Lead - Sports Engineer

This role leads computer-aided engineering for football at On, within the Sports Engineering - Innovation team. The Lead of Sports Engineering will lead and standardise structural mechanics simulations (Finite Element Analysis) across footwear materials, components, and products. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, athletes, and external labs, the role translates complex scientific insights into product innovations.

• Build and run high-fidelity Finite Element Models that simulate the complex interaction between the human foot, footwear, and surface.
• Run virtual test scenarios on materials, components, and entire shoes, including bottom unit and upper structures, to evaluate performance using structural mechanics software.
• Drive continuous innovation by tracking emerging academic research, computational methodologies, and cutting-edge industry trends in virtual prototyping.
• Work closely with cross-functional product creation teams across different business units, partnering with Tooling Managers, Footwear Developers, Material Scientists, and Designers.
• Align with the Athlete Servicing and Sports Science teams to capture real-world human-movement metrics and integrate them into simulation scenarios.
• Manage collaboration with internal and external labs and partners, including test institutes, manufacturing suppliers, academic partners, and software suppliers.
• Translate and communicate complex virtual test results to both highly technical developers and non-technical audiences.
• Create and share clear, result-based reports and technical presentations to influence design-to-manufacturing transitions.
• Continually improve virtual testing scenarios by matching simulations with real-world failure patterns and lab tests.
• Provide computational input and data to Standards and Compliance experts to help update physical and digital testing guidelines.

• 6+ years of footwear-specific experience with a track record of working autonomously and challenging the status quo in footwear innovation projects.
• Deep virtual testing background in Finite Element Analysis, CAD modelling, and simulation, as well as creating digital twins.
• Proven ability to efficiently communicate with several stakeholders across functions, championing innovative approaches in fast-paced environments.
• Strong understanding of traditional manufacturing processes, polymer science, and compound mechanics to develop digital material cards for hyperelastic foams, rubbers, and viscoelastic polymers using experimental test data.
• Strong understanding of soccer-specific biomechanics.
• Excitement for the blank canvas of building On's football presence from the ground up, blending Swiss engineering with modern football culture.
• Mastery in Radioss/Abaqus/HyperMesh.
• Proficiency in NX/SolidWorks/Rhino.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Calm, organised, and solutions-oriented under tight deadlines, ensuring sudden fixture-related footwear needs are met without compromising product quality.
• Fluent in English, written and spoken.
• Availability to travel up to 10% of the time.