Director of Subsurface Engineering

Job Description

Summary

The Subsurface Engineering Director will lead technical strategy, integration, and optimization of subsurface operations. Collaborate with geoscience and reservoir engineering functions to fully comprehend subsurface models with a focus on pore space characterization and fluid flow pathways. The role integrates multidisciplinary teams to manage pore space data, reservoir models, and field development plans, ensuring both technical excellence and commercial value. Ensure that the physical properties of the reservoir are accurately modeled and optimized to maximize injectivity and economic returns.

This role serves as a key member of the company leadership team, providing direct input into strategy, capital allocation, asset development priorities, regulatory engagement, and long-term growth initiatives. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence decisions across executive, operational, engineering, commercial, and regulatory functions while helping shape the future direction of the organization.

Job Duties

• Develop and execute subsurface strategies to support corporate growth, capital efficiency, and company goals.
• Serve as a key advisor to executive leadership on subsurface potential risk, and performance.
• Mentor geologists, reservoir engineers, and other subsurface specialists.
• Coordinate with internal planning and response activities related to critical and emergent injection well issues.
• Interface with regulatory bodies regarding long, medium, and short-term injection well planning. Represent the company at regulatory conferences and meetings.
• Partner directly with executive leadership to evaluate growth opportunities, asset acquisitions, portfolio optimization strategies, and long-term business planning.
• Provide technical and strategic recommendations that influence corporate investment decisions, capital deployment, and risk management priorities.
• Serve as a trusted advisor across multiple levels of leadership, ensuring subsurface perspectives are represented in major business and operational decisions.
• Collaborate on cross-functional initiatives involving operations, engineering, finance, commercial, land, and regulatory teams.
• Integrate geoscience and engineering data to build robust reservoir models, including static geologic and simulation models.
• Characterize pore space properties to understand fluid flow pathways and reservoir heterogeneity.
• Oversee reservoir modeling and field development planning to align with company and regulatory goals for all assets.
• Collaborate with operations and engineering teams to optimize well placement, spacing, and design.
• Drive adoption of data analytics, machine learning, and new technologies to enhance subsurface characterization.
• Apply advanced analysis to diagnose performance issues and optimize injectivity.
• Champion a culture of innovation through evaluation and implementation of new technologies and digital solutions.
• Identify and sponsor pilot projects that improve reservoir understanding, operational efficiency, and business value.
• Influence technology investment decisions and the long-term technical roadmap.
• Present subsurface studies, findings, reservoir models, and recommendations to senior management and partners.
• Participate in data room reviews and technical study presentations.
• Collaborate across executive, engineering, and operations teams to identify opportunities, issues, and solutions.
• Facilitate regular collaboration between executive leadership, engineering, operations, commercial, and regulatory teams.
• Represent the company technical vision to industry stakeholders, partners, investors, and regulators.
• Provide mentorship to emerging technical and operational leaders.
• Actively contribute to company-wide strategic planning and leadership discussions beyond subsurface matters.
• Participate in executive reviews of business performance, growth initiatives, and emerging opportunities.
• Provide thought leadership and technical insights that help shape future development strategies.

Skills & Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree, Master's or Ph.D. in petroleum engineering, geology, geophysics, or related field.
• Valid state driver’s license required and 3 or more years of driving experience
• Must have and maintain a good driving record: Driving history with no serious traffic violations in the past 5 years; no more than one motor vehicle accident in the past 3; no more than two non-serious motor vehicle violations in the past 3 years; and no combination of 1 accident and 2 non-serious violations in the past 3 years.
• Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of reservoir engineering, geoscience, pore space dynamics, rock-fluid interactions, and reservoir behavior.
• Strategic Vision: Ability to align subsurface strategy with business goals.
• Project & Team Leadership: Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex projects.
• Analytical Skills: Proficiency in reservoir simulation, data analytics, and uncertainty modeling.
• Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge: Familiarity with reservoir industry regulations.

Compensation Range

Annual Salary: $170,000.00 - $200,000.00