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Geothermal Drilling Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Ormat

Drilling Superintendent

Reno, NV · On-site

A Bachelor's degree in engineering preferred but not required * Geothermal experience preferred but not required * Willing to travel internationally and be on drilling location during operations (Up ...

Dandelion Energy

CDL-A Driver / Driller Helper

Denver, CO · On-site

$16.25 - $19.50/hr

... join our Geothermal Drilling Team - but this is more than a driving job. If you're looking for ... We're a multidisciplinary, mission-driven team spanning hardware engineering, HVAC, drilling, solar ...

Rototec LLC

Project Manager

Carmel, NY · On-site

$80K/yr

We are an established geothermal borehole drilling company with a long history of success in Europe ... Coordinate with engineers, project managers, and other construction teams to ensure smooth workflow ...

Rototec LLC

Project Manager

Carmel, NY · On-site

$80K/yr

We are an established geothermal borehole drilling company with a long history of success in Europe ... Coordinate with engineers, project managers, and other construction teams to ensure smooth workflow ...

Invenergy

Principal Geothermal Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

Position Overview As a Principal Geothermal Engineer, you will guide and coordinate subsurface ... drilling, construction and commissioning phases, including travel to the project site, will also be ...

Fervo Energy Company

Geologist

Golden, CO · On-site

... geothermal power plants in the world. Delivering on this mission requires deep subsurface ... Working closely with senior geologists, reservoir engineers, geophysicists, and drilling and ...

Fervo Energy

Geologist

Golden, CO · On-site

Working closely with senior geologists, reservoir engineers, geophysicists, and drilling and ... Support planning and execution of geothermal drilling and completion campaigns, including providing ...

Rototec LLC

Project Manager

Carmel, NY · On-site

$80K/yr

We are an established geothermal borehole drilling company with a long history of success in Europe ... Coordinate with engineers, project managers, and other construction teams to ensure smooth workflow ...

Stanford Climate Ventures

Geologist

Golden, CO · On-site

$140 - $180/hr

Working closely with senior geologists, reservoir engineers, geophysicists, and drilling and ... Support planning and execution of geothermal drilling and completion campaigns, including providing ...

Invenergy, LLC

$155 - $195/hr

Position Overview As a Principal Geothermal Engineer, you will guide and coordinate subsurface ... drilling, construction and commissioning phases, including travel to the project site, will also be ...

New

Invenergy LLC

Principal Geothermal Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

Position Overview As a Principal Geothermal Engineer, you will guide and coordinate subsurface ... drilling, construction and commissioning phases, including travel to the project site, will also be ...

Invenergy, LLC

Principal Geothermal Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$155 - $195/hr

Position Overview As a Principal Geothermal Engineer, you will guide and coordinate subsurface ... drilling, construction and commissioning phases, including travel to the project site, will also be ...

Invenergy LLC

Principal Geothermal Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

Position Overview As a Principal Geothermal Engineer, you will guide and coordinate subsurface ... drilling, construction and commissioning phases, including travel to the project site, will also be ...

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Geothermal Drilling Engineer information

See salary details

$90K

$116.7K

$137K

How much do geothermal drilling engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for geothermal drilling engineer in the United States is $116,666.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $105,500.00 and $128,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a geothermal drilling engineer?

Geothermal Drilling Engineers are specialized professionals who design, plan, and oversee the drilling of wells used to access geothermal energy from beneath the Earth's surface. They are responsible for selecting drilling techniques, managing drilling operations, and ensuring the safety and efficiency of the process. Their work is crucial for developing geothermal power plants, which provide renewable energy by harnessing heat from the earth. Geothermal Drilling Engineers often collaborate with geologists and other engineers to optimize energy extraction and minimize environmental impact.

What are some common challenges a geothermal drilling engineer faces during a project, and how are they addressed?

Geothermal Drilling Engineers often encounter challenges such as high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, unpredictable geological formations, and managing drilling fluid losses. These issues require careful planning, robust well design, and the use of specialized drilling equipment and materials. Collaboration with geologists, reservoir engineers, and drilling crews is essential to troubleshoot problems quickly and ensure the safety and efficiency of drilling operations. Ongoing training and up-to-date knowledge of industry best practices help engineers adapt to these challenges effectively.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a geothermal drilling engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Geothermal Drilling Engineer, you need a solid background in geology, mechanical engineering, or petroleum engineering, typically with a relevant degree and field experience. Familiarity with drilling technologies, geothermal well design software, and safety certifications like Well Control are commonly required. Strong problem-solving skills, effective teamwork, and adaptability help engineers manage complex drilling operations and unexpected challenges. These competencies are crucial for ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective geothermal energy extraction.

