Lead - Innovation Footwear Developer
About this role
Salary: CHF 95’000 - 125’000 per year
Requirements:- 8+ years of progressive experience in footwear development, with a significant focus on innovation and bringing new technologies to market.
- Bachelor’s or Master's Degree in Engineering, Material Science, or another relevant technical field.
- Expert-level knowledge of advanced footwear manufacturing processes, including tooling, molding, injecting, welding, lasting, and assembly.
- A natural technical curiosity and a robust, root-cause analysis approach to problem-solving.
- In-depth, demonstrated knowledge of advanced footwear materials, their properties, and performance characteristics, including experience with advanced testing and analysis.
- Proven ability to lead the scaling of new technologies and assess their commercial viability and factory readiness.
- Exceptional communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work with a high degree of autonomy.
- Experience in mentoring junior team members or supervising project activities is a strong plus.
- Comfortable and proficient with industrial machinery and hands-on prototyping.
- Ability to travel up to 10-15% of the time.
- Lead and own the end-to-end creation of high-impact, innovative product concepts.
- Manage multiple projects independently, from initial strategy and conception through to commercialization.
- Leverage expert knowledge of manufacturing processes, material properties, and biomechanics to troubleshoot significant and unique issues.
- Act as a key influencer and central communication hub between diverse internal teams and major external T1/T2 partners.
- Serve as the guardian for product performance by partnering with the testing team and translating consumer and athlete feedback into design iterations.
- Critically assess and validate last shapes to perfect fit and performance.
- Own documentation of complex tooling and upper-related issues, define and communicate clear correction actions, and create comprehensive tech packs.
- Act as a leader within the team, determining methods and procedures for new assignments.
More:
On's Innovation team is an agile, interdisciplinary group of footwear creation, advanced manufacturing, and future of sport experts. We challenge the status quo and push boundaries to pioneer footwear innovation. As a member of the On Innovation Team, you will think outside the box and bring new, innovative ideas to life.
On is centered around growth and progress, offering an environment designed to give people the tools to develop holistically. We combine a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being.
On is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, free of discrimination in recruitment, advancement, and retention decisions.