Head of Product Testing

ON; Zürich; Vor Ort; CHF 120’000 - 160’000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading performance brand in Zürich is seeking a visionary leader for global product testing. This role involves defining strategy, modernizing testing methods, and ensuring products meet high quality standards. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in product testing, biomechanics, and strong leadership skills to drive innovation and quality assurance processes.

Leistungen

Team-oriented atmosphere

Access to personal self-care tools

Opportunities for growth

Qualifikationen

• 10+ years of experience in product testing or related fields.
• Proven leadership in global testing functions.
• Strong communicator with the ability to influence stakeholders.

Aufgaben

• Define and lead the global product testing strategy.
• Build and scale a global testing ecosystem.
• Drive digital transformation of testing processes.

Kenntnisse

Leadership

Biomechanics knowledge

Product testing experience

Predictive analytics

Data-driven decision making

Ausbildung

Degree in engineering, materials science, or sports science

Tools

Instron

Force plates

Motion capture

Jobbeschreibung

At On, Product Testing is the voice of our consumers and athletes. It ensures that every product delivers a premium quality experience and meets the highest standards of excellence across footwear, apparel, and accessories. We are seeking a visionary and strategic leader who can elevate and expand our testing organization into a world-class, multi-category discipline.

This role is central to On’s mission of delivering Swiss-engineered performance and innovation. Based in our Zürich Lab, you will lead a global function that integrates testing as a strategic advantage - shaping product creation decisions, accelerating innovation, and safeguarding our reputation for excellence.The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in biomechanics, materials science, product durability, and advanced testing methodologies. You will drive digital transformation through predictive analytics and data-led systems, while embedding testing at the heart of the product creation process. This is a high-impact leadership role that requires both technical depth and the ability to influence at the executive level across a global organisation.

Your Mission

• Define and lead the global product testing strategy across footwear, apparel, and accessories.
• Ensure that every product meets premium quality benchmarks and the highest standards of excellence.
• Build and scale a global testing ecosystem, including brand to factory calibration, external partnerships, and internal lab excellence.
• Modernise the testing experience with digital tools, predictive analytics, and data-driven insights that strengthen decision-making and speed to market.
• Establish and continuously evolve new lab standards and dynamic durability test methods that predict consumer and athlete usage.
• Partner closely with the global quality team to analyse warranty claims, integrating learnings into creation and testing processes to reduce failure and improve consumer experience and happiness.
• Elevate testing into a strategic partner for product creation, ensuring excellence at every milestone.
• Shape and deliver the multi-category testing roadmap in alignment with On’s strategic priorities. Guide the team through complex, high-impact global initiatives. Act as the voice of quality and excellence in leadership discussions.
• Develop and validate advanced test methods with the sports science lab, including dynamic durability standards and new protocols tailored to athlete needs. Oversee rigorous global test programs to ensure durability, functionality, and consumer trust. Translate results into clear, actionable recommendations for design, development, and innovation.
• Partner with design, development, and innovation to embed testing early in the creation process. Drive synergies between footwear, apparel, and accessories testing to ensure consistency and scalability. Build strong networks of athletes and testers to reflect real-world performance needs.
• Work hand-in-hand with the global quality team to analyse warranty claims, identify root causes of failure, and feed insights back into creation and testing processes. Use this data to continuously raise quality standards, reduce defects, and elevate the consumer experience.
• Lead the digital transformation of testing through platforms, dashboards, and predictive systems. Continuously improve reporting and communication so that insights accelerate decision-making without compromising quality.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing, diverse & global team with a culture anchored in excellence and accountability. Foster global tester communities, elevating engagement and loyalty as a strategic differentiator.

