Principal Design Engineer - Mechanical Equipment (80-100%)

Location: Based in Opfikon, Zurich, Switzerland; onsite at least three days per week with a hybrid setup

Company

hirify.global develops direct air capture technology and CO2 collectors for industrial-scale carbon removal.

What you will do

• Develop mechanical concepts, CAD models, components, complete CO2 collector assemblies, and manufacturing drawings.
• Design mechanical systems from requirements through detailed, manufacturable hardware using calculations, tolerance analysis, design reviews, and testing.
• Own designs in SolidWorks, managing complex interfaces, packaging constraints, design changes, GD&T, tolerances, materials, finishes, and manufacturing requirements.
• Support prototype fabrication, assembly, and testing; investigate issues and incorporate findings into the designs.
• Provide technical leadership through design reviews, engineering standards, critical design approvals, mentoring, and constructive technical challenge.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, testing, process engineering, procurement, suppliers, other engineering disciplines, and external design resources.

Requirements

• 15+ years of hands-on mechanical design experience, ideally developing complex industrial equipment from concept through manufacture, assembly, and testing.
• Deep practical experience designing sheet-metal parts, structures, and assemblies for scaled manufacturing, including bending, welding, joining, forming, tolerances, and material and thickness selection.
• Expert SolidWorks skills with continued hands-on CAD work; ability to create high-quality manufacturing drawings and use GD&T and tolerance chains.
• Experience designing components, mechanisms, subsystems, interfaces, and complex assemblies while balancing structures, airflow, movement, sealing, process interfaces, manufacturability, reliability, and cost.
• Strong knowledge of machined parts, welded structures, materials, and manufacturing processes, with practical application of DFMA.
• Ability to collaborate with engineers, technicians, manufacturers, and suppliers, share experience, and support technical decision-making.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a similar field.
• Unsuitable profiles include candidates focused mainly on people or project management, simulation, concept work, or system-level engineering without hands-on CAD, and candidates without sheet-metal, welded-structure, or scaled-manufacturing experience.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid work setup with at least three onsite days per week; up to four weeks of remote work annually within any EU country.
• Full-time or part-time flexibility is available despite the 80–100% title range.
• 25 paid vacation days annually plus public holidays and inclusive parental leave.
• Fair base pay with an equity package and a dedicated professional development budget.
• Inclusive workplace committed to valuing people regardless of background or identity.
• Referral rewards are available for successful candidate referrals.

Hiring process

• Apply directly; candidate profiles submitted through recruitment agencies are not accepted.