IN SHORT:

Product Testing is the voice of the athlete and the consumer at On. We’re responsible for ensuring every On product meets the

highest quality standards and delivers a premium, high-performance experience by combining scientific rigor with real-world

insight. Through rigorous testing and validation, only products that truly perform make it to market.

As a Footwear Testing Senior Lead you will be responsible for validating footwear products from development through to market and

driving excellence and leading the team in the Running category. You’ll work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and act as

a key partner across Design, Development, Materials, Product Strategy and Sports Science to ensure excellence in fit, comfort,

durability, and performance.

YOUR MISSION:

Lead a high-performing team of Specialists, fostering a culture of growth and exploration while elevating existing, successful

workflows.

Serve as a senior point of contact for internal stakeholders in the Run category, providing guidance and alignment on testing

projects.

Collaborate closely with key stakeholders to identify testing requirements based on product briefs and target consumers, owning

end to end processes for assigned projects

Define and execute rigorous testing strategies across durability, fit, comfort, and performance, taking charge of

high-complexity testing programs.

Lead qualitative and quantitative footwear testing, perception studies, and real-world validation to ensure products reflect

authentic athlete and consumer needs.

Build and maintain strategic partnerships to integrate consumer insights, scientific expertise, and performance analysis into

standardized, evidence-based product evaluations.

Translate complex testing data into powerful insights and clear reports that enable confident decision-making and elevate

product excellence across the organization.

Ensure testing timelines are efficient and seamlessly integrated into the fast-moving Product Creation calendars.
Expand and cultivate a diverse tester network to support project timelines and enhance community engagement.
Work seamlessly with testing systems and databases to ensure accurate & high-quality data integrity.
As a leader you will significantly contribute to team goals and process improvements.

YOUR STORY:

8+ years of experience in footwear testing or a closely related role within the footwear industry
A strong passion for run culture and performance running footwear.
Proven leadership experience, with a passion for building high-performance teams
Ability to influence cross-functional team effectiveness through partnership & advisory
Excellent communication skills and confidence in working with cross-functional stakeholders.
A detail-oriented, creative, and solutions-focused mindset.
Flexibility to work outside standard hours when necessary.
Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint & capable of adapting to internal databases
Analysis expertise with complex data and analysis methods
Fluent in English (written and spoken).

YOUR TEAM:

We’re a team responsible for making sure that the products for On represent the highest quality & performance standards. We have a

lot of responsibility to meet the needs and demands of our customers. So we analyse, test and validate our products in the most

comprehensive manner. Only products that pass our rigorous tests ever go to market.

On is a place that is centered around growth and progress. We offer an environment designed to give people the tools to develop

holistically – to stay active, to learn, explore and innovate. Our distinctive approach combines a supportive, team-oriented

atmosphere, with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, so each person is led by purpose.

On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all

decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.

Role

Senior Lead - Footwear Testing

Similar Jobs

Director of Product Testing

Zurich•Posted: Jul 14•Deadline: Aug 16

IN SHORT: At On, we are obsessed with empowering human movement and delivering an unparalleled performance and sensory experience. We are seeking a visionary Director of Product Testing to lead the evolution of our lab, transforming it from a traditional mechanical testing center into a world-class hub for dynamic, consumer-centric, and subjective product validation. This is a pivotal leadership role designed to infuse the voice of the athlete and the psychology of the consumer into the heart of our product creation engine, ensuring every On product delivers on its promise of Swiss Engineering. YOUR MISSION: As the Director of Product Testing, you will be the architect of our future testing strategy. You will lead a talented team of technical experts, guiding them beyond the 'what' of objective durability to the 'why' of subjective feel, comfort, and performance. You will build and manage a new, independent lab function focused on fit, wear, and innovation, creating the methodologies and environment necessary to capture honest, actionable consumer insights. Your leadership will be instrumental in shifting our quality paradigm from reactionary analysis to preventative excellence, embedding quality and consumer obsession at the very beginning of the product lifecycle. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES * Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a forward-thinking strategy for product testing that prioritizes subjective, consumer-focused feedback and psychological insights over traditional, objective mechanical testing. * Team Development & Mentorship: Lead, inspire, and upskill a team of technical testing experts. Foster a culture of trust, stability, and high performance, coaching the team in the principles of consumer psychology and sensory analysis. * Methodology Innovation: Design and implement novel testing frameworks, including dynamic focus groups and A/B testing protocols, to scientifically evaluate subjective product attributes like comfort, fit, and the feeling of speed. * Organizational Management & Alignment: Provide unified leadership and strategic direction to our global Product Testing organization. You will manage and align our geographically distributed teams, including the durability and fit team based in Asia and the consumer-centric testing team in Zurich. Your role is to harmonize these functions, ensuring our foundational durability and fit standards are seamlessly integrated with the advanced athlete and consumer insights gathered from Zurich's dynamic focus groups. * Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Product Development, Design, Quality Engineering, and Strategy teams to ensure testing insights are integrated early in the design and manufacturing process, preventing issues before they arise. * Technological Advancement: Champion the use of new technologies, including AI and automation, to empower the team, streamline processes, and free up resources for more in-field, human-centric testing. * Insight Synthesis: Translate complex quantitative and qualitative data into a clear, compelling narrative that informs critical product decisions and reinforces our commitment to premium, consumer-obsessed products. YOUR STORY: * A World-Class People Leader: You are a fantastic and experienced leader, known for your ability to cultivate trust, manage down effectively, and develop the "superpowers" of your team members. Your primary passion is leading people, not just processes. * Consumer-Obsessed: You have a deep-seated curiosity about consumer behavior and are driven to understand the psychology behind their decisions and perceptions. You naturally put the consumer at the center of every decision. * A Strategic Thinker with an Explorer's Spirit: You are not a traditional technical tester. You have a background that allows you to approach testing in a new light, with an entrepreneurial mindset to challenge the status quo and explore new frontiers in product validation. * Psychologically Astute: You have a strong interest or formal background in psychology, consumer science, or a related field, enabling you to build a scientifically rigorous approach to subjective testing. * An Exceptional Communicator: You possess strong communication skills, capable of articulating a clear vision and providing candid, constructive feedback to your team and stakeholders. QUALIFICATIONS * Proven experience in a senior leadership role, with a strong track record of building and developing high-performing teams. * Experience in a consumer-facing industry is essential; a background in sporting goods (footwear, apparel, accessories), consumer electronics, or other premium product categories is highly preferred. * Demonstrated ability to lead through organizational change and transition. * While not mandatory, a degree or advanced studies in Psychology, Kinesiology, Human Factors, or a related field is a significant asset. * Passion for sport, movement, and the On brand. YOUR TEAM: You'll be a leader in a global team fueled by a culture of relentless discovery. We test and validate our product promises, transforming athlete feedback and scientific data into market-leading performance. While our creation partners work to make products great, our mission is to prove they're great. Based in Zurich, our team is the ultimate destination for individuals dedicated to enhancing the consumer experience. On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.

