Application Guide
How to Apply for Design Engineering Technical Lead - Mechanical Equipment
at Climeworks
🏢 About Climeworks
Climeworks is a pioneer in Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology, operating the world's first commercial DAC plant and offering high-quality carbon removal as a service. Working here means contributing directly to scalable climate solutions at the intersection of cutting-edge engineering and environmental impact, with a company that has proven commercial traction in a rapidly growing field.
About This Role
This role leads the mechanical industrialization of DAC equipment, transforming conceptual designs into reliable, manufacturable products that can be deployed globally. You'll be responsible for the technical integrity of mechanical systems from specification through manufacturing, directly enabling Climeworks' mission to scale carbon removal technology.
💡 A Day in the Life
You might start by reviewing manufacturing feedback on recent drawings, then lead a design review with junior engineers on a new adsorption module assembly. The afternoon could involve collaborating with procurement on vendor capabilities for custom components, followed by updating SolidWorks models to incorporate reliability improvements based on field data from existing plants.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Climeworks Is Looking For
- Has 5+ years of technical leadership experience specifically in industrializing mechanical equipment (not just design), with a portfolio showing progression from concept to manufactured product
- Demonstrates expert-level SolidWorks proficiency with experience creating complex assemblies, detailed manufacturing drawings, and managing large-scale CAD projects
- Shows proven ability to mentor junior engineers and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams including manufacturing, procurement, and quality assurance
- Possesses deep knowledge of industrial standards relevant to large-scale mechanical equipment (e.g., ASME, ISO, or industry-specific standards for pressure vessels, structural components, or process equipment)
📝 Tips for Applying to Climeworks
Quantify your industrialization experience: Instead of saying 'led mechanical design,' specify 'led industrialization of [specific equipment type] resulting in X% cost reduction or Y% reliability improvement'
Highlight DAC-relevant experience: Emphasize any work with adsorption/desorption systems, heat exchangers, large-scale filtration, or industrial gas processing equipment that relates directly to DAC technology
Showcase your standards knowledge: Mention specific standards you've worked with (e.g., 'ensured compliance with ASME BPVC Section VIII for pressure vessel design') rather than generic statements
Demonstrate cross-functional leadership: Provide examples of how you've worked with manufacturing teams to optimize designs for production or collaborated with procurement on vendor selection
Tailor your portfolio: Include SolidWorks examples showing complex assemblies and detailed manufacturing drawings, ideally for industrial equipment rather than consumer products
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your specific experience industrializing mechanical equipment (not just designing it), with concrete examples of taking concepts to manufactured products', 'How your technical leadership has improved product reliability, manufacturability, or cost-effectiveness in previous roles', "Your understanding of Climeworks' DAC technology and how your mechanical expertise can accelerate their scaling efforts", 'Your approach to mentoring junior engineers and collaborating across functions to deliver integrated solutions']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Climeworks' Orca and Mammoth plants: Understand their existing technology, scale, and mechanical components to speak knowledgeably about their systems
- → The company's partnerships and clients: Review their corporate carbon removal customers to understand the commercial context of your work
- → DAC technology fundamentals: Research adsorption/desorption processes, energy requirements, and mechanical challenges specific to carbon capture
- → Climeworks' scaling ambitions: Understand their roadmap for megaton-scale removal and how mechanical industrialization enables that growth
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on CAD skills without demonstrating how those designs were industrialized and manufactured at scale
- Generic statements about 'passion for sustainability' without connecting to specific mechanical engineering contributions to climate solutions
- Presenting experience only in consumer products or small-scale devices rather than industrial equipment with reliability and standardization requirements
📅 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!