Drilling Engineer

Drilling Engineer

Location: Houston, TX

Description

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Drilling Engineer to join our team, overseeing drilling operations in the Haynesville Shale. The successful candidate will play a critical role in the planning, execution, and optimization of drilling operations, ensuring operations are conducted safely, efficiently, and in compliance with regulatory standards. This position requires a background in unconventional shale development, strong technical expertise, and the ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in onshore drilling operations, particularly in HPHT gas environments, and a commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and design drilling program for wells including casing, drilling fluids (WBM and OBM/SBM), directional, and BHA.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including geology, land, completions, HSE, and regulatory to ensure alignment across project phases.
• Prepare and review AFE packages, EOW reports, KPI information, and deviation justifications.
• Oversee drilling operations providing real-time technical support to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective execution.
• Analyze data to identify trends, optimize practices, and recommend improvements in well design, execution, and cost efficiency.
• Participate in incident investigations and post-well reviews, capturing lessons learned and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support evaluation and implementation of new technologies and data-driven approaches to improve well delivery and reduce non-productive time (NPT).
• Work closely with drilling contractors and service providers, ensuring alignment on execution plans, operational KPIs, and safety expectations.
• Mentor junior engineers and support field personnel, fostering a culture of safety, collaboration, and technical excellence.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience directly related to upstream operations, with strong emphasis on unconventional (HTHP) drilling.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (petroleum, mechanical, chemical) required.
• Proficiency with drilling engineering software and data analysis (K&M ERA, Spotfire, PowerBI, Corva).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a track record of optimizing drilling performance and reducing NPT.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and deliver under tight deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Ability to travel to field locations regularly, including overnight stays.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to assimilate effectively with both field operations and office technical staff.
• Valid driver’s license. Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
• Job is classified as light physical work primarily in an office.
• Travel to visit operations locations bi-weekly.
• Ability to climb stairs and access drilling rig floor for oversight and inspection requirements.
• Occasionally it may be required to lift, carry, push or pull 10-25 pounds.

FIELD:

• Prolonged sitting, standing, walking
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to individually lift: Maximum 100 lbs.
• Potential exposure to noise levels requiring the use of hearing protection
• Some work may be performed in outside weather conditions, including rain and extreme cold and heat, near moving mechanical parts; exposure to high wind, ice, snow, wet and/or humid conditions, vibration, and dust is expected.