Analysis Skills, Best Practices, Communication Skills, Continuous Improvement, Contract Negotiation, Contract Review, Cost Control, Cost Estimates, Cross-Functional, Data Analysis, Data Quality, Directional Drilling, Documentation, Drilling, Drilling Equipment, Earth Sciences, Electrical Engineering, Engineering, Environmental Compliance, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Government, Federal Laws and Regulations, High Availability, Hydraulic Engineering, Leadership, Mail Processing, Manual Dexterity, Mechanical Engineering, Mentoring, Microsoft Excel, Offshore Drilling, Oil Rig/Platform, Organizational Skills, Performance Management, Performance Metrics, Performance Tuning/Optimization, Petroleum Engineering, Physical Demands, Problem Solving Skills, Process Improvement, Regulations, Regulatory Compliance, Regulatory Requirements, Risk Analysis, Risk Management, State Laws and Regulations, Strategic Planning, Technical Analysis, Technical Leadership, Vendor/Supplier Selection, Willing to Travel
BASIC PURPOSE OF POSITION:
The Senior Drilling Engineer is responsible for leading the design, planning, and execution of complex drilling operations across assigned assets. This role serves as a senior technical authority, ensuring wells are engineered and delivered safely, efficiently, and in compliance with all regulatory requirements while optimizing cost and performance.
The Senior Drilling Engineer provides technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams, drives continuous improvement in drilling practices, and plays a key role in strategic planning, risk management, and operational execution. This position may also support completion and workover operations and is expected to maintain 24/7 availability during active drilling operations.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead the design, planning, and execution of drilling programs, ensuring alignment with technical, operational, and economic objectives
- Develop detailed well designs including casing, cementing, drilling fluids, hydraulics, and directional drilling strategies
- Prepare and manage well cost estimates, AFEs, and detailed risk assessments; monitor and control costs throughout execution
- Analyze offset well data and performance metrics to optimize drilling strategies and improve future well delivery
- Provide real-time technical oversight and guidance during drilling operations to mitigate risks, reduce non-productive time (NPT), and enhance efficiency
- Serve as the primary technical escalation point for complex drilling challenges and operational decision-making
- Lead pre-spud planning, execution readiness reviews, and post-well evaluations to capture lessons learned and drive continuous improvement
- Ensure all drilling activities comply with applicable local, state, and federal regulations, including permitting and reporting requirements
- Interface with regulatory agencies and internal stakeholders on drilling-related matters
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Geoscience, Reservoir, Completions, Production, HSE, and Operations teams to align drilling plans with overall asset development strategy
- Lead vendor selection processes, including technical evaluations, bid reviews, and contract negotiations
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior drilling engineers and field personnel.
- Drive standardization, best practices, and innovation in drilling engineering workflows and technologies
- Maintain oversight of drilling data integrity, reporting systems, and well documentation.
- Participate in field operations, including site visits to onshore and offshore rigs, as required
- Support completion and workover design and execution as needed.
- Perform other duties and special projects as assigned
POSITION SPECIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering discipline
- Well Control Certification (IADC or IWCF) required or strongly preferred
- Minimum of 10+ years of progressive drilling engineering experience, including leadership of complex drilling operations
- Demonstrated experience in both planning and execution phases of drilling programs
- Strong experience with horizontal and directional drilling, wellbore stability, torque and drag, and hydraulics modeling
- Proven ability to manage drilling performance, cost control, and operational risk
- Prior field experience on drilling rigs required; offshore experience (platform, jack-up) strongly preferred
- Proficient in industry software (e.g., WellView, Landmark, OpenWells, Drillbench, Compass)
- Advanced data analysis skills, including strong proficiency in Excel and drilling analytics tools
- In-depth knowledge of well control, casing design, cementing, and drilling fluid systems
- Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks including BSEE, EPA, and applicable federal and state agencies
- Experience with federal offshore drilling permits and environmental compliance, particularly in California federal jurisdictions, preferred
- Demonstrated leadership capability, including mentoring engineers and influencing cross-functional teams
- Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to operate effectively in high-pressure, fast-paced environments with a strong commitment to safety and operational excellence
- Must to travel to field locations as required
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The position requires manual dexterity to handle documents and operate office equipment such as printers, shredders, and computers. Also required is performing repetitive motions and extended periods of sitting, standing, and walking for varying lengths of time. The position requires interacting and communicating professionally with others via speaking, hearing, and writing; learning new tasks, processes, and concepts; thinking to solve problems; concentrating on required tasks; distinguishing color and depth perception; and reading data, figures, electronic and hard copy documents.
Visual and manual dexterity are extremely important for this position. The incumbent will be subject to performing sedentary to light work, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, or constantly lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or otherwise moving objects, reaching overhead for items, stooping, bending, and twisting while working. Other physical activities include the ability to utilize fingers to feel and grasp objects or work devices as needed and manual dexterity in the use of the hands, seeing, talking, hearing, performing repetitive motions, and standing for long periods of time.
The position requires walking or traversing over and across uneven terrain, accessing areas outdoors and on or around equipment, over or around obstacles or structures such as pipes, low rails, and walls, stooping or bending to reach certain locations, climbing stairs or ladders, and exposure to outside weather conditions.
DISCLAIMER:
The position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. The essential duties, responsibilities, and physical requirements above describe those functions essential to this job's performance. The above description does not include all of the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties as management requests.
An Equal Opportunity Employer: race, gender, disability, and Veteran status.