Principal Engineer - Operations

Will help scale On's operations and finance platforms, re-engineering and scaling core Finance and Operations technology platforms across supply chain, logistics, enterprise resource planning and financial systems. It reports to the Senior Director of Engineering of Operations and Finance Technology and works closely with operations and finance engineering teams, product management and key stakeholders based in Zurich, Berlin and London. The position sits within a cross-functional team of engineers, product managers and functional consultants that implements features from design to deployment and is responsible for the full process and delivery.

• Lead by example and with inclusion by driving collaborative projects, seeking diverse viewpoints, sharing knowledge and making balanced decisions that benefit Technology at On and the broader company, including jumping in hands-on and creating from scratch when required.
• Strategically align with business goals by proactively identifying and addressing critical business areas within Finance and Operations, balancing technical solutions with company objectives and crafting strategies that anticipate future shifts.
• Communicate a compelling vision for the future of technology within Finance and Operations at On, engaging team members and broader business stakeholders and inspiring action.
• Drive continuous improvement by fostering a culture that consistently raises the technical bar and championing direct feedback and insights.
• Provide decisive leadership on high-level decisions that resonate across the organisation and align with and amplify On's overarching strategy.
• Uphold security and compliance by maintaining and enhancing On's security standards, ensuring processes minimise risks and remain compliant across critical Finance and Operations systems.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Over 10 years of experience building and optimising high-performance and high-availability tech systems.
• Proven experience as a Principal Engineer, including building and scaling high-traffic services from the ground up by driving significant technical initiatives and demonstrating strong business acumen.
• Strong problem-solving skills to tackle complex technical and product challenges.
• Genuine team player with exceptional communication skills in English.
• Confidence working with a modern tech stack, including proficiency in more than one Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) language or TypeScript, Node.js, PostgreSQL, GCP, and Kafka Stream.
• Experience taking part in strategies to attract and retain top-tier engineering talent.
• Commitment to continuously raising the bar within the team through effective mentorship and professional development.
• Entrepreneurial and result-driven mindset with strong hands-on technical oversight and execution skills.
• Pragmatic problem solver who tackles complex challenges with practical, efficient solutions, prioritising simplicity and avoiding unnecessary system complexity.
• Collaborative influencer and true leader rather than a manager, adept at guiding team decisions and fostering consensus through professional and constructive influence.
• Committed to growth and feedback, comfortable providing candid feedback to peers and leadership and integrating feedback to elevate own expertise.

• Experience working with external partners and technology vendors.