Senior Specialist - Apparel Developer

On; Zürich; On-site; CHF 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

On is seeking an Apparel Developer to help bring high-performance apparel to life, guiding products from concept through commercialization with a small, agile team. You will work closely with Design, Materials, Innovation, and Sourcing to deliver world-class performance gear.

You will manage stages of product development, create accurate Tech Packs, and ensure supplier instructions meet design intent, performance, fit, and cost targets. A growth mindset and proactive collaboration are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Engineering, Sportswear Development, or a related technical field.
• At least 5 years of experience in apparel development.
• Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, PLM systems, and Microsoft Office tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop seasonal performance apparel collections from concept to commercialization.
• Collaborate with Design to create production-ready Tech Packs and clear supplier instructions.
• Apply performance-ready construction techniques balancing design, performance, fit, and costs.
• Maintain development documentation using Adobe Illustrator and PLM tools.
• Partner with Materials Developer to source materials that enhance performance and durability.

Skills

Interest in performance sportswear

Growth mindset

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design / Apparel Engineering / Sportswear Development

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

PLM systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

In shortAs an Apparel Developer at On, you will play an active role in bringing high-performance apparel to life, contributing to innovative products that meet the demands of the next generation of performance sportswear consumers.

In shortAs an Apparel Developer at On, you will play an active role in bringing high-performance apparel to life, contributing to innovative products that meet the demands of the next generation of performance sportswear consumers. You'll support the end-to-end development process across seasonal collections and special projects, collaborating closely with Design, Materials, Innovation, and Sourcing teams. You will join a small, agile development team focused on delivering world-class performance apparel. Working closely alongside a Lead Developer and other Specialists, you will receive direct mentorship and hands-on guidance while taking responsibility for specific product areas. This provides a unique opportunity to accelerate your technical expertise, build your product knowledge, and contribute meaningfully to some of On's newest performance projects. With a sharp eye for detail, a solid foundational knowledge of garment construction, and a solution-driven mindset, you'll help ensure every product meets On's high standards for performance, quality, fit, durability, and innovation. This role requires an effective communicator who is eager to learn, capable of managing assigned projects efficiently, and deeply passionate about developing technically advanced performance apparel.

Your Mission

• Development of a seasonal performance apparel collection, helping to create innovative products that meet the needs of consumers while reflecting On's performance DNA.
• Manage assigned stages of product development from concept through commercialization, ensuring products deliver against performance, innovation, quality, and athlete expectations under the guidance of senior team members.
• Collaborate with Design to create accurate, production-ready Tech Packs and ensure supplier instructions are clear, detailed, and aligned.
• Apply performance-ready construction techniques and seek technical solutions that meet design intent, performance requirements, fit standards, cost targets, and sustainability goals.
• Support the delivery of fit, wear testing, and quality standards across assigned product ranges, ensuring products perform reliably under intended use conditions.
• Maintain product development documentation using Adobe Illustrator and PLM tools to manage detailed specifications, construction artwork, and material selections.
• Actively participate in fit sessions, bringing a strong standard of execution, technical curiosity, and growing competitor awareness.
• Partner with the Materials Developer to select and source materials that enhance performance, comfort, durability, and customer experience.
• Build and maintain, collaborative relationships with key suppliers to ensure product quality, innovation, and production readiness.
• Make informed decisions within your assigned project scope, balancing design intent and technical feasibility while escalating complex issues appropriately.
• Manage assigned tasks concurrently, prioritizing effectively to deliver on timelines, quality, and cost goals.
• Contribute to solving technical challenges related to construction, materials, fit, or production, showing a proactive attitude toward continuous process improvement.
• Develop expertise in specialized performance categories, eagerly learning from senior colleagues and cross functional partners to grow your technical knowledge.
• Collaborate effectively across functions including Design, Materials, Sourcing, Engineering, Innovation, Product Strategy, and external partners to support alignment from concept to production.
• Provide clear, timely product input and feedback to internal teams and suppliers, maintaining open and collaborative communication.
• Embrace a growth mindset by actively seeking feedback, reflecting on product outcomes, and fostering a collaborative, solution-focused team culture.
• Apply costing principles, contributing to cost engineering efforts to meet commercial targets without compromising product performance or design intent.

Your Story

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Engineering, Sportswear Development, or a related technical field.
• At least 5 years of experience in apparel development, ideally with an exposure to performance apparel, technical sporar, or intimates/ close to body apparel.
• Strong interest in Performance sportswear needs and a growing ability to help translate technical requirements into commercially viable products.
• Good foundational knowledge of garment construction, basic pattern understanding, materials, and fit.
• Proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with a hands-on approach and openness to learning unconventional thinking.
• Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, PLM systems, and Microsoft Office tools.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and ambitious product innovation goals.
• Willingness to travel regularly between HQ and global development and manufacturing partners as needed.
• Good communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines.
• Excited to work within a growing, highly collaborative team environment where learning, growth, and continuous development are prioritized.
• Highly motivated to learn from experienced technical leaders while progressively taking on more independent responsibility for complex product categories.

Your Team

We are a collaborative, creative, and science-driven development team working closely to convert cutting-edge ideas into viable prototypes and eventually commercialising them into exceptional performance products sold globally at premium sport retailers, in our global flagship stores, and in our DTC channel. High quality, aesthetically pleasing, and truly functional attributes are top of mind when creating our two season apparel collections and multiple fashion collaborations. Our cross-functional teams combine the best experts in fields such as Development, Design, Materials, Innovation, Sourcing, Testing, and Product Management/Merchandising to create truly extraordinary sportswear products. 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.