āØ AI Insights & Summary
Climeworks is seeking a highly experienced Piping Engineering & Plant Layout Lead for a critical role in designing and delivering their next-generation DAC plant, planned for Alberta, Canada. This position offers a unique opportunity to drive innovation in carbon removal technology, manage global teams, and ensure constructability and operability in challenging cold-weather environments. If you possess deep expertise in piping engineering, plant layout, contractor management, and a passion for tackling one of humankind's greatest challenges, this role provides a chance to make a significant, tangible impact while working in a purpose-driven, inclusive organization.
Role Overview
While advertised for Canada, this position is based in Zurich, Switzerland, requiring relocation. You will lead our Piping Engineering & Plant Layout Team, ensuring project requirements are met globally in a fit-for-purpose manner. This includes defining clear owner requirements, validating design assumptions against operability and safety, and developing piping and plant layouts suitable for global execution.
Key Responsibilities
Specifications and Design
- Develop and lead the Piping Engineering & Plant Layout Team to meet all project requirements globally.
- Ensure owner requirements are clearly defined, documented, and communicated to contractors.
- Validate design assumptions against operability, safety, and regulatory expectations.
- Define piping and plant layouts suitable for local and regional execution.
Contractor Management
- Review and approve contractor submissions.
- Enforce owner requirements and provide technical clarifications.
- Ensure adherence to schedule, quality, safety, and operability standards.
- Set clear expectations for execution methods, field quality controls, and turnover documentation.
Innovation and Cost Optimization
- Develop innovative engineering solutions for cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or safety.
- Focus on design-to-construct decisions appropriate for local conditions (e.g., modularization, reduced field welds, optimized layout, climate considerations, access, and maintenance).
Interface Management
- Ensure strong integration with process, civil, electrical, mechanical, and O&M disciplines for seamless, optimized designs.
- Proactively manage cross-discipline interfaces.
Regulatory and Stakeholder Awareness
- Support alignment of piping and plant layout scope assumptions with local permitting and application needs for energy/industrial facilities and infrastructure.
Documentation and Knowledge Management
- Maintain thorough records of technical decisions, design bases, vendor information, and lessons learned.
Cold-Weather and Constructability Focus
- Incorporate Alberta (or similar) climate conditions into piping and plant layout design and execution planning (freeze protection, winterization, insulation/heat tracing, drainage, cold start constraints).
- Ensure designs are constructable and maintainable through winter conditions, considering temporary works, winter work sequencing, and interfaces with cold-weather civil activities.
Requirements:
Educational Background
- Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
Professional Experience
- Minimum 10 years of experience in process plants in cold weather climates as a piping and plant layout engineer.
- Understanding of current mechanical, piping, and civil engineering standards and directives.
Project Experience
- Hands-on involvement in at least one full-cycle project (FEED, detailed design, construction, commissioning, start-up) in the chemical, petrochemical, or renewables industry, preferably in cold-weather or seasonally constrained environments.
Work Style
- Precise, adaptable, and reliable with a proactive, solution-oriented approach.
- Comfortable driving decisions and owning them in office and field settings, managing winter productivity and schedule risks.
Communication
- Confident presenting to executive audiences and EPC contractors, translating technical content into clear, actionable information.
Languages & Travel
- Fluent in English.
- Willingness to travel up to 60% of the time, including extended site presence in Alberta, Canada during peak project phases.
Our Promise
At Climeworks, we value diversity and inclusivity. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, regardless of background or experience. If you believe you'd be a great fit, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single criterion.
What We Offer:
- Time Off: 25 paid vacation days annually, plus public holidays.
- Flexibility: 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.
- Family Support: Inclusive parental leave.
- Continuous Learning: Dedicated budget for professional growth.
- Referral Rewards: Bonuses for successful team referrals.
Salary: Individual compensation depends on skills, experience, and team value, based on seniority and location-specific market data.
Formalities:
- Position based in Opfikon, Zurich; onsite work at least three days per week required.
- Full-time or part-time flexibility based on individual needs.
- We do not accept candidate profiles through recruitment agencies.
Location: Zurich, Switzerland (Relocation Required)