Your story

• 10+ years of experience in product testing, performance validation, or biomechanics across footwear, apparel, and accessories
• Background in engineering, materials science, sports science, or a related technical field
• Proven leadership of global testing functions in cross-category, innovation-driven environments
• Expertise in developing dynamic durability and real-world performance test methods
• Hands-on experience with lab equipment (e.g., Instron, force plates, motion capture) and wear testing protocols
• Strong knowledge of ISO/ASTM standards and creation of custom test procedures
• Skilled in applying data-driven tools, predictive analytics, and digital platforms to accelerate decision-making
• Experience integrating consumer insights, warranty data, and lab results into product improvements
• Track record of building high-performing, cross-functional teams across geographies
• Strong communicator with the ability to influence product creation, R&D, and executive stakeholders

About the Team

You will lead and inspire a global team of testers and specialists across footwear, apparel, and accessories. Within this team sits the dedicated function responsible for defining new lab standards and dynamic test methods, ensuring that On sets the industry benchmark for performance testing. Together, your team combines technical expertise, athlete engagement, and consumer insight to validate premium quality and ensure that only products meeting the highest standards of excellence reach our customers.

Just by the banks of the Limmat you’ll find our largest global hub in Zürich West – On Labs – where you can hike up 12 floors through our custom-built spiral trail.

Unlike other brands, we aren't just executioners out here in Vietnam, we give ideas as well. Sometimes they have a new idea in Zurich and we might find a process to make it more efficient and we share that.

What we offer

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.

We want to set everyone up for success, so here’s the lowdown on how we hire. Our process is a two-way street – bringing you into our culture, while helping us learn how you think.

Our full process can last about eight weeks from application to offer, because we care about getting it right. These steps explain how we usually do things.

Before you get started, feel free to consider if you want to work with us. Strange question? Well, we give people a lot of space to navigate their day-to-day and that style isn't for everyone. We want you to be passionate about what you do and be sure this is the right fit. Because when skills and passion combine – it creates that 'Wow' moment.

Step One

It starts with you...

You'll start by submitting your application to a specific role.We try to keep this step as simple as possible. We do get a lot of applications, but we review them all. If you're a good fit to the role, a recruiter will follow up with you directly. If you didn't receive a reply, or were unsuccessful this time around, we encourage you to look for other possible matches at On.

Step Two

Interview with a recruiter

What ignites your spirit?This is where we’ll start getting to know all about you and what makes you tick – and it’s your first chance to get a feel for our culture.Chatting with a member of our talent team, you’ll learn more about On and how we work. We’ll learn about what motivates you and what you could bring to the team.

Step Three

Interview with a hiring manager

Ready to dig into the details?This second interview will be held with your future manager and will focus on the specifics of the job.Together you’ll delve into your unique skills and experiences and how they could be relevant at On. It's also a time to assess how you might feel working side-by-side. Bring any questions you have about the job, the team or anything else you might like to know – this is an open forum.

Step Four

The Case Study

What's your style?This task will help us understand how you think, face a challenge and give insight into your novel ideas.Designed to give everyone their best shot, your case study is based on something you might typically experience on the job.This is your chance to show us what you’ve got. So express yourself. Be you.

Step Five

The Experience Day

Your first taste of the Oniverse.This is a time to meet some of the people you'll be working closest with.In person or virtually, you'll get a feel for the day-to-day at On and the people who make it happen. You'll chat with a few potential teammates - the conversations will be as equally driven by the role and your experience as by our values.We believe how you do things is just as important as what you do.

Step Six

The Result

Are we a good fit?We’ll get together internally to share our feedback and decide if we’re a match. We know that job searching is a big time investment, so it’s not a decision we take lightly.It’s also time for you to reflect on the experience – are we the right place for you?No matter the outcome, we’ll give you meaningful feedback.

Step One:

It starts with you...

You'll start by submitting your application to a specific role.

We try to keep this step as simple as possible. We do get a lot of applications, but we review them all. If you're a good fit to the role, a recruiter will follow up with you directly. If you didn't receive a reply, or were unsuccessful this time around, we encourage you to look for other possible matches at On.