Drilling Engineer Jobs
Drilling Engineer jobs are open from entry-level to senior and principal across oil and gas, mining, and geothermal energy, with specializations in directional drilling, wellbore design, and pressure management. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Drilling Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 32+ Drilling Engineer jobs
Welcome to ConocoPhillips, where innovation and excellence create a platform for opportunity and growth. Come realize your full potential here.
Who We Are
We are one of the world’s largest independent exploration and production companies, based on proved reserves and production of liquids and natural gas. With operations and activities in 13 countries, we explore for, develop, and produce crude oil and natural gas globally. We are challenged with an important job to safely find and deliver energy to the world. Our employees are critical to our success, and with them we power civilization.
We’re grounded by our SPIRIT Values – safety, people, integrity, responsibility, innovation, and teamwork. These values position us to deliver strong performance in a dynamic business – but not at all costs. We believe it’s not just what we do – it’s how we do it – that sets us apart.
Fostering an Inclusive Work Environment
To deliver superior performance, we create an environment that respects the contributions and differences of every individual. Wherever possible, we use these differences to drive competitive business advantage, personal growth and, ultimately, create business success.
Job Summary
At ConocoPhillips, the Lower 48 segment consists of operations located in the 48 contiguous U.S. states, with a portfolio mainly consisting of low cost of supply, short cycle time, resource-rich unconventional plays and commercial operations. The majority of our acreage is unconventional. Based on 2025 production volumes, the Lower 48 is our largest segment and contributed 67 percent of our consolidated liquids production and 74 percent of our consolidated natural gas production.In 2025, net production averaged 1,484 MBOED.
Position Overview
As an experienced Senior Drilling Engineer at ConocoPhillips, you’ll play a critical role in designing and executing safe, efficient, and cost-effective drilling programs across our unconventional assets. Working within a multi-disciplinary team, you’ll lead well planning and operations from concept through execution, ensuring alignment with project objectives and regulatory requirements.
This role offers the opportunity to apply advanced engineering principles, collaborate across functions, and contribute to continuous improvement in drilling performance. Your work will directly impact well delivery, operational integrity, and environmental stewardship.
We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. Whether your experience is in field operations, engineering design, or project management, your technical expertise and collaborative mindset will be valued here.
Click here to learn more about Living and Working in Midland .
Your responsibilities may include:
- Lead well planning and execution by developing detailed drilling programs that align with safety, cost, and performance objectives.
- Ensure regulatory compliance by preparing and submitting all required permits and maintaining adherence to federal, state, and company standards.
- Support field operations by providing daily engineering guidance to onsite personnel and troubleshooting operational challenges.
- Optimize drilling performance by analyzing drilling data to improve safety, efficiency, and operational outcomes.
- Develop and track performance metrics by setting goals, monitoring progress, and implementing improvements to support continuous improvement.
- Drive cost and schedule accuracy by collaborating with asset, planning, and finance teams to develop estimates and track accruals.
- Evaluate and standardize processes by incorporating lessons learned and proven practices from past operations.
- Conduct internal and external benchmarking studies to identify and apply best engineering and operational practices.
- Strengthen vendor relationships by evaluating bids and ensuring alignment with operational needs.
- Champion knowledge sharing by engaging with internal subject matter experts, participating in technical networks, and contributing to industry societies. Mentor and collaborate within a one‑team environment to support technical development.
Success Profile
To succeed in this role, you’ll need to demonstrate the following leadership competencies:
- Communicates Effectively: Invites dialogue to gain a shared understanding and influences with confidence to drive performance and achieve business results.
- Takes Accountability: Takes ownership of actions and follows through on commitments by courageously dealing with important problems, holding others accountable, and standing up for what is right.
- Makes Decisions: Generates effective solutions based on available information and makes timely decisions that are safe and ethical.
- Drives Performance: Delivers results through realistic planning to accomplish goals.
Basics Requirements
- Legally authorized to work in the United States.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering (Petroleum, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical) or foreign equivalent.
- 5 or more years’ experience in drilling engineering or operations.
- Willing and able (with or without reasonable accommodations) to travel 10–20% annually. Willing and able (with or without reasonable accommodation) to be on call outside of standard working hours.
Preferred Requirements
- 1 or more years’ experience working directly for an oil and gas operating company.
- 1 or more years’ experience as a drilling engineer for an oil and gas operator.
- Experience in unconventional reservoir plays (e.g., Permian, Eagle Ford, Bakken).
- Proficiency in drilling software (e.g., WellView, Landmark).
- Strong project management and performance optimization skills.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor others and work within multi-disciplinary teams. Commitment to ConocoPhillips SPIRIT Values and continuous improvement.
