Role
Lead Data Scientist - Supply Chain Demand Forecasting
Category
Data/IT
Locations
Published
July 14
Deadline
August 16
In short Product Testing is the voice of the athlete and the consumer at On. We ensure every product delivers a premium, high-performance experience by combining scientific rigor with real-world insight. As Apparel and Accessories Testing Lead, you will be responsible for validating products from development through to market, focusing on specialized, high performance sport categories. You’ll work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and act as a key partner across Design, Development, Materials, and Strategy to ensure excellence in the wearing experience including comfort, durability, and performance. Your mission Command the Validation Strategy: Define and execute rigorous testing strategies across durability, comfort, and performance, taking charge of specialized testing programs. You will identify testing requirements based on product briefs and target consumers, confidently owning the end-to-end testing process. Uncover the Truth in Data: Lead qualitative and quantitative apparel and accessories testing, perception studies, and real-world validation to ensure our products reflect authentic athlete and consumer needs. Integrate consumer insights, scientific expertise, and performance analysis into standardized, evidence-based product evaluations. Drive Confident Decisions: Translate complex testing results into powerful insights that enable confident decision-making and elevate product excellence across the organization. You will analyze performance and durability data, including behavior and attitudinal insights, developing clear reports for project stakeholders. Influence Product Creation: Conduct hands-on performance testing, directly presenting key findings and improvement recommendations to critical stakeholders. Deliver benchmarking and competitor insights to spot opportunities for true innovation and product differentiation in the global sports arena. Build the Testing Ecosystem: Establish highly efficient testing processes, timelines, and feedback loops aligned seamlessly with Product Creation calendars. You will actively build and maintain a dynamic tester network of agile, high-performance athletes that supports both everyday testing needs and urgent project timelines. Set up high-energy testing events and initiatives to drive deep engagement within the testing community. Elevate Operations: Work seamlessly with testing systems and databases to ensure accurate, high-quality data and optimized reporting flows. As a leader, you will contribute significantly to team goals, process improvements, and the continuous evolution of our testing methodologies. Your story * A strategic thinker and natural leader with a proven track record of managing complex projects or product validation cycles from concept to market. * You possess a deep understanding of specialized, high-performance sports apparel and accessories, and know how to balance scientific testing rigor with real-world, human-centric feedback. * You are an exceptional communicator who can translate dense data and testing metrics into clear, actionable recommendations to cross-functional teams * You are highly organized and capable of building out robust tester networks, establishing efficient processes, and managing global testing logistics. * You have 7+ years of experience in a field focused on the human experience with a product or service. We are excited to hear from candidates from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to: * Apparel Product Testing or Development * User Experience Research (UXR) * Biomechanics or Kinesiology * Materials Science or Textile Engineering * Ergonomics or Human Factors * Sports Marketing or Athlete Management * High-Performance Coaching * You are willing to travel globally and have the flexibility to work outside of typical hours to align with athlete schedules and events. * A clear communicator in English, both verbal and written. 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 of Footwear, Apparel & Accessories, and Lab experts is the ultimate destination for individuals dedicated to enhancing the consumer experience.
In short As Footwear Tooling Engineer you will create groundbreaking concepts and products for high-performance athletes while advancing On’s sustainability goals. Working in a collaborative environment, you’ll shape the future direction of our pinnacle performance product and technologies through Innovation and Design. You will act as the owner of the bottom unit development for our pinnacle performance product and technologies. You will work in close collaboration with designers and developers here at On Labs in Zurich and our Tooling team in Vietnam to create the highest quality products. From concept creation through prototyping, you will guide the team on bottom unit materials, geometries, and construction from a critical manufacturing, biomechanical performance, and durability viewpoint. You will also be a key player in identifying and creating process improvements for all bottom unit development across the company. Your mission - Lead the bottom unit development for On’s performance products - Provide solutions to design and construction constraints by using your demonstrated knowledge of materials, mold construction and manufacturing - Evaluate and improve product designs for manufacturability and durability by reviewing 2D/3D CADs, prototypes, and feedback from the testing teams - Ensure alignment with product specifications and manufacturing capabilities - Use your understanding of plastics injection molding to advise cost, design, and molding capabilities of injected components in the bottom unit - Collaborate with our Asian counterparts and support mold shop teams on tooling revisions and manufacturing concerns - Assist the development, product management, and design teams with any tooling related questions or issues - Evaluate current workflows and create process improvements to maximize efficiencies and advance testing Your story - Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, or a related field - Minimum of 5 years experience within a footwear engineering role working closely with development and production, ideally in a footwear tooling development - Technical knowledge of various materials, mold construction, and manufacturing processes relevant to footwear; In-depth knowledge of plastics injection molding principles, including advising on cost, design, and molding capabilities of injected components - Experience working with 2D and 3D CADs (Rhino a bonus); proficiency in reviewing and evaluating 2D/3D CADs for manufacturability, durability, and alignment with product specifications - Experience in 3D modelling and rapid prototyping tools - Demonstrated experience in project management, costing, and the ability to provide solutions within complex constraints - Experience working with biomechanical performance principles as they relate to footwear bottom unit design - Experience working cross-functionally across designers, developers, product management, and testing teams - Experience collaborating with international manufacturing partners on tooling revisions and manufacturing concerns - Strong communication skills to provide clear guidance and technical support to various stakeholders. - Excellent time management skills and ability to work with multiple deadlines - Available to travel to Asia at least 2 times a year The team Our mission is to define and create the future of sportswear bringing to life groundbreaking innovations. Acting at the forefront of material science, sport science and engineering we develop products that push the boundaries of performance and sustainability, blending in unique aesthetic appeal that embodies On’s design DNA.