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Front End Drilling Engineer

Fervo Energy

Houston, TXRemoteFull-time$95–165K/yrPosted 3w agoVerified open 4 days ago
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At a glance

Compensation
$95–165K/yr
Location
Houston, TXRemote
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Bachelor's degree

Job overview

Fervo Energy is hiring a Front End Drilling Engineer. Fervo Energy seeks a Front End Drilling Engineer to lead long‑term drilling planning and preparation for geothermal power projects. The role coordinates permitting, scheduling, and equipment readiness, ensuring wells and rigs are ready well before spud. The engineer works cross‑functionally with drilling, permitting, supply chain, and reservoir teams to deliver safe, efficient execution in a dynamic environment.

Key focus areas include Develop and maintain long‑term, multi‑rig drilling schedules in coordination with operations, completions, and facilities teams, Interface with permitting team to prepare and submit drilling permits and regulatory filings, tracking approvals, and Provide support for rig scheduling and mobilization/demobilization planning.

Successful candidates bring Bachelor's Degree In Engineering and 3-5 Years Of Experience In Drilling Engineering Or Drilling Planning. Important skills include Procurement, Organization Skills, Offshore Drilling, Develop And Maintain Long-Term, Multi-Rig Drilling Schedules, Interface With Fervo Permitting Team, and Preparation And Submission Of Drilling Permits And Regulatory Filings. Preferred (not required): Risk Analysis, Supply Chain Management, Frontend Web Development, and Scheduling.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

ProcurementOrganization SkillsOffshore DrillingRisk AnalysisSupply Chain ManagementFrontend Web DevelopmentSchedulingOnshoreEngineering DesignMentorshipRegulatory RequirementsDevelop and Maintain Long-Term, Multi-Rig Drilling SchedulesInterface With Fervo Permitting TeamPreparation and Submission of Drilling Permits and Regulatory FilingsTracking ApprovalsSupport for Rig SchedulingMobilization / Demobilization PlanningPlan and Coordinate SIMOPSDeveloping Procedures and Risk Mitigations for Concurrent Drilling, Completions, and Facilities WorkInterface With Supply ChainTrack Long Lead EquipmentCoordinate Site and Location ReadinessSupport AFE Preparation and Cost EstimatingMaintain Drilling Program DocumentationTrack and Communicate Planning Status, Risks, and DependenciesSupport Contracting and Bid ProcessesWorking Knowledge of Drilling Permitting Processes and Regulatory RequirementsRig Scheduling, Contracting, and Mobilization PlanningSIMOPS Planning and Risk Assessment for Concurrent OperationsInterfacing With Supply Chain / Procurement on Long Lead EquipmentOrganizational SkillsManage Multiple Concurrent Well Planning EffortsCommunicationInterpersonal SkillsTeam PlayerDevelop Ideas and Proposals With Minimal SupervisionProblem SolverContinuous ImprovementProtecting Health, Safety, and EnvironmentUS Onshore Horizontal Drilling PlanningStandard Well Engineering Design SoftwaresPermitting Across Multiple State and Federal Regulatory EnvironmentsSupply Chain / Procurement SystemsLong Lead Time Equipment TrackingSupporting First-of-a-Kind, Non-Standard, or Technically Complex Well ProgramsMentoring or Supporting Early-Career EngineersLong-Term Drilling PlanningMulti-Rig Drilling SchedulesDrilling Permits PreparationRegulatory Filings SubmissionRig SchedulingMobilization PlanningDemobilization PlanningSimultaneous Operations PlanningRisk MitigationsLong Lead Equipment TrackingSite and Location ReadinessAFE PreparationCost EstimatingDrilling Program DocumentationPlanning Status CommunicationContractingBid ProcessesDrilling Permitting ProcessesSIMOPS PlanningRisk AssessmentSupply Chain InterfaceCommunication SkillsHealth, Safety, and Environment CommitmentSupporting First-of-a-Kind Well ProgramsMentoring Early-Career EngineersDrilling Schedule DevelopmentDrilling Permit PreparationSite Readiness CoordinationAFE Cost EstimatingRisk CommunicationContracting and Bid ManagementCommunication and Interpersonal SkillsIndependent Idea DevelopmentProblem SolvingMulti-State Federal Permitting ExperienceFirst-of-a-Kind Well Program ExperienceLong-Term Drilling SchedulingSupply Chain Equipment TrackingHealth Safety Environment CommitmentStandard Well Engineering Design SoftwareMulti-State Federal Regulatory PermittingFirst-of-a-Kind Complex Well ProgramsDrilling SchedulingDrilling PermittingRegulatory FilingsRisk MitigationSupply Chain CoordinationEquipment Lead TrackingDocumentation ManagementStakeholder ManagementProposal DevelopmentFirst-of-a-Kind Well Program SupportRegulatory Filings TrackingRig Scheduling and Mobilization PlanningRisk Mitigation DevelopmentAFE Preparation and Cost EstimatingContracting and Bid Process SupportTravel to Operational SitesContinuous Improvement CommitmentSupply Chain ProcurementIdea DevelopmentWell Engineering Design SoftwareOnshore Horizontal Drilling PlanningRegulatory PermittingComplex Well Program SupportMentoring EngineersRisk Assessment for Concurrent OperationsRegulatory Filings and ApprovalsSite and Location Readiness CoordinationPermit PreparationContracting and Mobilization PlanningSupply Chain Procurement InterfaceSupply Chain Procurement CoordinationIdea Development With Minimal SupervisionMultiple State and Federal Regulatory EnvironmentsDrilling Permitting KnowledgeTechnical DocumentationProject Status TrackingBid ManagementIndependent Proposal DevelopmentWell Engineering Design Software ProficiencySupply Chain Procurement Systems ExperienceContract ManagementProcurement SystemsRig Mobilization PlanningUS Onshore Horizontal DrillingLong-Term Multi-Rig Drilling SchedulingRegulatory Filings ManagementConcurrent Operations Risk AssessmentDrilling Program Documentation ManagementCross-Functional Stakeholder CommunicationStrong Organizational SkillsExcellent Communication and Interpersonal SkillsStrong Problem SolvingMulti-State Federal PermittingFirst‑of‑a‑Kind Well ProgramsContinuous Improvement MindsetMulti-State Federal Regulatory ExperienceSupply Chain InterfacingProposal Development With Minimal SupervisionDocumentation MaintenanceMulti-State Federal Regulatory Permitting ExperienceFirst-of-a-Kind Complex Well Program SupportTravelStandard Well Engineering Design Software ProficiencyFirst-of-a-Kind Complex Well Program ExperienceCross‑Functional CommunicationMulti-Rig Drilling SchedulingEquipment TrackingMulti-State and Federal PermittingDrilling PlanningHorizontal Drilling Planning

