E-commerce & Merchandise Manager

About Proton

 

Join Proton and build a better internet where privacy is the default

Proton was founded in 2014 by scientists from CERN on a simple truth: privacy is a fundamental human right. Since then, we’ve built the world’s largest encrypted email service (Proton Mail) and expanded into Proton VPN, Proton Drive, Proton Pass, and Proton Calendar—tools used by millions globally to protect their freedom, fight censorship, and keep their data safe. In some situations, Proton has literally helped save lives!

We are profitable, independent (no VC control), and selectively hire from the top ~1% of applicants. Our 500+ team members across 50+ countries come from leading organizations and elite academic backgrounds. We move fast, keep hierarchy light, and prioritize impact over optics. If you want to do meaningful work with exceptionally high-caliber people, this is it. Join us and do work you can truly be proud of. Check our open-source projects here!

 

The Role

Proton’s community loves swag, and we need you to help us take it to the next level! In this role, you’ll build and scale Proton’s custom merch shop for fans, supporters, ambassadors, partners, creators, and conferences. You’ll own the end-to-end strategy—from product and collection planning to production, storefront performance, and customer experience.

You’ll lead our merchandising roadmap: defining always-on staple items, seasonal collections, and limited-edition collectibles with clear launch mechanics, upsell paths, and inventory plans. You’ll manage inventory across multiple internal use cases (gifting, events, partnerships) while ensuring production, supply chain, and fulfillment meet the highest standards—balancing quality, timelines, and cost efficiency through strong vendor management and negotiation.

The ideal candidate combines strong taste and creativity with crisp communication, operational excellence, and a data-informed mindset.

The Team 

This role is part of the Social & Community team at Proton - a small, high-impact group of 5 people that builds Proton’s brand the way modern cult brands do it: with a human voice and sharp, timely creative that people actually want to share. We move fast, take principled stances when it matters, and pair rigorous performance thinking with internet instincts, earning the kind of audience feedback most brands never get (“genius level trolling,” “10/10 Proton marketing team,” “great marketing,” “social media masterclass,” “best repost I’ve seen in a while” “deserves a raise”) or getting compared to Wendy’s. 

You’ll help us break out of online-only marketing and build community relationships in the real world. Through thoughtful drops, high-quality staples, and strategic gifting, you’ll strengthen brand perception, spark word-of-mouth, and create shareable IRL experiences that fuel UGC and community storytelling online.

If you want to do career-defining work with a team that’s trusted to experiment, backed by a mission people care about, and measured on real impact, you’ll fit right in.

What you’ll do 

Merchandising strategy and production

• Define and execute Proton’s merch e-commerce strategy (positioning, target audiences, pricing approach, channel mix, growth plan).
• Lead end-to-end merch development: concept briefs, design direction, sampling, iteration, and approvals.
• Propose and run experiments (pre-orders, waitlists, personalization, tiered perks, limited-access drops, bundles, collaborations).

Brand consistency and awareness

• Maintain high standards for quality, sustainability, and brand consistency across materials, packaging, and unboxing.
• Drive brand awareness and community delight through merch moments, creator seeding, and fan engagement.
• Develop programs to generate UGC (campaign prompts, incentives, repost flows, ambassador collaborations).

Shop performance and operations

• Own e-commerce KPIs: conversion rate, AOV, revenue, returning customer rate, email performance, and retention.
• Own day-to-day shop operations: product setup, inventory hygiene, fulfillment coordination, returns/refunds processes, customer support SLAs, and escalation paths.
• Optimize processes and workflows to ensure maximum efficiency and impact.

Conference activations and merchandising support

• Support internal stakeholders with merch stocking and production for events and conferences.
• Support tradeshows and booth setup activities.
• Build and maintain relationships with local vendors to optimize costs across different geographies.

Job Requirements

• 4+ years in e-commerce, merchandising, or DTC operations (bonus if paired with community-led growth).
• Proven track record owning an e-commerce channel end-to-end: strategy, launches, inventory, and performance optimization.
• Hands-on experience with merch production workflows (sourcing, sampling, MOQs, lead times, QC).
• Experience with Shopify (or similar), fulfillment logistics, and customer support tooling.
• Basic knowledge of design programs like Adobe Illustrator, Figma, Indesign, or similar 
• Technically savvy and able to implement new tools and workflows in line with the newest e-commerce and marketing technologies
• Proven communication and copywriting experience for e-commerce content
• Professional proficiency in English, another European language is a plus

Bonus points for

• Experience with e-commerce and gifting for a fast-scaling tech or SaaS company
• Passion for privacy tech, mission-driven brands, internet culture, and community-first marketing.

 

What We Offer

• Work that Matters: millions of people trust Proton with their privacy. We answer only to our users — not advertisers, not investors with conflicting agendas, not governments. The work you do here is real, and the impact is measurable. (read more about our impact here)

• Stock Options: at Proton, we all have the opportunity to be owners of the company. From day one, you have a real stake in what we're building. When Proton wins, you win.

• Technology: you'll get the right hardware and the right software you need to do your best work.

• Learning & Development: we invest in your growth because sharp people make us better. Proton is one of the fastest ways to accelerate your career because you'll be thrown into real challenges, with real ownership, from day one.

• Employee Benefits: your wellbeing isn't an afterthought. We offer strong health coverage, solid retirement options, generous leave, and wellness support so you can bring your best self to work every day

• In-Person Collaboration: Amazing things happen when passionate, smart, and purposeful people get together in the same room. With offices across Geneva, Zürich, Barcelona, London and more, you'll spend most of your time collaborating face-to-face with people who genuinely care about what they're building

• Food: Lunch and snacks are on us every day in our offices so you can focus on the work and not on what's for lunch.

• Transport: getting to the office shouldn't cost you. We cover public transport, bike allowances, or parking, whichever works for you.

• Flexible Working: you own your schedule. Set hours that work for you and your team — because outcomes matter more than when the clock says you started.

 

 

Check our social media to learn more about Proton: 

X, LinkedIn ,Reddit , Instagram, YouTube

 

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion 

At Proton, we believe diversity drives innovation and strengthens our mission to provide privacy as a default for all. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical ability or socio-economic background feel valued and empowered. We strive to create equal opportunities, promote open dialogue and support continuous learning to ensure every voice is heard and respected. 

If you need any extra support or reasonable adjustments during the hiring process, please let your talent partner know. 

Candidate privacy notice 

When you apply for a position, refer a candidate or are considered for a role at Proton Technologies AG (Proton, we, us or our), your information is stored in Greenhouse, in accordance with its Service Privacy Policy. This information is used to evaluate your suitability for the posted position. We also retain this information for consideration for future roles that you may apply for or that we believe may align with your background and skills. 

If we no longer have a legitimate business need to process your information, we will either delete or anonymise it. Should you have any inquiries about how we use or manage your information or if you wish to access, correct or delete your data, please contact our privacy team at careers@proton.ch.

Proton does not accept unsolicited CVs from any sources other than directly from candidates. We will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from an unsolicited offer, even if the candidate is subsequently hired by Proton. 

To learn more about our privacy policy, please visit our privacy policy page.