Senior Specialist - Footwear Tooling Engineer

On; Zürich; On-site; CHF 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

On in Zurich seeks a Footwear Tooling Engineer to own the bottom unit development, shaping performance products with designers and the tooling team in Vietnam. You will guide material choices, mold construction, and manufacturing considerations.

You will review 2D/3D CADs for manufacturability, advise on injection molding costs, and work with international partners on tooling revisions. Travel to Asia is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in a footwear engineering role with development and production collaboration.
• Technical knowledge of materials, mold construction, and manufacturing processes for footwear; deep plastics injection molding knowledge.
• Experience reviewing 2D/3D CADs (Rhino a bonus) for manufacturability and durability.
• Experience in 3D modelling and rapid prototyping tools.
• Demonstrated project management, costing, and problem-solving within complex constraints.
• Experience in biomechanical considerations for footwear bottom unit design.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration with designers, developers, product management, and testing teams.
• Experience coordinating with international manufacturing partners on tooling revisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the bottom unit development for On footwear products.
• Provide solutions to design and construction constraints using materials, mold construction and manufacturing knowledge.
• Evaluate and improve product designs for manufacturability and durability by reviewing CADs, prototypes, and test feedback.
• Ensure alignment with product specifications and manufacturing capabilities.
• Advise on plastics injection molding costs, design and molding capabilities of injected components.
• Collaborate with Asia counterparts and support mold shop teams on tooling revisions and manufacturing concerns.
• Assist development, product management, and design teams with tooling questions or issues.
• Evaluate workflows and create process improvements to maximize efficiencies and testing.

Job description

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 footwear 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

Meet 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.

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.