Global Head of Footwear Innovation & Engineering

On; Zürich; On-site; CHF 230,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

On is seeking a Senior Director of Innovation Engineering to lead and scale global footwear engineering disciplines from its Labs HQ in Zürich, Switzerland. This role unifies polymer science, sports technology, and scale-up engineering into a cohesive technical engine guiding the entire innovation portfolio.

You will shape the engineering vision, cultivate cross-disciplinary excellence, and drive platforms from concept to commercial readiness, partnering with senior leaders to align with On’s

Qualifications

• Proven executive engineering leadership experience in footwear, sports equipment, or high-tech consumer products.
• Broad technical fluency across polymer chemistry, elastomer compounding, foam processing, structural mechanics and CAE/FEA.
• Holistic systems and business mindset balancing science, IP, unit economics, and supply chain realities.
• Strong storytelling and stakeholder management to connect technical concepts with executives and partners.
• Empowering leadership driving inclusive, high-trust teams with rapid experimentation and learning.
• Education: Master’s or PhD in related engineering fields.

Responsibilities

• Set engineering vision and drive multi-year roadmap for footwear innovation.
• Oversee four technical pillars: Polymer Science, Sports Engineering, Technology & Manufacturing, Scale-Up Engineering.
• Lead enterprise strategy with leadership to align innovations with business goals.
• Translate physics and chemistry into tangible product benefits and brand narratives.
• Co-create strategy with executives across product, design, sourcing and sustainability.
• Develop a culture of technical excellence, mentorship, and continuous learning.

Skills

Executive leadership

Polymer science

CAE/FEA simulation

Sports engineering

Materials science

Scale-up engineering

Education

Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Sports Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or related field

Job description

On is seeking a Senior Director of Innovation Engineering to lead and scale global footwear engineering disciplines from its Labs HQ in Zürich, Switzerland. This role unifies polymer science, sports technology, and scale-up engineering into a cohesive technical engine guiding the entire innovation portfolio.

You will shape the engineering vision, cultivate cross-disciplinary excellence, and drive platforms from concept to commercial readiness, partnering with senior leaders to align with On’s