Application Guide
How to Apply for CFD Development Specialist (100%)
at Climeworks
🏢 About Climeworks
Climeworks is a pioneering climate technology company that develops and deploys direct air capture (DAC) technology to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. What makes them unique is their operational, commercial-scale DAC plants and their mission-driven focus on combating climate change through scalable carbon removal solutions. Working here offers the chance to contribute directly to cutting-edge environmental technology with real-world impact.
About This Role
This CFD Development Specialist role involves creating and refining computational fluid dynamics models specifically for Climeworks' carbon capture systems, focusing on fluid flow, heat transfer, and multiphase phenomena in DAC technology. The role is impactful because your simulations will directly inform design optimizations that improve the efficiency and scalability of carbon capture, directly supporting the company's mission to remove atmospheric CO₂ at scale.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve developing and running CFD simulations to analyze fluid flow and heat transfer in Climeworks' carbon capture modules, using software like ANSYS Fluent to model CO₂ adsorption processes. You'd collaborate remotely with engineering teams to interpret results, suggest design optimizations for improved efficiency, and document findings to guide next-generation DAC technology development.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Climeworks Is Looking For
- Has hands-on experience with CFD software (like ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, or COMSOL) specifically applied to fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and multiphase flows relevant to carbon capture or similar chemical/process systems.
- Possesses a mechanical, chemical, or process engineering background with a strong understanding of how CFD simulations translate to real-world engineering improvements in industrial equipment.
- Demonstrates ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional engineering teams in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment, ideally within a climate tech or scale-up company.
- Shows a genuine interest in climate technology and carbon removal, with knowledge or curiosity about direct air capture processes and their engineering challenges.
📝 Tips for Applying to Climeworks
Tailor your resume to highlight specific CFD projects involving fluid flow, heat transfer, or multiphase simulations—preferably in carbon capture, chemical processing, or environmental tech—using keywords from the job description.
In your application, explicitly mention Climeworks' mission and how your CFD expertise can advance their DAC technology, showing you've researched their technology and business model.
Provide concrete examples of how you've used CFD to optimize design or performance in past roles, quantifying results (e.g., 'improved efficiency by X%' or 'reduced pressure drop by Y') to demonstrate impact.
Emphasize collaboration skills by describing how you've worked with engineering teams to implement simulation-based improvements, as this role requires close teamwork in a scale-up environment.
If you have remote work experience, highlight your ability to manage CFD projects and communicate effectively in a distributed team, as this is a remote position at a globally operating company.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Express specific enthusiasm for Climeworks' mission and direct air capture technology, explaining why you're motivated to apply your CFD skills to carbon removal.", 'Detail your relevant CFD experience with fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and multiphase flows, linking it directly to optimizing DAC systems (e.g., mention simulating CO₂ adsorption processes or heat exchanger performance).', 'Provide a brief example of a past CFD project where your simulations led to tangible engineering improvements, showcasing your ability to translate analysis into practical outcomes.', "Highlight your collaborative engineering background and adaptability in dynamic environments, noting how you'd thrive in Climeworks' scale-up culture focused on innovation."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Study Climeworks' direct air capture technology and existing plants (e.g., Orca, Mammoth) to understand their engineering approach and where CFD might apply.
- → Review the company's mission, recent news, and partnerships to grasp their scale-up trajectory and climate impact goals.
- → Explore the broader carbon removal industry and Climeworks' position within it, including competitors and technological trends in DAC.
- → Look into Climeworks' engineering team structure and any published technical content (e.g., whitepapers, presentations) to identify potential CFD-related challenges.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application without mentioning Climeworks' mission or DAC technology, which may suggest lack of genuine interest in climate tech.
- Failing to provide specific examples of CFD work with fluid dynamics, heat transfer, or multiphase flows, as this is core to the role.
- Overlooking the collaborative and scale-up aspects by not highlighting teamwork experience or adaptability in dynamic environments.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!