In short

As a Lead Innovation Footwear Developer, you will be a driving force at the forefront of On's product evolution. You will operate with a high degree of autonomy to lead complex projects, challenge conventions, and champion innovative approaches that define the future of footwear. This role requires you to master technical complexity, manage key stakeholder relationships, and translate visionary concepts into scalable, performance-driven products.

Your Mission

  • Lead and own the end-to-end creation of high-impact, innovative product concepts. You will manage multiple projects independently, from initial strategy and conception through to commercialization, ensuring alignment with overarching company goals.
  • Leverage your expert knowledge of manufacturing processes, material properties, and biomechanics to troubleshoot significant and unique issues. With a strong root-cause analysis mindset, you will tackle challenges in tooling, molding, and assembly, and develop new material applications and specifications.
  • Act as a key influencer and central communication hub between diverse internal teams and major external T1/T2 partners. You will manage expectations, negotiate effectively, and confidently communicate with stakeholders at all levels, including senior management.
  • Serve as the guardian for product performance. Partner with the testing team and translate direct consumer and athlete feedback into tangible design iterations.
  • Critically assess and validate last shapes with last engineers to perfect the intended fit and performance. You will collaborate with computational designers to pioneer upper patterns and construction adjustments that enhance fit, durability, and ensure scalable manufacturing.
  • Own the documentation of complex tooling and upper-related issues, defining and communicating clear correction actions to all stakeholders. You will create and manage comprehensive tech packs, specification sheets, and BOMs, while driving development timelines to meet critical calendar milestones.
  • Act as a leader within the team, determining methods and procedures for new assignments and potentially supervising the activities of other team members.
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

  • 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. You understand factory capabilities, tolerances, and limitations and know how to design for scalable replication.
  • 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 not only lead the scaling of new technologies but also to assess their commercial viability and factory readiness.
  • Exceptional communication, negotiation, and influencing skills, with the ability to confidently present and defend concepts to senior management and external partners.
  • A demonstrated ability to work with a high degree of autonomy, navigating ambiguity and making independent judgments on complex and significant issues.
  • 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.
two women sitting at a table talking with laptops

About the Team

On's Innovation team is an agile, interdisciplinary group of footwear creation, advanced manufacturing, and future of sport experts, driving On's future innovations and athlete-informed technologies that set On footwear apart.

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.

See more
A man smiling to the camera whilst working on a shoe
A man smiling to the camera whilst working on a shoe

Explorer

Explorer

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Successful creation is all about thinking differently. We celebrate crazy ideas and face challenges head-on to shape better, more innovative products and inspire a better brand.

Learn about our Spirits
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Ernest

Footwear Development, Ho Chi Minh City

Unlike other brands, we aren't just executioners out here in Vietnam, we give ideas as well. Sometimes they have a new idea in Zurich and we might find a process to make it more efficient and we share that.
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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.