On

Zurich

Senior Specialist - Footwear Design

FULL TIME ON-SITE SENIOR
Posted 3 months ago

Quick Summary

Role Overview

This role involves designing next-generation performance footwear for team sports by translating athlete insights and biomechanical data into innovative solutions. You will work at the intersection of sport science and advanced manufacturing within a fast-paced design team.

Key Responsibilities

  • Manage the full design process from initial research to final commercialization
  • Translate biomechanical data and athlete insights into high-performance design solutions
  • Create high-quality 2D and 3D assets to support rapid iteration
  • Utilize AI-enabled workflows and computational tools for concept exploration
  • Collaborate with engineering and testing teams to validate performance hypotheses
  • Travel to Vietnam to finalize prototypes and oversee production processes

Requirements Snapshot

  • Degree in Industrial Design or a related product design field
  • Over three years of experience in performance footwear design
  • Advanced proficiency in 3D design tools and Adobe Creative Suite
  • Experience with generative design workflows and AI-enabled creative tools
  • Strong understanding of footwear construction and industrial manufacturing processes

Expected Impact

You will help shape the future of the Team Sports category by delivering footwear that merges functional excellence with progressive design. Your work will disrupt the performance landscape through athlete-driven innovation and the application of emerging digital tools to create products built for elite athletes.

This summary was generated from the original job posting (AI-assisted, human-reviewed). For full details, see the description below.

Job Description

In short

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. 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 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 develop concepts, mockups, visuals, and high-quality 2D and 3D assets, supporting rapid iteration and clear communication across teams.
  • You will leverage advanced digital workflows including 3D design, computational tools and AI-driven ideation to accelerate concept exploration and innovation.
  • 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.
  • 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:

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Design or a related field.
  • Proven experience in performance footwear design (3+ 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.
  • 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. By combining design excellence, engineering precision and emerging digital tools, we translate athlete needs into high-performance products that push the boundaries of sport.

Working at the intersection of design, innovation, development, sport science and testing, we create footwear that delivers performance without compromise — merging functional excellence with progressive design.

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