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Drilling Performance Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX

Fervo Energy

Senior Drilling Engineer

Houston, TX

We are seeking a Senior Drilling Engineer who is excited by Fervo's mission and motivated to design ... Tracking performance with micro-KPI's and driving continuous improvement initiatives in well cycle ...

Fervo Energy Company

Senior Drilling Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$99K - $137K/yr

We are seeking a Senior Drilling Engineer who is excited by Fervo's mission and motivated to design ... Tracking performance with micro-KPI's and driving continuous improvement initiatives in well cycle ...

Onesubsea

Field Deployment Lead

Houston, TX · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

Drilling performance optimization * Well construction workflows * Real-time operations and monitoring * Wellsite connectivity * Mechanical Engineering * Electrical Engineering * Computer Engineering

SLB

Field Deployment Lead

Houston, TX · On-site

Drilling Software Well engineering fundamentals Directional drilling concepts MWD/LWD operations Drilling hydraulics, Torque and drag Drilling performance optimization Well construction workflows ...

New

TalentClout

Mechanical Engineer

Houston, TX

$80K - $90K/yr

Join a growing engineering team at the heart of the energy sector, working on technically challenging projects that directly impact drilling performance and safety. This is a chance to apply your ...

SLB

Digital Drilling Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

The Digital Drilling Engineer (DDE) is responsible for the implementation, office adoption and ... Hold performance reviews with customers. Entry level position. Authorized to work in the U.S ...

New

Stasis Drilling Solutions

Marketing Coordinator

Spring, TX · On-site

$37K - $52K/yr

... engineering and well planning through equipment manufacturing, automation, and field operations. We are committed to helping customers improve drilling performance, reduce risk, and achieve ...

Wood

Drilling & Completions Engineer

Houston, TX · Hybrid

Come join Wood as a Drilling/Completions Data Technician in Houston, TX to work within a Wood ... design, performance tuning, and scalability Experience and knowledge with cloud native data ...

Stasis Drilling Solutions

Marketing Coordinator

Spring, TX · On-site

$70K - $85K/yr

... engineering and well planning through equipment manufacturing, automation, and field operations. We are committed to helping customers improve drilling performance, reduce risk, and achieve ...

Wood Plc

Drilling & Completions Engineer

Houston, TX · Hybrid

Come join Wood as a Drilling/Completions Data Technician in Houston, TX to work within a Wood ... design, performance tuning, and scalability Experience and knowledge with cloud native data ...

Chevron

Drill Site Representative (DSR)

Houston, TX · On-site

This role is responsible for ensuring safe, reliable, compliant, and high-performance drilling ... Communicate effectively with field personnel, engineering teams, contractors, and business partners ...

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All JobsDrilling Performance Engineer JobsDrilling Performance Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX

Drilling Performance Engineer information

See Houston, TX salary details

$10

$57

$93

How much do drilling performance engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for drilling performance engineer in Houston, TX is $57.40, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $47.07 and $64.95 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a drilling performance engineer?

Drilling Performance Engineers are professionals in the oil and gas industry who focus on optimizing the drilling process to improve efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness. They analyze drilling data, evaluate equipment and techniques, and implement strategies to reduce non-productive time and maximize well performance. Their role often includes collaborating with drilling teams, engineers, and other stakeholders to identify and resolve operational challenges. Drilling Performance Engineers play a key part in ensuring that drilling projects are completed on time and within budget.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a drilling performance engineer?

To thrive as a Drilling Performance Engineer, you need a solid background in petroleum or mechanical engineering, experience in drilling operations, and analytical problem-solving skills, often backed by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with drilling optimization software, data analytics platforms, and industry-standard tools like WellView and Landmark is typically required. Strong communication, teamwork, and adaptability are crucial soft skills for effectively collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and responding to dynamic field conditions. These competencies are vital for maximizing drilling efficiency, reducing costs, and ensuring operational safety and success.

How does a drilling performance engineer typically collaborate with other teams during a drilling project?

A Drilling Performance Engineer works closely with multidisciplinary teams, including drilling supervisors, geologists, and rig crews, to optimize drilling operations. They regularly participate in meetings to review well progress, share real-time data, and provide technical recommendations. Effective communication is crucial, as these engineers must translate complex performance metrics into actionable steps for both field and office teams. This collaborative approach ensures that drilling objectives are met safely, efficiently, and within budget.

What is the difference between Drilling Performance Engineer vs Drilling Engineer?

AspectDrilling Performance EngineerDrilling Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Petroleum Engineering or related; certifications like IWCFBachelor's in Petroleum Engineering or related; certifications like IWCF
Work EnvironmentOn-site at drilling locations, focusing on optimizing drilling efficiencyOn-site and office-based, overseeing entire drilling operations
Primary FocusImproving drilling performance, efficiency, and reducing costsPlanning, designing, and supervising drilling projects

The main difference is that Drilling Performance Engineers focus on optimizing drilling efficiency and performance, while Drilling Engineers handle the overall planning and execution of drilling operations. Both roles require similar credentials and often work together, but their core responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

What are popular job titles related to Drilling Performance Engineer jobs in Houston, TX?

For Drilling Performance Engineer jobs in Houston, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Drilling Performance Engineer jobs in Houston, TX look for?

The top searched job categories for Drilling Performance Engineer jobs in Houston, TX are:

Drilling Performance Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Drilling Performance Engineer job openings in Houston, TX as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,410 per year, or $57.4 per hour.

Senior Drilling Engineer

Fervo Energy

Houston, TX

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

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 Senior Drilling Engineer who is excited by Fervo's mission and motivated to design and execute advanced geothermal drilling in a highly dynamic environment. This role is ideal for an engineer with strong drilling engineering background, deep drilling experience, and the ability to operate effectively where standard oil and gas playbooks must be adapted-or reinvented-for geothermal applications. 


The Senior Drilling Engineer is responsible for well planning, design, engineering, and daily operations support. The Senior Drilling Engineer will also support contract management and work with partners and suppliers to deliver continuous improvement in drilling performance.  

Requirements

Responsibilities

  • Detailed well planning including design, engineering, and drilling procedure
  • Provide drilling engineering support for all well operations within a cross-functional operations team and coordinate recovery plans during NPT events
  • Conduct risk assessments for all operations and prepare mitigation plans to ensure safe and effective delivery
  • Prepare detailed time and cost estimates and ownership of tracking plan vs actual
  • Coordinate and manage drilling contractors supporting planning and execution activities, including NPT resolution and technical review
  • Budgeting, building AFEs, and managing cost throughout operations
  • Tracking performance with micro-KPI's and driving continuous improvement initiatives in well cycle time and cost
  • Post well closeout and reporting including lessons learned and best practices to implement in future wells 

Qualifications 

Required

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering
  • 10+ years of experience in drilling engineering / operations (minimum 5 years with an operator in US Onshore horizontal drilling)?
  • Ability to demonstrate competency in core well engineering fundamentals, including casing design, directional drilling, drill string / BHA design, drilling fluids, cementing, and contingency planning
  • Proficient in standard well engineering design software
  • Experience in risk assessment and well time / cost estimates
  • Planning complex drilling operations
  • Experience in executing horizontal drilling in unconventional wells
  • Experience with supply chain and cost management
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (a team player)
  • Ability to develop ideas and technical proposals with aligned organization intent.
  • Strong problem solver committed to continuous improvement
  • Hands-on field experience across drilling operations
  • Unwavering commitment to protecting Health, Safety, and Environment in all aspects of design and operations 

Preferred 

  • Experience mentoring or supporting early-career engineers
  • Experience working on first-of-a-kind, non-standard, or technically complex well designs 

Apply