Principal Development Engineer

Position

Principal Development Engineer (80–100%) at Climeworks – Opfikon, Zurich, Switzerland

• Strategic Technology Leadership: You lead the development of next-generation CO₂ collector system architectures, integrating sorbent and process requirements into scalable, manufacturable solutions.

• Advanced Prototyping & Validation: You drive the prototyping and testing of novel collector concepts and subsystems, overseeing the full lifecycle from ideation to final validation. You design and lead complex experimental campaigns to de-risk technologies and accelerate development timelines.

• Cross-Functional Influence: You act as a key interface between sorbent science, process engineering, mechanical design, and industrialisation. You ensure seamless integration of material and process properties into mechanical systems, and champion cross-functional collaboration to scale technologies from lab to industrial deployment.

• Innovation & IP Strategy: You monitor industry trends and emerging technologies, identifying opportunities for differentiation. You actively contribute to Climeworks’ intellectual property portfolio and help shape our innovation strategy.

• Mentorship & Technical Excellence: You mentor senior and junior engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, creativity, and continuous learning. You set engineering standards and ensure best practices in design, prototyping, and documentation.

• Stakeholder Engagement & Program Leadership: You lead strategic initiatives and cross-functional programs, managing technical and non-technical risks, aligning stakeholders, and ensuring delivery against ambitious goals. You document key learnings and failures to continuously improve innovation cycles.