Join the atelier
Irdae is twelve people across two studios — Annecy lake and the Cadore valley. We hire rarely but for the long haul. Five open roles for 2026, below.
Why work here?
You're not joining a brand — you're joining an atelier. Léa still sketches frames. Tomás still mills test pairs. Giulia still tumbles the polish cycle by hand. Camille still edges every progressive lens. It's small, concrete, and a real trade.
We value the patience of craft, the right lens for the script, the screw that's actually replaceable. We are not trying to grow fast. We are trying to keep making eyewear that's worn a decade.
If you love the smell of fresh acetate, the click of a riveted Optyl hinge, or the calm of a lens lab on a Tuesday morning — you're home.
How we work
Four principles, repeated often.
Hands first
We hire people who like the gesture — the polish, the rivet, the lens edge. The trade is learned at the bench, not in a deck.
Studio scale
Twelve people across two studios in 2026. We keep it small on purpose — every project gets a real owner.
Teach the next
Tomás teaches frame design, Giulia teaches polish, Camille teaches the lens curing. The atelier learns and passes it on.
Open doors
We welcome every route into eyewear — optometry school, design school, industrial design, lens lab apprenticeship, career changers.
What we offer
Beyond the salary.
A pair on us
One pair from the optical or sun catalogue per year, on the house. Friends-and-family rate on the rest.
Sensible hours
35-hour week, real breaks, one remote day a week on eligible roles. Annecy and Cadore studios both.
Craft training
Pad-fitting, hinge-rivet, lens-edging — we teach the trade at the bench. €1,500 / year personal training budget.
Health care
Mutuelle (FR) or equivalent (IT) covered 80%. Prévoyance, vacation vouchers, sick-day support.
Meal allowance
€11 meal vouchers, 60% covered by Irdae (Swile in FR, ticket buoni in IT).
Workshop visits
Once a year the team visits a partner lens lab or acetate mill. Mazzucchelli last year, BBGR planned for next.
Open roles
Five for 2026.
Optometrist · Annecy
Fit sessions in our Annecy studio Tue-Sat. State-registered optometrist (DE / equivalent) required. You handle prescription transcription, fit adjustments, and lens recommendations.
ApplyFrame designer (junior)
Sketch, prototype, and iterate frame profiles alongside Tomás. Solid Adobe Illustrator + Rhino, eye for proportion, willingness to mill twelve test pairs before you're happy.
ApplyCadore atelier hand
Polish, tumble, hinge-rivet, hand-relief. Either you've done it before or you've apprenticed under someone who has. Italian fluency a real plus.
ApplyLens lab technician
Edge, coat, mount CR-39 and mineral lenses. Apprenticed or state-trained lens technician. Five working days per script, no faster than the curing science.
ApplyCustomer care & repair
Inbound emails, repair triage, fit consultations by video. Patience and a soft hand for frames in distress. Optical background a plus, not required.
ApplySpeculative application?
No role fits but you love what we make? Write anyway. We read every email, keep the strong files for the next opening.
Write to us
careers@irdae.comWhat to include
- Your CV or portfolio
- A short note on what you're looking for
- Why Irdae rather than a bigger brand
- One frame from our catalogue that speaks to you
I came as a junior frame designer in 2022. Four years in, I lead the bridge-profile studies on every series. Tomás takes the time to teach proportion the way no agency would. I would not have had that at a bigger brand.
Marine ThevenyFrame designer, 4 years at Irdae