Vortic Watch Company is hiring a full-time Manufacturing Engineer to work with our team in Fort Collins, Colorado. This individual will be responsible for creating and optimizing CAD/CAM models in AutoCAD Fusion 360, programming and operating CNC machines, and continuously improving production processes to achieve high-quality, precision parts for both Vortic and Colorado Watch Company wristwatches.

Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer

Job Type: Full-time, Salary, In-person

Location: 324 Jefferson Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524 (Required)

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8am - 5pm

Education: A college degree is not required, but please list your education on your resume.

Company Overview:

Vortic salvages and restores antique American pocket watch movements and converts them into one-of-a-kind wristwatches, and our new brand, Colorado Watch Company, makes the most American-made modern wristwatches at scale today. This position will produce parts for both brands.

Role Overview:

We are one of the only wristwatch manufacturers in the United States and are on a mission to make as much of a watch here as possible. We do things in Colorado that are typically only done in Switzerland and China. As one of our Engineers, it's your job to continuously improve our systems and processes in order to compete with the massive Swiss and Chinese manufacturers in our industry by making parts at scale here in Colorado.

Our facility has multiple Haas and DMG Mori machines, including a 5-Axis DMU and a Swiss Turning Center. We recently installed a new Tsugami mill-turn in order to significantly scale production and are continuously looking for newer, more efficient machines as we attempt to increase from 100 watches per month to over 1,000 per month in the next few years.

For a video tour of our facility, please check out this YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rgi2pLxw3Q

We are looking for a team player; someone who’s not afraid to get their hands dirty and operate the CNC mills and lathes themselves, especially while setting up a new part. We want someone who genuinely cares about making the highest quality parts and products for our customers and for our watchmakers and technicians who build the watches. We need someone who can and will consider the entire supply chain when designing or making something for the first time.

Multiple years of CNC programming experience are required for this role, ideally with Fusion 360, as is hands-on experience with CNC machines. You will work on the shop floor just as much, if not more than, in your office. Ideally, we’d like someone who knows and cares about watches, so in your application, include your story of how you got into watches and what watches you own.

All work is to be done in person, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 5pm at our downtown Fort Collins, Colorado location (324 Jefferson Street). Requests for relocation assistance will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All positions are salaried with benefits.

The starting salary is negotiable and will depend on experience. 3-5 years of CNC machining experience and a deep understanding of the technical aspects of high precision, tight tolerance work is preferred but not required. Due to Vortic’s unique business model, paid on-the-job training and apprenticeship are required for the first 3 months, at a minimum, regardless of experience.

We offer paid time off, access to healthcare after 90 days, access to a 401k with 5% match after 12 months, and a bonus program based on company sales results. The more watches you help us make, the more we can sell, and the more the company as a whole benefits financially; our bonus program distributes these benefits among our employees monthly.

For a glimpse into what it’s like to work at Vortic Watch Company please check out this video interview with one of our watchmakers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzG7oXKok-c

The ideal start date for this role is September 23rd. 

Qualities of the Ideal Candidate:

• Detail-Oriented: Possesses a keen eye for precision and quality, ensuring all parts meet tight tolerances and high standards.
• Innovative Problem Solver: Continuously seeks to improve processes and systems to increase efficiency and scale production.
• Hands-On: Comfortable working directly on the shop floor, operating CNC machines, and setting up new parts.
• Team Player: Collaborates effectively with designers, watchmakers, and other team members to achieve common goals.
• Passionate About Craftsmanship: Genuinely cares about the art of watchmaking and is motivated by producing exceptional, high-quality products.
• Strong Communicator: Able to clearly articulate technical concepts and collaborate with both technical and non-technical team members.

Additional Details:

- This is a full-time, salaried role with the possibility of advancement after 12 months of excellent, reliable work.

- A non-disclosure agreement will be required.

- A criminal background check will be performed before an offer is made to the final candidate.

- We are committed to finding the ideal candidate, and interviews will follow an initial reach-out.

How to Apply:

If you believe you are the perfect fit for this role, please apply using the Questionnaire below. Please include a resume and your salary needs and expectations. We value your contribution and are open to discussing compensation that reflects your skills and experience.

This role is so important to us that we have multiple application and interview steps. Step 1 is to fill out our questionnaire below. (This may be Step 2 for you if you’ve already applied on Indeed.com.) Upon completion of those steps, you may be asked to complete a virtual interview on Zoom. Our top candidates will be invited to do in-person interviews at our workshop in Fort Collins. 

INDEED Applicants: If you applied on Indeed.com, once you've filled out this questionnaire below, please IGNORE all communications from Indeed. We will communicate with you directly via email from now on.

*Note: This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities and qualifications for this position. It may be adjusted based on the evolving needs of the company.

Please DO NOT “just stop by” with your resume or attempt to apply in person! We are currently understaffed, so our operations team needs to remain focused on serving our customers and our customers only. Thank you!