In Short
The Lead Footwear Developer will collaborate with product teams to shape the future of On's product line. This role involves translating footwear innovation into advanced products and developing future technologies that will define the brand. You will lead the development of forward-thinking concepts within the Research and Development (R&D) organization.
Your Mission
- Manage and execute the creation of innovative product concepts from conception to completion, overseeing technology development, sample creation and assembly, as well as the development of uppers, toolings, technologies, and molds.
- Manage multiple high-impact innovation projects with complete autonomy and ownership, aligning with strategic company goals.
- Engage in complex problem-solving to tackle challenges related to product intricacies, process optimization, efficiency enhancement, model making, and scalable manufacturing practices.
- Facilitate seamless communication and collaboration by acting as a bridge between designers, conceptual footwear innovators, model makers, pattern engineers, technology partners, and other stakeholders while ensuring scalability is considered for every project.
- Work closely with the Sport Science, Innovation Design, Footwear Engineering, and Innovation Material Science teams to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and drive the development of innovative prototypes.
- Create and update the transfer manual by meticulously documenting processes, including key data, design images, and detailed product/process descriptions to maintain a comprehensive and user-friendly resource for successful technical knowledge transfer.
- Forge strong connections with our development teams in Asia, actively participating in the implementation of successful information transfer strategies and cultivating a collaborative cross-border working relationship.
- Demonstrate expertise in fabricating and assembling materials and components, utilizing a diverse array of machinery and hand tools, including proficiency in cutting, injecting, sanding, buffing, sewing, welding, pressing, and lasting processes.
Your Story
- 5+ years of footwear-specific experience.
- Experience with footwear innovation projects.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or another relevant field preferred.
- 3+ years of experience in traditional footwear manufacturing processes, including injecting, cutting, sewing, welding, machining, laser cutting, construction, and prototyping.
- Proven ability to identify design issues and offer solutions to improve functionality and manufacturability of products.
- Demonstrated knowledge of material testing and methodology, comfortable working with chemistry and chemical processes for materials creation—covering textiles, foam polymers, solvents, chemicals, polyurethane, superfoams, EVA, and others.
- Proven track record in leading the scaling, costing, and testing of manufacturing processes and concepts while introducing new technologies to the market.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to adapt communication style between engineers, designers, product experts, and cross-functional non-product creation partners.
- Ability to work independently under deadlines on multiple projects simultaneously, requiring both innovative ideas and engineering problem-solving.
- Exemplify a high tolerance for ambiguity and possess a solution-focused attitude.
- Comfortable working with industrial machinery.
- Availability to travel up to 15% of the time.
About the Team
On's Innovation team is an agile, interdisciplinary group of footwear creation, advanced manufacturing, and future sport experts driving On's future innovations and athlete-informed technologies that differentiate On footwear. 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.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.