In short

As a key contributor to the sportswear revolution, you will be instrumental in developing new high performance footwear materials with a focus on microcellular foams and rubbers. Starting from bottom-up laboratory research, you will partner with fellow polymer specialists, innovation engineers and product developers to deliver new material solutions that will fuel On’s broader innovation efforts. Ultimately, your work will be key to drive advancements in our material portfolio, shaping the future on On’s performance-driven footwear. Additionally, you will have a key role in coordinating and collaborating with external laboratories, research centers and scale up partners to create materials that align with our brand direction and inspire the future of high performance and sustainable footwear.

Your Mission

  • Be part of On’s Innovation Team, stirring research and development of new high performance foams and rubbers by carrying out experimental work at On Foam Competence Center located in Zurich.
  • Work at the forefront of polymer science and polymer technology, helping the team in setting up research projects that aim to the creation of new microcellular foam formulations directly in the lab.
  • Be able to validate the development of new materials by carrying out chemical and mechanical analysis, making sure they meet / exceed our quality standards.
  • Work on sustainable solutions to reduce On’s carbon footprint. You will implement innovations into the product line to meet the high expectations of our sustainability roadmap.
  • Create and manage new and existing collaborations with leading partners in specific technologies such as material / parts suppliers as well as research institutes in order to successfully implement new technologies into production.
  • Within Innovation, collaborate closely with fellow Material Scientists, Engineering and Development teams to align on key projects direction and priorities.
Group of girls smiling
  • Man and woman sat at desks talking
  • Open planned office with men and women sat on a a large curved sofa
  • Group of runners talking outside the office
  • A team of people sat on the steps with a view of mountains outside the office.
  • Two women smiling at each other in a meeting room with large curved windows
  • A group of people sat around a table looking at large design papers
  • 3 men sat around with laptops smiling at each other
  • a large group of runners holding an On flag smiling at the camera
  • Man and woman sat at desks talking
  • Open planned office with men and women sat on a a large curved sofa
  • Group of runners talking outside the office
  • A team of people sat on the steps with a view of mountains outside the office.
  • Two women smiling at each other in a meeting room with large curved windows
  • A group of people sat around a table looking at large design papers
  • 3 men sat around with laptops smiling at each other
  • a large group of runners holding an On flag smiling at the camera
  • Man and woman sat at desks talking
  • Open planned office with men and women sat on a a large curved sofa
  • Group of runners talking outside the office
  • A team of people sat on the steps with a view of mountains outside the office.
  • Two women smiling at each other in a meeting room with large curved windows
  • A group of people sat around a table looking at large design papers
  • 3 men sat around with laptops smiling at each other
  • a large group of runners holding an On flag smiling at the camera

Your story

  • Master or Phd in Polymer Science, Polymer Technology, Material Science or strictly related fields.
  • 5+ years of experience in polymer development
  • Experience in development and validation of microcellular foams and foaming technologies (e.g. injection molding, compression molding, batch foaming).
  • Experience in conventional polymer characterisation methods such as thermal analysis (TGA, DSC), linear and non-linear rheology (capillary viscosity measurement, SAOS, DMA), optical and electron microscopy, mechanical characterization (tensile and compression testing, impact testing, cyclic compression and fatigue characterisation).
  • Proven experience in working with external partners in scaling up novel material and/or polymer processing technologies is considered a strong plus.
  • Expertise in data science and coding (Phyton, Origin, Matlab, etc.) is considered a strong plus.
  • You are a first principles and sustainability driven scientist.
  • You have a genuine hunger for knowledge and feel confident in constantly challenging the status-quo.
  • Fluency in English (spoken and written) is required. Any other language is considered a plus.
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About the Team

Our mission is to define and create the future of sportswear bringing to life groundbreaking innovations. Acting at the forefront of material science, sport science and engineering we develop products that push the boundaries of performance and sustainability, blending in unique aesthetic appeal that embodies On’s design DNA.

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A woman displaying a shoe to a man
A woman displaying a shoe to a man

Explorer

Explorer

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Exploration – it’s literally our day job. We dive into the ideas of tomorrow head-first and see what we surface with. Sometimes they work. Sometimes they don’t. But it’s always a rush when we discover something new.

Learn about out Spirits
An image of Dina

Dina

Sports Science Lead, Zurich

We touch every product that's being made because we bring the connection to the human being. So while everyone's excited about products, materials and colors, we go and say, “okay, so what does this actually do for the human?”
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What we offer

On is a place that is centered around growth and progress. We offer an environment designed to give people the tools to develop holistically – to stay active, to learn, explore and innovate. Our distinctive approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere, with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, so each person is led by purpose.

On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.

Build the better you

What to expect

We want to set everyone up for success, so here’s the lowdown on how we hire. Our process is a two-way street – bringing you into our culture, while helping us learn how you think.

Our full process can last about eight weeks from application to offer, because we care about getting it right. These steps explain how we usually do things.

Before you get started, feel free to consider if you want to work with us. Strange question? Well, we give people a lot of space to navigate their day-to-day and that style isn't for everyone. We want you to be passionate about what you do and be sure this is the right fit. Because when skills and passion combine – it creates that 'Wow' moment.