Team
Spirits
Location
Life at On
What we Offer
Application Process
Apply(opens in a new tab)

Back to jobs

Specialist - Prototype Engineer

Location: Zurich

Apply for this role(opens in a new tab)

In short

As a Specialist - Prototype Engineer, you will use our in-house workshops and advanced machinery to fulfill prototyping requests from the research and development teams across the Oniverse. Your work will support early concept validation, accelerate innovation, and help reduce time to market.

The main focus of the role is creating world-class prototypes through high-precision footwear engineering, advanced assembly processes, and modern manufacturing technologies such as subtractive and additive manufacturing.

As a vital member of the team, you will help strengthen our fast, efficient, and high-quality prototyping capabilities while also contributing to broader footwear development initiatives, including sample-making, custom fit, and last development.

Your Mission

  • Prepare stock materials, manually finish and buff components, and perform stockfitting for athletic shoe components.

  • Assess the feasibility of digital 3D assets and generate G-codes for milling and additive manufacturing equipment.

  • Act as a proactive self-starter, thriving in a fast-paced environment and effectively managing multiple projects with strong prioritization and execution skills.

  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Innovation, Design, Development, Materials, Sport Science, and Sustainability teams to deliver the highest-quality prototypes, samples, and custom footwear.

  • Contribute to sample-making, custom fit, and last development initiatives. Support our additive manufacturing growth.

  • Apply and uphold Dream On Labs’ organizational methods and safety protocols.

  • Manage material inventory and waste streams to reduce environmental impact.

Two women in athletic clothing sit on a bench with takeaway coffee cups, smiling and chatting after a workout.

    Your story

    • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Footwear/ Product Engineering, Industrial Design, or a related field, with relevant hands-on experience in innovation workshops or labs.

    • Minimum of two years of experience operating advanced prototyping machinery and delivering high-quality components.

    • Hands-on experience in additive manufacturing (3D printing, SLS preferred) and digital asset creation.

    • Proficiency in Grasshopper, Rhino 3D, Fusion 360, and Adobe Suite.

    • Strong problem-solving mindset, attention to detail, and ability to work independently.

    • Passion for creating, with an affinity for hands-on making.

    • Fluent in English (written and spoken); additional languages are a plus.

    Two women in activewear run outdoors, smiling, surrounded by greenery and other runners.

    About the Team

    You will be based in The Dream On Labs in Zurich, On’s extensive in-house prototyping facility. This is where bold ideas from the brightest minds in R&D take shape. The labs host a small, dynamic, and cross-functional team of experts driven by innovation and creativity.

    Together, you will collaborate closely with various research, design, and development departments to:

    • Develop cutting-edge prototypes and samples.
    • Accelerate projects for new movement directions.
    • Strengthen our in-house additive manufacturing capabilities.
    • Support the team with technical tasks that free critical capacity.
    See more
    Four people work on laptops around a high table in a glass meeting room, while another person walks by outside holding a drink.
    A man in a black t-shirt with his hair tied up is standing and smiling

    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.
    Group of people sit and talk at curved concrete benches on a rooftop garden with a city skyline in the background.

    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.