# CTO / Co-Founder - Hardware & Climate Technology (AWH)

> Flatgigs · Dubai, United Arab Emirates · — · Posted 2026-04-20

**Workplace:** on_site

## Description

We are a climate-tech company building an **integrated ecosystem of water solutions** that generate, conserve, and optimize water for agriculture, industry, and environmental restoration in water-scarce regions. At the core of this ecosystem is our **Atmospheric Water Harvesting (AWH) technology**, which serves as the foundational platform enabling decentralized, energy-efficient water harvesting.

Our approach combines **advanced engineering, thermodynamics, materials science, and system-level design** to move beyond single products and toward scalable infrastructure solutions. As we expand the ecosystem over time, AWH remains the **core technology**, and the CTO / Co-Founder will lead its development from early-stage R&D through commercialization and real-world deployment.

### **Role Overview**

As CTO / Co-Founder, you will own the **technical vision, system architecture, and product development** of our AWH technology from concept through prototype, pilot, and commercialization. You will work closely with the founders to define the technology roadmap, build and test systems, and lead R&D with a strong bias toward execution.

This is a **hands-on role**. You will be designing, building, testing, and iterating not delegating everything from day one.

### **Key Responsibilities**

·        Define and lead the **technical vision and architecture** of AWH systems

·        Design and develop **mechanical and thermal systems**

·        Take products **from idea → prototype → pilot → commercial deployment**

·        Lead **hands-on R&D**, experimentation, testing, and performance optimization

·        Drive **system efficiency, reliability, and scalability**

·        Oversee prototyping, validation, and field testing

·        Contribute to **IP strategy,** patent drafting, and technical documentation

·        Build and later lead a **technical team** (engineers, researchers, technicians)

·        Collaborate with partners, suppliers, and research institutions

·        Support fundraising and investor discussions with deep technical insight

## Requirements

**MSc / PhD in Mechanical Engineering** (strongly preferred) or related field

·        Deep expertise in one or more of:

o   Thermodynamics & heat transfer

o   Cooling and refrigeration systems, including **new innovative cooling methodologies**

o   Fluid mechanics / airflow systems

o   **Phase Change Materials (PCM) and energy storage**

o   Energy-efficient system design

·        Experience working with **MOFs, absorbents, and coating methodologies** is a plus

·        Proven experience taking **physical products from concept to commercialization**

·        Experience working on **real hardware**, not just simulations or papers

·        Startup, scale-up, or spin-out experience is a strong plus

### **Who You Are**

·        A **builder at heart**. You enjoy being in the lab, workshop, or field

·        Comfortable with uncertainty and early-stage ambiguity

·        Thinks **outside the box** and challenges conventional solutions

·        Highly resourceful and execution-driven

·        Willing to roll up your sleeves and work hands-on in an early-stage startup

·        Motivated by **impact**, not just title

·        Long-term mindset and true co-founder mentality

### **What We Offer**

·        **Co-Founder equity** with meaningful ownership

·        The opportunity to build **core climate infrastructure technology** from the ground up

·        A chance to work on a **global, high-impact problem** (water security & energy efficiency).

## Apply

[Apply at Flatgigs](https://apply.workable.com/flatgigs/j/6C6A83183A/apply)

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