Demo

Senior Drilling Engineer

bp
bp Salary
Houston, TX Full Time
POSTED ON 4/21/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/20/2026
About Us

Our purpose is to bring together people, energy and markets to power and navigate a changing world. In a time of constant change and possibility we need new talent to pursue commercial opportunities, fueled by world-class insight and expertise. We’re always striving for more innovative digital solutions, sustainable outcomes and closer collaboration across our company and beyond, and you could be part of that too. Together we continue to grow as the world’s leading energy company!

The Senior Drilling Engineer (SDE) is responsible for providing the engineering expertise required to lead the delivery of well engineering activities that meet business objectives, adequately address safety and operational risk, are following local regulations and in conformance with bp requirements. As a successful candidate, you will be supporting the Engineering Manager and Wells Superintendent by leading delivery of engineering and can take delegation as needed. You will be providing coaching and mentoring to less experienced staff.

Essential Role Requirements

  • Track record of leading engineering design and operations for the drilling; mentoring others, and capable of providing standalone support.
  • Minimum 10 years upstream well construction.
  • Experienced with HP and deepwater well designs using MPD.
  • Working knowledge of GoA (Gulf of America) regulatory requirements.

Education: Bachelor of Science in an engineering subject area or higher.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Safety and Risk Management

  • Verify well control and process safety risks are identified and mitigated in well design / operations.
  • Lead self-verification (SV) and oversight of activities.
  • Lead oversight of well-specific Risk Register development including completeness and relevant preventions / mitigations. Facilitate an effective discussion of risks, preventions, and mitigations during procedural reviews.
  • Lead identification of HAZOP and risk assessment needs for emerging risks. Serve as independent challenger in risk assessments as required.

Conformance / Compliance

  • Lead oversight of well design, permitting, and operations to assure compliance with regulations and conformance with bp requirements. Lead communication with regulators.
  • Use expertise to challenge current standards and propose new approaches where appropriate.
  • Responsible for identifying and recommending MOCs or deviations if needed.

Leadership, ‘Who We Are’

  • Role model ‘Who We Are’ and our Code of conduct through words, actions, and decisions.
  • Coach/mentor less experienced staff on Our beliefs, How We Work and the Safety Leadership Principles.
  • Promote inclusion and seek to build enduring capability in self and others.
  • Promote and verify cross-functional integration in well planning and execution.

Well Planning and Execution

  • Lead the extended well engineering team (bp and contractors) to develop optimal well plans that meet program, HSE, performance, and life of well objectives. Conduct rig / yard visits as needed.
  • Review and verify well specific technical design documents and procedures (i.e. SoR, BoDs, engineering modelling, procedures, etc.).
  • Define well scope and activity for accurate cost / time estimates (FM/AFE).
  • Assure utility and engagement of wells authorities or Central Well Support.
  • Lead and promote the documentation of knowledge management within the team and connexus: findings, best practices, case histories using the relevant tools and databases.
  • Working with connexus identify and embed applicable cross-regional and industry findings and new technology.
  • Support incident investigations.
  • Provide engineering oversight of contractor services and product quality, including new technology.
  • Verify the application of equipment assurance and QA/QC requirements.
  • Lead field wide collaborate with subsea teams to ensure requirements are incorporated in subsea equipment and operations (as applicable).
  • Verify timely and accurate well handover documentation to next discipline taking ownership of well.

Why join us?

At bp, we provide an excellent working environment and employee benefits such as an open and inclusive culture, a great work-life balance, tremendous learning and development opportunities to craft your career path, life and health insurance, medical care package and many others.

We support our people to learn and grow in a diverse and exciting environment. We believe that our team is strengthened by diversity. We are committed to crafting an inclusive environment in which everyone is respected and treated fairly.

Salary.com Estimation for Senior Drilling Engineer in Houston, TX
$145,912 to $189,418
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