Senior Specialist - Footwear Design

Zurich, SwitzerlandOn-site

Requirements

Working at the intersection of sport science, computational design, AI-enabled workflows and advanced manufacturing, you will help shape the future of performance footwear within the Team Sports category Your Mission:
You will leverage advanced digital workflows including 3D design, computational tools and AI-driven ideation to accelerate concept exploration and innovation.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Design or a related field. Proven
experience in performance footwear design (5+ years), preferably within team sports or sport performance categories.
Strong understanding of athlete needs, movement patterns and performance requirements within team sports.
Expert skills in sketching and storytelling, combined with strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite.
Advanced knowledge of 3D design tools such as Maya, ZBrush, Blender, Rhino or similar platforms. •
Experience with AI-enabled creative tools, generative design workflows, and computational approaches to design exploration.
Understanding of footwear construction, materials and industrial manufacturing processes.
Hands-on mindset with the ability to build physical mockups and proof-of-concept prototypes.
Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to clearly articulate design ideas within cross-functional teams.

You will contribute to shaping On’s design vision and creative culture, pushing the boundaries of performance footwear within the Team Sports category. Your Story:

We are excited to offer the position of Senior Specialist – Footwear Design Performance (Team Sports) within our Design team.
In this role, you will contribute to the creation of next-generation performance footwear for team sports, translating athlete insights, biomechanical data and advanced technologies into innovative design solutions.
You will operate in a fast-paced environment where the full design process — from concept exploration to production briefing — is driven by performance, precision and speed.
You will be an integral part of the Performance Footwear Team Sports vertical, contributing to the development of high-performance products built for elite athletes.
You will own projects across the full design process — from initial research and concept creation through final commercialization.
You will translate athlete insights, biomechanical analysis and sport-specific movement patterns into meaningful design solutions that elevate performance on the field.
You will collaborate closely with sports engineering, biomechanics and testing teams to validate and refine performance hypotheses.
You will work closely with our development partners in Vietnam, traveling two to four times per year to finalize prototypes and bring concepts to production.
Fluent in English (written and spoken). Your Team:
As part of the On Design team, our mission is to disrupt the performance footwear landscape through innovative, athlete-driven design.