Apply By:
Nov 15, 2026Sponsorship:
ConocoPhillips’ sponsorship for employment authorization in the U.S. is NOT available for this position.Benefits Overview
ConocoPhillips offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and career growth:
Taking Care of Your Health & Wellness : Medical, dental, vision, mental health support, and wellness programs.
Supporting and Building Financial Security : Competitive base pay, annual performance bonuses, and retirement savings plans.
Promoting Work-Life Balance : Paid time off, paid parental leave, and family support resources.
Offering Career Development : Access to training, mentoring, and internal career mobility tools.
Guiding Recognition & Inclusion : Peer-nominated awards, inclusive culture, and employee resource groups.
Why ConocoPhillips
At ConocoPhillips, we believe our people power the future of energy. We’re committed to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow—professionally and personally.
We don’t just offer jobs—we offer meaningful careers in a company that values how we work as much as what we achieve.
EEO:
In the US, ConocoPhillips is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.Welcome to ConocoPhillips, where innovation and excellence create a platform for opportunity and growth. Come realize your full potential here.
Who We Are
We are one of the world’s largest independent exploration and production companies, based on proved reserves and production of liquids and natural gas. With operations and activities in 13 countries, we explore for, develop, and produce crude oil and natural gas globally. We are challenged with an important job to safely find and deliver energy to the world. Our employees are critical to our success, and with them we power civilization.
We’re grounded by our SPIRIT Values – safety, people, integrity, responsibility, innovation, and teamwork. These values position us to deliver strong performance in a dynamic business – but not at all costs. We believe it’s not just what we do – it’s how we do it – that sets us apart.
Fostering an Inclusive Work Environment
To deliver superior performance, we create an environment that respects the contributions and differences of every individual. Wherever possible, we use these differences to drive competitive business advantage, personal growth and, ultimately, create business success.
Job Summary
At ConocoPhillips, the Lower 48 segment consists of operations located in the 48 contiguous U.S. states, with a portfolio mainly consisting of low cost of supply, short cycle time, resource-rich unconventional plays and commercial operations. The majority of our acreage is unconventional. Based on 2025 production volumes, the Lower 48 is our largest segment and contributed 67 percent of our consolidated liquids production and 74 percent of our consolidated natural gas production.In 2025, net production averaged 1,484 MBOED.
Position Overview
As an experienced Senior Drilling Engineer at ConocoPhillips, you’ll play a critical role in designing and executing safe, efficient, and cost-effective drilling programs across our unconventional assets. Working within a multi-disciplinary team, you’ll lead well planning and operations from concept through execution, ensuring alignment with project objectives and regulatory requirements.
This role offers the opportunity to apply advanced engineering principles, collaborate across functions, and contribute to continuous improvement in drilling performance. Your work will directly impact well delivery, operational integrity, and environmental stewardship.
We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. Whether your experience is in field operations, engineering design, or project management, your technical expertise and collaborative mindset will be valued here.
Click here to learn more about Living and Working in Midland .
Your responsibilities may include:
- Lead well planning and execution by developing detailed drilling programs that align with safety, cost, and performance objectives.
- Ensure regulatory compliance by preparing and submitting all required permits and maintaining adherence to federal, state, and company standards.
- Support field operations by providing daily engineering guidance to onsite personnel and troubleshooting operational challenges.
- Optimize drilling performance by analyzing drilling data to improve safety, efficiency, and operational outcomes.
- Develop and track performance metrics by setting goals, monitoring progress, and implementing improvements to support continuous improvement.
- Drive cost and schedule accuracy by collaborating with asset, planning, and finance teams to develop estimates and track accruals.
- Evaluate and standardize processes by incorporating lessons learned and proven practices from past operations.
- Conduct internal and external benchmarking studies to identify and apply best engineering and operational practices.
- Strengthen vendor relationships by evaluating bids and ensuring alignment with operational needs.
- Champion knowledge sharing by engaging with internal subject matter experts, participating in technical networks, and contributing to industry societies. Mentor and collaborate within a one‑team environment to support technical development.
Success Profile
To succeed in this role, you’ll need to demonstrate the following leadership competencies:
- Communicates Effectively: Invites dialogue to gain a shared understanding and influences with confidence to drive performance and achieve business results.
- Takes Accountability: Takes ownership of actions and follows through on commitments by courageously dealing with important problems, holding others accountable, and standing up for what is right.
- Makes Decisions: Generates effective solutions based on available information and makes timely decisions that are safe and ethical.
- Drives Performance: Delivers results through realistic planning to accomplish goals.
Basics Requirements
- Legally authorized to work in the United States.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering (Petroleum, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical) or foreign equivalent.
- 5 or more years’ experience in drilling engineering or operations.
- Willing and able (with or without reasonable accommodations) to travel 10–20% annually. Willing and able (with or without reasonable accommodation) to be on call outside of standard working hours.
