Director of Innovation - CO2 Collectors

About Us 

We’re on a mission to scale Direct Air Capture (DAC) technologies to remove megaton 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 (the equipment where our sorbent and process magic happens) — from initial concept through to field-acceptance, proven to be fit for commercial deployment. You will lead and grow a development team, but you’ll also be in the trenches: prototyping, testing, iterating, and pushing the limits of what’s possible. 

If you’d rather be discussing how to turn a design idea into a working product than sitting 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 industrialisation team responsible for detail engineering, manufacturing, and compliance. 

Your story 

• 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 at 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. 

Our promise: At Climeworks, you are accepted for who you are, and we are committed to building an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply – regardless of background, identity, or experience. Studies show that women and individuals from minority backgrounds often only apply for jobs when they meet 100% of the listed criteria. If this sounds like you, don’t hold back. If you think you’d make a great fit for this role, we’d love to hear from you, even if you don’t check every single box. Let’s tackle one of humankind’s greatest challenges together.

What we offer:

• Time Off: Enjoy 25 paid vacation days every year, plus public holidays.

• Flexibility: Work how it 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: At Climeworks, salary ranges are assigned to a job based on the level of seniority and the location specific 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 means flexibility – choose full-time or part-time based on what works for you.

• We do not accept candidate profiles through recruitment agencies.

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