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering3-5 Years Drilling Engineering ExperienceWorking Knowledge of Drilling Permitting ProcessesExperience With Rig SchedulingFamiliarity With SIMOPS PlanningExperience Interfacing With Supply ChainMust Travel to Operational Sites

Full job description

Apply Job Type Full-time Description Fervo is working to build the most cost-effective, repeatable geothermal power plants in the world. Delivering on this mission requires first-of-a-kind well designs, disciplined execution in the field, and continuous learning across the full well lifecycle. Joining Fervo’s Geoblock Factory organization means operating where subsurface innovation meets real-world execution, with safety, reliability, and capital efficiency as non-negotiables.

We are seeking a Front End Drilling Engineer who is excited by Fervo’s mission and motivated to lead long-term drilling planning and preparation activities that set field operations up for safe, efficient execution. This role is ideal for an engineer who thrives on early-stage planning, cross-functional coordination, and turning permits, schedules, and equipment readiness into a well-prepared drilling program in a highly dynamic environment.

The Front End Drilling Engineer is responsible for long-term drilling planning and preparation, ensuring wells and rigs are permitted, scheduled, and resourced well ahead of spud. The Front End Drilling Engineer will serve as the primary interface between the Drilling, Permitting, Supply Chain, and Resource/Reservoir team for to ensure aligned long lead readiness efforts.

Requirements Responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain long-term, multi-rig drilling schedules in coordination with operations, completions, and facilities teams

  • Interface with Fervo Permitting team in support of preparation and submission of drilling permits and regulatory filings, tracking approvals to ensure no impact to schedule

  • Provide support for rig scheduling and mobilization / demobilization planning

  • Plan and coordinate Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS), developing procedures and risk mitigations for concurrent drilling, completions, and facilities work

  • Interface with supply chain to track long lead equipment (wellheads, casing, tubulars, etc.) and ensure readiness aligns with the drilling schedule

  • Coordinate site and location readiness, including access roads, pad construction, water sourcing, and utility hookups

  • Support AFE preparation and cost estimating for planned wells, incorporating vendor and contractor bids

  • Maintain drilling program documentation, including well designs, procedures, and permits, ensuring alignment with current engineering standards

  • Track and communicate planning status, risks, and dependencies to cross-functional stakeholders and leadership

  • Support contracting and bid processes for rigs, tools, and services required for upcoming drilling programs

  • Some travel to operational sites may be required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering

  • 3-5 years of experience in drilling engineering or drilling planning (experience with an operator in US Onshore horizontal drilling preferred)

  • Working knowledge of drilling permitting processes and regulatory requirements

  • Experience with rig scheduling, contracting, and mobilization planning

  • Familiarity with SIMOPS planning and risk assessment for concurrent operations

  • Experience interfacing with supply chain / procurement on long lead equipment

  • Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple concurrent well planning efforts

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (a team player)

  • Ability to develop ideas and proposals with minimal supervision

  • Strong problem solver committed to continuous improvement

  • Unwavering commitment to protecting Health, Safety, and Environment in all aspects of planning and operations Preferred

  • Experience in US Onshore horizontal drilling planning

  • Proficient in standard well engineering design softwares

  • Experience permitting across multiple state and federal regulatory environments

  • Experience with supply chain / procurement systems and long lead time equipment tracking

  • Experience supporting first-of-a-kind, non-standard, or technically complex well programs

  • Experience mentoring or supporting early-career engineers

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