious plans.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership
  • Act as the primary technical escalation point for assembly and watchmaking issues
  • Conduct root cause analysis of recurring defects and failures
  • Refine, maintain, and improve assembly standards
  • Create and maintain technical Standard Work Instructions
  • Establish best-practice assembly and servicing methodologies
  • Support implementation of continuous improvement initiatives within the workshop
Training & Competency
  • Train and mentor Assembly Watchmakers and Service Technicians
  • Conduct competency assessments and identify skills gaps
  • Create development plans aligned with recognised industry watchmaking pathways
  • Certify team members on new products, processes, and equipment
  • Deliver toolbox talks, technical briefings, and workshop training sessions
  • Support onboarding of new Watchmaking staff
Quality & Continuous Improvement
  • Lead corrective actions relating to assembly and quality defects
  • Investigate supplier-related defects impacting production
  • Maintain assembly tool calibration and verification systems
  • Participate in PFMEA
  • Drive improvements in First Pass Yield, quality performance, and workshop efficiency
  • Support implementation of in process validation and defect reduction initiatives
Production Support & New Product Introduction
  • Support workload balancing and technical resource planning within the workshop
  • Evaluate new components and assemblies before release to production
  • Support prototype, pilot, and NPI builds
  • Validate production readiness prior to product launches
  • Support manufacturing documentation and production control processes
Supplier & Component Support
  • Conduct technical review of supplier quality issues
  • Participate in supplier corrective action activities
  • Review prototype samples and provide technical feedback
  • Define acceptance criteria for inbound components
  • Support supplier development and quality improvement initiatives

Skills & Experience

Essential
  • Minimum 5 years' professional watchmaking experience
  • WOSTEP, BHI, or equivalent recognised horological qualification
  • Proven experience servicing and regulating mechanical watch movements
  • Strong diagnostic and fault-finding capability
  • Experience developing or improving workshop processes and standards
  • Experience training, mentoring, or supervising other watchmakers
  • Strong understanding of quality management and continuous improvement principles
  • Computer literacy with the ability to create technical documentation and standard operating procedures
  • Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills
Desirable
  • Experience within a manufacturing or production watchmaking environment
  • Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI)
  • Knowledge of PFMEA, root cause analysis, and corrective action methodologies
  • Experience working with Swiss OEM movements
Key Behaviours
  • Technical Excellence: Sets the benchmark for watchmaking standards and workmanship
  • Leadership: Develops people and raises capability across the team
  • Ownership: Takes responsibility for technical performance and quality outcomes
  • Continuous Improvement: Constantly seeks better ways of working
  • Collaboration: Works effectively across Operations, Product, Quality, and Supply Chain
  • Professionalism: Maintains high standards and leads by example
Performance Expectations
  • Improve workshop First Pass Yield and reduce defect rates
  • Develop and maintain robust assembly and service standards
  • Successfully train and certify workshop personnel
  • Support successful introduction of new products into production
  • Improve workshop capability, efficiency, and technical maturity
What Success Looks Like
  • A highly capable and confident watchmaking team
  • Reduced assembly defects and warranty returns
  • Strong technical standards and documentation across the workshop
  • Successful product launches with minimal production issues
  • Continuous improvement culture embedded within the team

What we offer

  • Opportunity to shape the future of an independent watchmaking company
  • Significant influence over workshop standards and technical direction
  • Career growth within a rapidly expanding brand
  • Modern workshop environment and investment in tools and equipment
  • Competitive salary dependent on experience
  • Be part of putting Belfast on the global watchmaking map

How to apply

If you're an experienced watchmaker looking for an opportunity to make a lasting impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Join a growing independent brand where your expertise will help build both exceptional watches and the next generation of watchmakers.

Send your CV to careers@nomadicwatches.com along with a short email explaining why you're excited about the role.