Senior Specialist - Footwear Design

In short

We are excited to offer the position of Senior Specialist – Footwear Design Performance within our Design team. In this role, you will contribute to the creation of next-generation performance footwear- translating athlete insights, biomechanical data and advanced technologies into innovative design solutions. You will operate in a fast-paced environment where the full design process — from concept exploration to production briefing — is driven by performance, precision and speed.

Working at the intersection of sport science, computational design, AI-enabled workflows and advanced manufacturing, you will help shape the future of performance footwear.

• You will be an integral part of the Performance Footwear Team Sports vertical, contributing to the development of high-performance products built for elite athletes.
• You will own projects across the full design process — from initial research and concept creation through final commercialization.
• You will translate athlete insights, biomechanical analysis and sport-specific movement patterns into meaningful design solutions that elevate performance on the field.
• You will develop concepts, mockups, visuals, and high-quality 2D and 3D assets, supporting rapid iteration and clear communication across teams.
• You will leverage advanced digital workflows including 3D design, computational tools and AI-driven ideation to accelerate concept exploration and innovation.
• You will collaborate closely with sports engineering, biomechanics and testing teams to validate and refine performance hypotheses.
• You will work closely with our development partners in Vietnam, traveling two to four times per year to finalize prototypes and bring concepts to production.
• You will contribute to shaping On’s design vision and creative culture, pushing the boundaries of performance footwear within the Team Sports category.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Design or a related field.
• Proven experience in performance footwear design (5+ years), preferably within team sports or sport performance categories.
• Strong understanding of athlete needs, movement patterns and performance requirements within team sports.
• Expert skills in sketching and storytelling, combined with strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite.
• Advanced knowledge of 3D design tools such as Maya, ZBrush, Blender, Rhino or similar platforms.
• Experience with AI-enabled creative tools, generative design workflows, and computational approaches to design exploration.
• Understanding of footwear construction, materials and industrial manufacturing processes.
• Hands-on mindset with the ability to build physical mockups and proof-of-concept prototypes.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to clearly articulate design ideas within cross-functional teams.
• Fluent in English (written and spoken).

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.