Senior Lead Footwear Developer at On in Zurich

Keywords

• Footwear Development
• Performance Running
• Technical Governance
• Supply Chain
• Zurich

Summary

As a Senior Lead Footwear Developer for Performance Running, you will provide technical governance and strategic alignment between design and manufacturing. You act as the primary technical advisor to ensure performance integrity as the category scales.

Job Description

On is looking for a Senior Lead Footwear Developer to serve as the strategic technical consultant for its performance running category. Based in Zurich, this role focuses on high-level alignment between design intent and manufacturing feasibility rather than granular execution. You will ensure that the technical standards and performance integrity of the brand are maintained as the category grows globally.

Your tasks

• Act as the primary technical advisor during briefing and design phases to align concepts with global manufacturing capabilities.
• Facilitate technical alignment between Zurich-based design teams and Asia-based execution partners.
• Support the evolution of development standards by identifying bottlenecks and advising on best practices.
• Serve as the senior technical point of contact for complex technical hurdles and production escalations.
• Mentor the broader development team and translate innovation breakthroughs into actionable frameworks.

Your profile

• 8 to 12 years of experience in footwear development, rooted in high-performance running.
• Proven ability to influence product direction through partnership and advisory rather than direct line management.
• Deep understanding of how performance tooling, materials, and construction impact the global supply chain.
• Exceptional skills in navigating HQ and regional dynamics as a technical translator between creative vision and factory execution.

What we offer

You will join a high-performance collective of engineers and developers in Zurich, acting as the technical heart of the brand. The team is dedicated to a culture of technical rigor and Swiss engineering, challenging the status quo to solve complex biomechanical hurdles.