Senior Lead - Footwear Materials

Zurich•Posted: Jul 14•Deadline: Aug 16

Senior Lead - Last Engineer

Zurich•Posted: Jul 14•Deadline: Aug 16

IN SHORT At On, the secret to our signature cloud-like sensation starts from the inside out. The last is the very foundation of our footwear, dictating fit, performance, and aesthetic. We are seeking a visionary Senior Lead Last Engineer to pioneer the creation, optimization, and management of our footwear lasts across all product categories. In this pivotal role, you will bridge the gap between biomechanics, design, and manufacturing. You will serve as the central authority on all last-related topics, ensuring our performance running, fashion, and lifestyle shoes deliver the ultimate fit and experience for our global community. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES * Standardization & Consolidation: Establish clear standards and best practices for all new last creations. Champion the implementation of these guidelines across internal teams and suppliers to strategically consolidate and optimize our existing last library. * Last Creation & Internal Consulting: Lead the hands-on creation of new lasts while acting as the primary technical consultant for Design, Development, and Innovation teams regarding last grading, selection, and fit optimization for new and existing projects. * Supplier Relationship Management: Build and manage strong, collaborative relationships with external last suppliers and manufacturers to ensure quality, precision, and timely delivery. * Library Management: Own and meticulously maintain our comprehensive digital and physical last libraries, ensuring all data is accurate, organized, and easily accessible to cross-functional teams. * Sourcing & Production Support: Partner with the Sourcing and Manufacturing teams to resolve technical last challenges, streamline production processes, and provide expert guidance on last-related topics at the factory level. * Process Innovation: Continuously evaluate and improve our last development workflows, integrating the latest 3D modeling technologies and fit-data insights. REQUIREMENTS * Comprehensive Last Modeling Expertise: 8 years+ hands-on experience in last engineering across both high-performance running and fashion/lifestyle footwear. You must possess a deep understanding of dynamic fit, foot anatomy, and biomechanics, while also knowing how to balance complex aesthetic requirements with commercial fit standards. * Program & Library Management: Proven experience managing comprehensive last development programs for a sports or performance footwear brand. Must possess exceptional organizational skills to build, consolidate, and seamlessly manage extensive digital and physical last libraries while juggling multiple development calendars from concept to mass production. * Manufacturing Equipment Operation: Practical ability to utilize physical last manufacturing and digitizing equipment, specifically 3D scanners and milling machines, to create, reverse-engineer, and modify physical models. * Technical & CAD Proficiency: Advanced skills in 3D CAD software relevant to last design and modification (e.g., Romans CAD, Rhino, or similar footwear-specific engineering tools). * Industry Knowledge: Extensive understanding of footwear manufacturing processes, tooling, and grading principles. * Project Management: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage extensive digital and physical libraries and juggle multiple development calendars simultaneously. * Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively translate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and external suppliers. ABOUT THE TEAM The Footwear Engineering team is a highly specialized collective of Pattern Engineers, Tooling Engineers, and Last Engineers who hold the keys to the ultimate fit, feel, and ride of every On shoe. Rooted in our proud heritage of meticulous Swiss engineering, we obsess over every millimeter and material to craft the absolute best performance products for elite athletes and everyday consumers alike. We are the critical bridge between radical design and physical reality, working in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment where data-driven precision fuels our relentless dedication to human movement.