Senior Lead - Tooling Engineer — On Running
- Location
- Zürich
- Contract
- full-time
- Posted
- Yesterday
Role overview
In short
As the Senior Lead of Footwear Tooling Engineering, you will define the strategic vision and direct the engineering execution for the bottom units of On’s high-performance footwear.
Working in a highly collaborative environment, you will lead a team of tooling engineers to shape the future direction of our pinnacle performance products and technologies, actively advancing On’s sustainability and innovation goals.
- In short
- As the Senior Lead of Footwear Tooling Engineering, you will define the strategic vision and direct the engineering execution for the bottom units of On’s high-performance footwear.
Application process
- Biomechanical Application: Extensive experience translating biomechanical performance principles into functional, manufacturable bottom unit designs.
- Strategic & Collaborative Mindset: Proven ability to influence cross-functional directors and leads across Design, Product Management, and Testing.
- Global Communication: Exceptional communication skills with a track record of successfully navigating and negotiating with international manufacturing partners on complex tooling and production challenges.
- Agility: Excellent project management and resource allocation skills, with the ability to manage multiple overlapping timelines and departmental priorities.
- Travel: Available to travel to Asia up to 2-4 times a year for strategic factory and mold shop visits.
Company and context
- Beyond daily development, you will be the primary driver for organizational process improvements, budget management, and long-term capability building for tooling across the company. Your mission
- Technical Direction: Direct the holistic bottom unit development strategy for On’s performance and lifestyle products, serving as the ultimate technical authority on materials, mold construction, and advanced manufacturing capabilities.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Act as the strategic engineering partner to senior leadership across Design, Development, and Product Management, guiding teams through complex design and construction constraints to achieve pinnacle biomechanical performance.
- Process & Workflow Transformation: Spearhead structural workflow evaluations, establishing macro-level process improvements to maximize global efficiencies, accelerate prototyping, and advance testing protocols.
- Manufacturing & Technology Strategy: Leverage deep expertise in advanced performance foam technologies and tooling constructions to act as the primary technical advisor to product creation teams.
- Guide Design, Development, and Product Management on design feasibility, manufacturing capabilities, and the successful integration of next-generation midsole components.
- Global Partnership: Drive strategic partnerships with our Asian tooling counterparts and tier-1 mold shop teams, elevating collaboration models and proactively resolving high-level manufacturing concerns and tooling revisions.
- Quality & Standards: Establish best-in-class standards for manufacturability and durability, overseeing the team's review of 2D/3D CADs and physical prototypes to ensure strict alignment with product specifications. Your story
- Brand Experience: Proven track record working directly within a global performance athletic footwear brand.
- You must possess a deep understanding of the brand-side product creation lifecycle, consumer expectations, and how to align technical engineering with overarching brand strategies.
Additional details
- Beyond daily development, you will be the primary driver for organizational process improvements, budget management, and long-term capability building for tooling across the company.
- Quality & Standards: Establish best-in-class standards for manufacturability and durability, overseeing the team's review of 2D/3D CADs and physical prototypes to ensure strict alignment with product specifications.
Notes and original content
- Your mission
- Your story
Questions about this listing
What salary does On Running offer for this role?
On Running lists CHF 101'500 - 154'000 gross per year for this position in Zürich. This is the salary published in the original listing (or, when the employer omits a figure, a realistic estimate for the role and sector) — the calculator on this site converts it to your actual net take-home once cross-border tax and social contributions are applied.
Is this a full-time role, and what type of contract does On Running offer?
This listing is a full-time position. The contract type shown here comes directly from the employer's original posting; always confirm exact hours, notice period and probation length with On Running during the application process, since these details can vary by role even within the same contract category.
Do I need a cross-border work permit for a role in Zürich?
EU/EFTA residents living in the border zone of the country adjoining Canton Zürich can apply for a G permit; the Swiss employer files it with that canton's migration office after the contract is signed. Border-zone rules and processing times vary by neighbouring country and canton, so confirm the specifics with Zürich's cantonal migration office or with HR during the application.
How do I apply for this position at On Running?
Use the "Apply now" button on this page — it links directly to On Running's original listing at boards.greenhouse.io, so your application goes straight to the employer's own applicant-tracking system. Frontaliere Ticino does not collect or forward applications itself.
