On - Senior Specialist – Apparel Developer - Zürich

Team for Career Site

Apparel & Accessories Product Creation

In short

As a Senior Apparel Developer at On, you will oversee the development of advanced performance apparel, driving technically complex products from concept to commercial readiness. This role requires deep expertise in functional garment construction, professional-grade utility, and the rigorous demands of high-intensity, competitive use environments.

The Senior Developer creates world-class athletic products that lead in innovation, fit, durability, quality, and functionality. You will own the development journey from concept and sketch through detailed Tech Pack creation, ensuring product integrity and technical excellence before handing off a style fully ready for manufacturing.

You will partner closely with Design, Innovation, Materials, and Sourcing to deliver technically robust, competition-ready products that meet the standards of elite athletes while scaling for global distribution. As a senior member of the Apparel Development team, you will mentor others, support operational excellence, and act as a key technical authority within the category.

This role requires a strategic thinker with strong category credibility, confident communication skills, and advanced knowledge of performance garment engineering.

Your mission

– Execute the development of complex technical apparel styles and seasonal projects, ensuring excellence in performance, durability, and fit consistency across all size scales.

– Deliver technical solutions tailored to high-performance environments, including durability for high-intensity movement, repeated laundering, and complex branding integrations.

– Partner closely with Design to translate creative concepts into scalable, production-ready Tech Packs that maintain visual identity while delivering elite performance standards.

– Oversee fit, grading, and size-set consistency for premium product lines, ensuring accuracy across global consumer and professional size ranges.

– Collaborate with Materials and Innovation to advance lightweight constructions, moisture management systems, bonded or seamless applications, and advanced ventilation mapping.

– Serve as the technical focal point for high-visibility product launches, managing risk, timelines, and stakeholder alignment with professional authority.

– Work directly with global manufacturing partners to ensure repeatability, durability, and quality at scale for large-volume product programs.

– Manage seasonal costing excellence by advising on material choices, yield, construction methods, and vendor suitability while maintaining quality and performance standards.

– Drive hands-on cost engineering initiatives, making development decisions that balance performance, margin targets, and scalability.

– Maintain data integrity and ensure accuracy of all development information within PLM, enabling clear communication, traceability, and scalable execution.

– Provide mentorship to Junior and Mid-Level Developers, sharing technical expertise in apparel construction and industry best practices.

– Stay ahead of industry innovation in team apparel systems, including advancements in lightweight fabrics, athlete data integration, and sustainable material solutions.

Your story

– Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

– 8+ years of apparel development experience, with significant hands-on expertise in complex, high-performance product systems.

– Demonstrated expertise in technical performance apparel, tiered product ranges, and advanced functional construction methods.

– Strong understanding of complex branding integration, global regulatory standards, and technical placement constraints for high-visibility product lines.

– Advanced knowledge of garment construction, grading, and durability testing specific to high-intensity, high-frequency use environments.

– Proven experience collaborating with elite-level end-users or professional consultants to validate performance, ergonomics, and fit.

– Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, PLM tools, and technical documentation.

– Professional seniority with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and guide projects through complex, time-sensitive launch cycles.

– Experience managing multiple seasonal deliveries aligned to rigid global launch windows.

– Fluent in English; additional languages are a plus.

– Willingness to travel globally to support technical development, product fittings, and production.

Meet the 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.