Get to Know Climeworks
Climeworks is a leading high-quality carbon removal provider, seamlessly combining decades of expertise in Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology with a comprehensive approach to carbon removal solutions.
We advise companies on their carbon removal strategies and provide tailored portfolios of nature-based and engineered approaches, offering end-to-end services to help achieve net-zero goals. Our company operates the world's first two DAC plants in Iceland, exemplifying our steadfast commitment to high-quality carbon removal, which is supported by over 15 years of pioneering research, development, and deployment.
By advancing the most reliable solutions in the market, Climeworks accelerates the global transition to net zero, unlocking economic value for businesses, governments, and society.
We foster a dynamic environment and are building a global purpose-driven team. We are looking for disruptive thinkers, passionate achievers, and inspiring leaders ready to take on the world’s greatest challenges.
Your Mission
Job Description
We’re on a mission to scale Direct Air Capture (DAC) technologies to remove megatons of CO₂ from the atmosphere in the coming years. Our CO₂ collectors are the beating heart of our technology—complex, high-performance machines that must withstand demanding air, steam, and vacuum conditions. We need someone who can envision, build, and lead the development of the next generation of collectors—from a sketch on the back of a napkin to commercial deployment.
The Role
We are seeking a Design Director who is equal parts visionary engineer, tinkerer, and inspiring leader. You’ll own the design lifecycle of our collector systems, from initial concept to field acceptance, ensuring they are fit for commercial deployment. You will lead and grow a development team, actively prototyping, testing, iterating, and pushing the limits of what’s possible.
If you’d rather discuss how to turn a design idea into a working product than sit in a corporate steering committee, this is your place. You’ll be given the freedom, resources, and responsibility to deliver extraordinary designs that will set the standard for the industry.
Your Mission
- System Design & Optimization: Lead the end-to-end design of new collector systems, ensuring maximum performance of the sorbent–process combination.
- Innovation & Validation: Drive innovation from ideation through field acceptance, including testing to prove commercial readiness.
- Team Leadership & Mentorship: Manage and mentor a multidisciplinary development team, fostering creativity, rigor, and practical problem-solving.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with sorbent and process development teams to invent new collectors that maximize efficiency and integrate seamlessly into the overall DAC plant.
- Hands-On Prototyping: Actively build, test, and refine prototypes in the workshop.
- Technical Ownership: Own technical decision-making on collector architecture, materials, and performance optimization, in close collaboration with the industrialization team responsible for detailed engineering, manufacturing, and compliance.
Your Story
Requirements
- Technical Expertise & Experience: Proven track record (10+ years) in developing innovative systems, products, or equipment, preferably in high-performance or industrial thermal/flow systems.
- Product Development Lifecycle: Experience taking complex electro-mechanical products from concept (TRL0) to functional and performance demonstration (TRL7).
- System Design Mastery: Expert in designing systems involving air flow, vacuum systems, and steam or thermal management.
- Hands-On Execution: Pragmatic, curious, and action-oriented—able to quickly build, test, and improve prototypes.
- Leadership & Team Building: Strong, inspiring leader with a history of building and guiding high-impact teams to success.
- Documentation & Communication: Skilled in creating simple but effective documentation to keep teams aligned and informed.
- Innovation & Delivery Mindset: Unafraid of bold ideas yet disciplined in delivering designs that perform in real-world conditions.
What We Offer
- Time Off: Enjoy 25 paid vacation days every year, plus public holidays.
- Flexibility: Work in a way that suits you best. We offer a hybrid work setup and up to 4 weeks of remote work annually within any EU country.
- Ownership: Fair base pay paired with an equity package—because your contributions matter.
- Family Support: Inclusive parental leave.
- Continuous Learning: Dedicated budget to invest in your professional growth.
- Referral Rewards: Help us grow our team and earn bonuses for your successful referrals.
- Salary: Salary ranges are assigned to a job based on seniority and the market median of similar jobs according to external benchmark surveys. Individual compensation depends on your skills, experience, and the value you bring to the team.
Formalities
This position is based in Opfikon, Zurich, and we ask that you work onsite at least three days per week.
The percentage in the job title indicates flexibility—choose between full-time or part-time based on what works for you.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.