Preferred Requirements
- 1 or more years’ experience working directly for an oil and gas operating company.
- 1 or more years’ experience as a drilling engineer for an oil and gas operator.
- Experience in unconventional reservoir plays (e.g., Permian, Eagle Ford, Bakken).
- Proficiency in drilling software (e.g., WellView, Landmark).
- Strong project management and performance optimization skills.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor others and work within multi-disciplinary teams. Commitment to ConocoPhillips SPIRIT Values and continuous improvement.
Apply By:
Nov 15, 2026Sponsorship:
ConocoPhillips’ sponsorship for employment authorization in the U.S. is NOT available for this position.Benefits Overview
ConocoPhillips offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and career growth:
Taking Care of Your Health & Wellness : Medical, dental, vision, mental health support, and wellness programs.
Supporting and Building Financial Security : Competitive base pay, annual performance bonuses, and retirement savings plans.
Promoting Work-Life Balance : Paid time off, paid parental leave, and family support resources.
Offering Career Development : Access to training, mentoring, and internal career mobility tools.
Guiding Recognition & Inclusion : Peer-nominated awards, inclusive culture, and employee resource groups.
Why ConocoPhillips
At ConocoPhillips, we believe our people power the future of energy. We’re committed to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow—professionally and personally.
We don’t just offer jobs—we offer meaningful careers in a company that values how we work as much as what we achieve.
EEO:
In the US, ConocoPhillips is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.See All 32 Drilling Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Drilling Engineer JobsDrilling Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Energy
- Manufacturing
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in drilling engineer jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering or a related engineering discipline
- Experience with directional drilling and wellbore trajectory planning
- Proficiency in drilling hydraulics and pore pressure prediction software
- Knowledge of well control principles and IWCF or IADC certification preferred
- Familiarity with AFE preparation, cost tracking, and daily drilling reports
- Experience with casing design, cementing programs, and completion handoffs
Tips for Your Drilling Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to well type
Operators hiring for offshore wells look for different experience than those running unconventional onshore plays. Adjust your resume to reflect the well type, formation, and drilling method most relevant to each opening you target.
List your software tools explicitly
Drilling engineers who name their proficiency in wellbore trajectory software, pore pressure prediction tools, and hydraulics modeling programs get screened in faster. Don't bury these in a summary, put them in a dedicated skills section.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists drilling engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target operators and service companies separately
Operators and oilfield services companies hire drilling engineers for different scopes of work. When applying, frame your experience around the side of the well you've worked, company man roles differ from service-side technical roles, and hiring managers notice.
Prepare technical scenarios for the interview
Expect to walk through a real drilling problem, such as a stuck-pipe incident or a well control scenario. Reviewing your decision log from past wells and being ready to explain your reasoning out loud will set you apart from candidates who only discuss theory.
Negotiate relocation terms before accepting
Many drilling engineer roles require field rotations or relocation to remote basins. Confirm the rotation schedule, per diem policy, and any relocation allowance before you accept an offer, these terms vary widely and affect your total compensation.
Drilling Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most drilling engineers?
Weatherford, SLB, and Nabors Industries are hiring the most drilling engineers right now, with openings concentrated in Texas, Colorado, and Nevada, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Activity tends to track closely with rig counts and capital spending cycles across active basins.
How many drilling engineer jobs are remote?
About 86% of drilling engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on, field-intensive nature of most roles. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote flexibility are planning and design functions, such as well program development and AFE budgeting, where engineers work from engineering centers rather than on the rig site.
How do you become a drilling engineer?
Most drilling engineers start with a petroleum, mechanical, or chemical engineering degree, then move into entry-level field or office roles where they learn wellbore design, hydraulics, and rig operations on the job. Obtaining well control certification, building proficiency in drilling software, and rotating through field assignments to understand rig-site realities are the practical steps that move candidates from junior to mid-level roles.
How do you get hired as a drilling engineer with little experience?
Entry-level candidates do best by targeting oilfield services companies and smaller independent operators, who are more likely to invest in developing new engineers than majors seeking experienced hires. Highlighting relevant coursework in well design, any rig-site internship exposure, and proficiency in drilling simulation software gives you a concrete starting point to build from during interviews.
What does the drilling engineer interview process look like?
Most processes run across two to three rounds, beginning with a recruiter screen focused on background and field experience, followed by a technical interview where candidates work through drilling problems such as wellbore stability, casing design, or kick detection scenarios. A final round often involves a panel of senior engineers or operations managers who assess decision-making under pressure and familiarity with the company's basin or asset type.
Where can I find and apply to drilling engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to drilling engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that match your experience and specialization, then apply directly to each listing from the page.
See All 32 Drilling Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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