Principal Design Engineer - Mechanical Equipment

About the role

Climeworks is looking for a highly experienced individual contributor to join its Design Engineering team in Opfikon, Zurich. As a Principal Design Engineer you lead mechanically challenging design problems yourself, from concepts and CAD models to manufacturing drawings, prototypes and tested hardware, while helping the wider team make strong technical decisions. The role focuses on designing the CO2 collectors, the heart of the direct air capture plant.

Key responsibilities

• Turn new concepts into robust physical products: develop mechanical concepts, create CAD models, design components and complete collector assemblies, produce manufacturing drawings and support hardware through fabrication, assembly and testing.
• Take mechanical systems from requirements and concepts through to detailed, manufacturable designs, performing engineering calculations and making the decisions needed for robust industrial hardware.
• Use first-principles reasoning, tolerance analysis, design reviews and testing to reduce uncertainty and catch risks early.
• Work in SolidWorks to create and modify parts, assemblies and system layouts, manage interfaces and packaging constraints, and maintain high-quality 2D manufacturing drawings with GD&T, tolerances, materials and finishes.
• Support prototype fabrication, assembly and testing, investigate issues and feed the learnings back into the design.
• Act as a senior technical reference: support design reviews, engineering standards and approval of critical designs, mentor colleagues and collaborate with manufacturing, testing, process engineering, procurement and suppliers.

Required profile

• 15+ years of hands-on mechanical design experience, ideally developing complex industrial equipment from concept through manufacture, assembly and testing.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar.
• Experience designing sheet-metal parts, structures and assemblies at scale, with knowledge of bending, welding, forming, tolerances and material selection.
• Strong knowledge of machined parts, welded structures, materials and manufacturing processes, applied through DFMA.
• Ability to work with engineers, technicians, manufacturers and suppliers, and to share experience constructively.

Required skills

• Expert SolidWorks user who creates their own manufacturing drawings.
• Confident with GD&T and tolerance chains.
• System design judgement across components, mechanisms, subsystems and complex assemblies.

What we offer

• 25 paid vacation days per year plus public holidays.
• Hybrid work with up to 4 weeks of remote work annually within any EU country.
• Fair base pay with an equity package.
• Inclusive parental leave and a dedicated budget for continuous learning.
• Referral rewards.

The position is based in Opfikon, Zurich, with at least three days per week onsite. The percentage in the title indicates flexibility between full-time and part-time. Candidates are asked to apply directly, and recruitment agencies are not accepted.