Sr. Drilling Engineer

About the Role

The Senior Drilling Engineer reports directly to the Drilling Engineering Supervisor and collaborates closely with Drilling Superintendents, the Drilling Engineering Team, and Drilling Wellsite Contractors. This role is pivotal in planning, executing, and optimizing drilling (and indirectly completions) development projects. The position involves developing, formalizing, and implementing advanced engineering solutions aligned with departmental strategy and outcomes, ensuring efficient and consistent well delivery, sound well construction, and operational profitability.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for drilling engineering planning, data-driven AFE estimates with capital accuracy, and detailed drilling program preparation aligned with standardized operational efforts and organizational best practices.
• Manage and prepare engineering studies, technical recommendations, well designs, and contingency plans with appropriate detail for operational support and risk assessment.
• Recommend, perform, and complete special engineering projects and reports related to all phases of drilling operations, including drilling fluids, cementing, directional drilling, solids control equipment, downhole tool testing, and remedial operations.
• Analyze data and performance of new or existing technologies to determine benefits, recommendations, and operating efficiency while adhering to safety and operational requirements.
• Prepare and manage evaluations, studies, and reports, providing recommendations, alternative proposals, preliminary designs, and program outlines with statistical cost data, economic analyses, and visualizations.
• Write cost estimates and drilling procedures for contingent and remedial operations, utilizing the appropriate basis of design for effective execution.
• Simultaneously manage multiple projects to leverage improvement opportunities, yielding cost savings and efficiencies.
• Monitor daily drilling activity, QC daily drilling report data, maintain drilling database metrics, and provide recommendations for continuous improvement and capital reduction.
• Evaluate and implement current and new technology to advance the drilling program, documenting and sharing knowledge formally with the team.
• Support and participate in field development planning with asset team(s).
• Develop performance tracking tools and dashboards, maintain drilling database metrics, and facilitate service provider KPI/QPR reviews for formal performance assessment.
• Prepare and update drilling engineering basis of design documents and standardized best practices.
• Contribute to and help drive a safety-focused culture across all locations and service providers.
• Timely review and processing of invoices.
• Provide and maintain end-of-well records/reports, complete "end-of-pad" reviews and "lookbacks" to document operational successes, lessons learned, and improvement opportunities.
• Visit rigs regularly, participate in pre-tour safety and planning meetings, and develop productive relationships with on-site personnel.
• Support the tender process for third-party services, collaborating with management and supply chain teams.
• Stay updated with company and industry best practices and technology.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, or a related Engineering degree from an ABET-accredited university.
• Minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in the oil and gas industry with an emphasis on Drilling and Completions engineering and operations.
• Familiarity with industry regulations, safety protocols, and environmental standards.
• High level of proficiency in Spotfire/Power BI, WellView, Torque & Drag modeling, Hydraulic modeling, and Well Planning software(s).
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft 365 suite (Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word).
• Ability to work within a team environment and independently.
• Strong organizational and time management skills to meet established deadlines.
• Open-minded, continuous improvement-driven, and adaptable to operational and corporate changes.
• Ability to be "on-call" outside of normal business hours.
• Willingness and ability to travel to rig sites, service provider facilities, and meetings.
• Familiarity working in the Permian Basin preferred.

Skills

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, able to articulate ideas clearly to diverse audiences.
• Project management skills with methodical ownership of projects and responsibilities.
• Strong technical engineering skills with a high level of accountability, initiative, and innovation.
• Ability to build and function in a collaborative environment with other operations and technical groups.

Benefits

SM Energy offers competitive compensation and benefits programs, including:

• Variable pay
• Health care coverage
• Retirement plan
• Protection coverage
• Time off and leave programs
• Training and development opportunities
• A range of allowances connected to specific work situations

Details are available at SM Energy Company Careers.