Application Guide
How to Apply for Senior Development Engineer
at Climeworks
🏢 About Climeworks
Climeworks is a pioneer in Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology, operating the world's first two commercial DAC plants in Iceland. The company combines over 15 years of research with practical deployment, offering a unique opportunity to work on scalable carbon removal solutions that directly address climate change. Their mission-driven culture focuses on high-quality, engineered approaches to carbon removal, making them a leader in the climate tech space.
About This Role
As a Senior Development Engineer in the Concepts & Innovation team, you'll invent and design new CO₂ collector system architectures that integrate sorbent and process requirements into manufacturable equipment. This role involves hands-on prototyping from proof-of-concept to final testing, requiring both creative system design and practical engineering execution to advance Climeworks' core DAC technology.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day involves collaborative design sessions with the Concepts & Innovation team, developing new collector architectures that balance sorbent requirements with manufacturability. You'll spend time prototyping sub-systems, conducting tests, and analyzing results to iterate designs, while coordinating with process engineers to ensure system integration. The role combines CAD design work with hands-on lab or workshop time, moving concepts toward practical implementation.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Climeworks Is Looking For
- Experienced mechanical or systems engineer with proven ability to design and prototype complex equipment architectures
- Hands-on problem-solver comfortable with both conceptual design and physical testing of mechanical systems
- Background in designing for manufacturability and scaling from prototypes to production systems
- Passionate about climate technology with understanding of carbon capture or related environmental engineering fields
📝 Tips for Applying to Climeworks
Highlight specific examples of designing and prototyping complex mechanical systems from concept to testing
Demonstrate understanding of Direct Air Capture technology or similar environmental engineering systems
Show how your experience bridges conceptual innovation with practical, manufacturable designs
Emphasize experience with scaling prototypes to production-ready equipment
Connect your technical skills directly to Climeworks' mission of high-quality carbon removal
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your experience with end-to-end system development from concept through prototyping and testing', 'Specific examples of designing for manufacturability in complex mechanical systems', 'Understanding of carbon capture technology or similar environmental engineering challenges', "Alignment with Climeworks' mission and how your skills advance their DAC technology development"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Climeworks' existing DAC plants in Iceland and their technical specifications
- → The company's approach to 'high-quality carbon removal' versus other carbon capture methods
- → Recent patents or publications from Climeworks' R&D team
- → The Concepts & Innovation team's role within Climeworks' organizational structure
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Generic applications that don't specifically address DAC or carbon capture technology
- Focusing only on theoretical design without demonstrating hands-on prototyping experience
- Failing to connect technical skills to Climeworks' mission of scalable carbon removal
📅 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!