At a Glance
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 Team
On's Innovation team is an agile, interdisciplinary group of footwear creation, advanced manufacturing, and future sports experts, dedicated to driving On's future innovations and athlete-informed technologies that distinguish On footwear from competitors. 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.
Your Mission
- Lead and manage the end-to-end creation of high-impact, innovative product concepts, overseeing multiple projects 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 challenges. Employ a strong root-cause analysis mindset to address issues in tooling, molding, and assembly while developing new material applications and specifications.
- Act as a key influencer and central communication hub among diverse internal teams and major external T1/T2 partners, effectively managing expectations and communicating with stakeholders at all levels, including senior management.
- Serve as the guardian of product performance by partnering with the testing team to translate direct consumer and athlete feedback into actionable design iterations.
- Collaborate with last engineers to critically assess and validate last shapes, ensuring the perfection of intended fit and performance. Work with computational designers to innovate upper patterns and construction adjustments that enhance fit, durability, and scalability in manufacturing.
- Document complex tooling and upper-related issues, defining and communicating clear corrective actions to all stakeholders. 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.
Your Story
- 8+ years of progressive experience in footwear development, with a significant focus on innovation and market introduction of new technologies.
- Bachelor’s or Master's Degree in Engineering, Material Science, or a relevant technical field.
- Expert-level knowledge of advanced footwear manufacturing processes, including tooling, molding, injection, welding, lasting, and assembly, with an understanding of factory capabilities, tolerances, and limitations for scalable replication.
- A natural technical curiosity paired with a robust root-cause analysis approach to problem-solving.
- In-depth, demonstrated knowledge of advanced footwear materials, their properties, and performance characteristics, with experience in 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, with the ability to confidently present and defend concepts to senior management and external partners.
- A demonstrated ability to work autonomously, navigating ambiguity and making independent judgments on complex issues.
- Experience in mentoring junior team members or supervising project activities is a plus.
- Comfortable and proficient with industrial machinery and hands-on prototyping.
- Ability to travel up to 10-15% of the time.
Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.