Lead EIC Engineer (100%) - Base in Zurich, Switzerland

Climeworks•Calgary, AB

16h•Hybrid

About The Position

While this role is advertised for Canada, the position is based in Zurich, Switzerland. We therefore expect the successful candidate to relocate. This role involves defining and maintaining the technical direction for the Electrical, Instrumentation, and Controls (EIC) Department, leading the development of EIC specifications, design philosophies, and basis of design for global execution. The Lead EIC Engineer ensures owner requirements are clearly defined, documented, and communicated to contractors, and validates design assumptions against operability, safety, and compliance with local and regional codes and regulations. Responsibilities include reviewing and approving contractor submissions, enforcing owner requirements, providing technical clarifications, and ensuring adherence to schedule, quality, safety, and operability. The role also involves setting clear expectations for execution methods, field quality controls, and turnover documentation. Furthermore, the Lead EIC Engineer will lead initiatives to improve reliability and performance of EIC systems, troubleshoot issues, implement preventive measures, and evaluate emerging technologies. This position serves as the primary EIC interface with process, mechanical, and project management teams to ensure integrated designs, identify and mitigate EIC risks, and support project teams with estimates. Team leadership includes supervising and coaching junior members, providing guidance, and driving lessons-learned sessions. The role also requires incorporating cold-weather and constructability considerations into EIC design and execution planning, particularly for projects in climates like Alberta, Canada.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or equivalent.
At least 10 years of experience in process plants, preferably in cold weather climates, as an Electrical Controls and Instrumentation Engineer.
Experience leading teams.
Hands-on involvement in at least one full-cycle project in the mining, water treatment, oil and gas or other comparable industries, covering all phases from FEED and detailed design to construction, commissioning and start-up; preferably in cold-weather or remote/seasonally constrained execution environments.
Expertise in low and medium voltage electrical systems, industrial instrumentation, and control systems.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to liaise with diverse stakeholders, including third-party vendors in IP-sensitive collaborations.
Precise, adaptable, and reliable working style.
Proactive and solution-oriented approach.
Comfortable driving decisions and owning them in the office and under field constraints, including winter productivity and schedule risk.
Highly organized, able to plan and prioritize work for yourself and others.
Comfortable working in fast-paced environments.
Fluent in English.
Ready to travel up to 60% of your time (including extended site presence in Alberta, Canada during peak design, engineering, construction and commissioning periods).
Must be willing to relocate to Zurich, Switzerland.

Responsibilities

Define and maintain the technical direction for the Electrical, Instrumentation, and Controls (EIC) Department.
Lead the development of fit-for-purpose EIC specifications, design philosophies, and basis of design for execution Globally.
Ensure owner requirements are clearly defined, documented, and communicated to contractors.
Validate design assumptions against operability, safety, and ensure compliance with local and regional codes and regulations.
Review and approve contractor submissions including power distribution, control system architecture, and instrumentation design.
Enforce owner requirements, provide technical clarifications, and ensure adherence to schedule, quality, safety, and operability.
Set clear expectations for execution methods, field quality controls, and turnover documentation needed for safe operation and maintenance.
Lead initiatives to improve reliability and performance of EIC systems, troubleshoot issues, and implement preventive measures.
Evaluate and introduce emerging technologies such as smart instrumentation, advanced control systems, and energy efficiency solutions.
Act as the primary EIC interface with process, mechanical, and project management teams to ensure integrated designs.
Identify and mitigate EIC risks during design and operation phases.
Support project teams with scope, cost, and schedule estimates.
Supervise and coach junior team members, provide guidance on technical challenges.
Drive lessons-learned sessions to maintain a strong knowledge base and promote continuous improvement.
Maintain thorough records of technical decisions, design bases, vendor information, and lessons learned for future operational use.
Incorporate Alberta (or similar) climate conditions into EIC design and execution planning (freeze protection, winterization, insulation/heat tracing philosophy, cold start/commissioning constraints).
Ensure the design is constructable and able to operate and be maintained through winter conditions, including consideration of temporary works, winter work sequencing, and interface constraints with cold-weather activities.