Specialist – Apparel Developer

In short

As a Junior Apparel Developer at On, you will play an active role in bringing high-performance apparel to life, contributing to innovative products that meet the demands of elite athletes and the next generation of performance consumers. You’ll support the end-to-end development process across seasonal collections and special projects, collaborating closely with Design, Materials, Innovation, and Sourcing teams.

You will join a small, agile development team focused on delivering world-class performance apparel. Working closely alongside a Senior Apparel Developer and Lead Developer, you will receive direct mentorship and hands-on guidance while taking responsibility for specific product areas. This provides a unique opportunity to accelerate your technical expertise, build your product knowledge, and contribute meaningfully to some of On’s most innovative performance projects.

With a sharp eye for detail, a solid foundational knowledge of garment construction, and a solutions-driven mindset, you’ll help ensure every product meets On’s high standards for performance, quality, fit, durability, and innovation. This role requires an effective communicator who is eager to learn, capable of managing assigned projects efficiently, and deeply passionate about developing technically advanced performance apparel.

• Support the development of a seasonal performance apparel collection, helping to create innovative products that meet the needs of athletes and performance consumers while reflecting On’s performance DNA.
• Assist and manage assigned stages of product development from concept through commercialization, ensuring products deliver against performance, innovation, quality, and athlete expectations under the guidance of senior team members.
• Collaborate with Design to create accurate, production-ready Tech Packs and ensure supplier instructions are clear, detailed, and aligned.
• Apply foundational construction techniques and seek technical solutions that meet design intent, performance requirements, fit standards, cost targets, and sustainability goals.
• Help execute fit, wear testing, and quality standards across assigned product ranges, ensuring products perform reliably under intended use conditions.
• Maintain product development documentation using Adobe Illustrator and PLM tools to manage detailed specifications, construction artwork, and material selections.
• Actively participate in fit sessions, bringing a strong standard of execution, technical curiosity, and growing competitor awareness.
• Partner with the Materials Developer to select and source materials that enhance performance, comfort, durability, and athlete experience.
• Maintain positive, collaborative relationships with key suppliers to ensure product quality, innovation, and production readiness.
• Make informed decisions within your assigned project scope, balancing design intent and technical feasibility while escalating complex issues appropriately.
• Manage assigned tasks concurrently, prioritizing effectively to deliver on timelines, quality, and cost goals with guidance from senior developers.
• Contribute to solving technical challenges related to construction, materials, fit, or production, showing a proactive attitude toward continuous process improvement.
• Develop foundational expertise in specialized performance categories, eagerly learning from senior colleagues to grow your technical knowledge.
• Collaborate effectively across functions including Design, Materials, Sourcing, Engineering, Innovation, Athlete Management, and external partners to support alignment from concept to production.
• Provide clear, timely product input and feedback to internal teams and suppliers, maintaining open and collaborative communication.
• Embrace a growth mindset by actively seeking feedback, reflecting on product outcomes, and fostering a collaborative, solution-focused team culture.
• Learn and apply costing principles, contributing to cost engineering efforts to meet commercial targets without compromising product performance or design intent.

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Engineering, Sportswear Development, or a related technical field.
• 2+ years of experience in apparel development, ideally with an exposure to performance apparel, technical sportswear, or athlete-focused product.
• Strong interest in athlete needs and a growing ability to help translate performance requirements into commercially viable products.
• Good foundational knowledge of garment construction, basic pattern understanding, materials, and fit.
• Proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with a hands-on approach and openness to learning unconventional thinking.
• Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, PLM systems, and Microsoft Office tools.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and ambitious product innovation goals.
• Willingness to travel regularly between HQ and global development and manufacturing partners as needed.
• Good communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines.
• Excited to work within a small, highly collaborative team environment where learning, growth, and continuous development are prioritized.
• Highly motivated to learn from experienced technical leaders while progressively taking on more independent responsibility for complex product categories.