What is the difference between Geothermal Drilling Engineer vs Oil and Gas Drilling Engineer?

AspectGeothermal Drilling EngineerOil and Gas Drilling Engineer
CredentialsEngineering degree, certifications in geothermal or drilling technologyEngineering degree, certifications in petroleum or drilling technology
Work EnvironmentGeothermal power plants, renewable energy sitesOil rigs, offshore platforms, onshore oil fields
Industry UsageRenewable energy, geothermal energy sectorOil and gas exploration and production

Both roles involve designing and overseeing drilling operations, but Geothermal Drilling Engineers focus on renewable geothermal energy projects, while Oil and Gas Drilling Engineers work in fossil fuel extraction. The skills and certifications overlap, but the industry environment and project types differ significantly.

More about Geothermal Drilling Engineer jobs

What cities are hiring for Geothermal Drilling Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most Geothermal Drilling Engineer job openings:

What states have the most Geothermal Drilling Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Geothermal Drilling Engineer jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Geothermal Drilling Engineer jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Geothermal Drilling Engineer jobs are:

Geothermal Drilling Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Geothermal Drilling Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $116,666 per year, or $56.1 per hour.

Well Permitting Specalist

Fervo Energy Company

Reno, NV • On-site

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

The Well Permitting Specialist is part of Fervo's Land, Environment, and Permitting team, responsible for managing the planning, permitting, and regulatory compliance of geothermal well drilling activities across Fervo's exploration, appraisal, development, and commercial operations portfolio. This position is responsible for obtaining and maintaining all state and federal drilling authorizations required for geothermal wells, ensuring compliance with permit conditions throughout drilling and well completion, and serving as the primary interface between project teams and regulatory agencies.
Working closely with Drilling, Completions, Construction, Surveying, Environmental, and Land teams, the Well Permitting Specialist develops permitting strategies that support aggressive project schedules while ensuring safe, compliant, and environmentally responsible geothermal development. The role oversees the complete lifecycle of well permits-from early project planning through drilling, testing, completion, production, injection, suspension, plugging, and long-term regulatory compliance.
Strong communication, project management, organizational, and leadership skills are required, as this position will regularly coordinate across internal and external stakeholders, present permitting initiatives to management, and help drive continuous improvement of Fervo's well permitting and compliance programs.
Requirements
Responsibilities
  • Develop permitting strategies that support exploration, appraisal, injection, monitoring, production, and commercial geothermal well development.
  • Prepare and submit complete drilling permit applications to state and federal agencies.
  • Coordinate permit sequencing with project schedules, drilling programs, and construction milestones.
  • Identify permitting risks and develop mitigation strategies to minimize impacts to project schedules.
  • Maintain a comprehensive permitting schedule and forecast for active and future drilling programs.
  • Coordinate regulatory agency meetings and technical reviews, respond to agency requests for additional information, and negotiate permit conditions where appropriate.
  • Maintain positive working relationships with regulatory personnel.
  • Review technical information, including drilling programs, casing and cementing programs, blowout prevention (BOP) specifications, directional drilling plans, well location plats, surface use plans, and other plans / programs associated with well development.
  • Ensure drilling operations comply with all permit conditions and regulatory requirements, and manage permit amendments as drilling programs evolve.
  • Develop systems to track permit obligations, reporting deadlines, inspections, and regulatory commitments.
  • Coordinate responses to agency inspections and compliance reviews.
  • Support internal compliance audits and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Manage permitting consultants and technical contractors and review consultant work products for technical accuracy and regulatory compliance.
  • Manage consultant budgets and schedules.
  • Develop internal guidance documents and best practices.
  • Provide regulatory training to project teams.
  • Maintain complete regulatory records for all well permits.
  • Develop standardized permitting templates and procedures.

Qualifications
Required
  • Engineering, Geology, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Planning, or a related technical discipline.
  • 8+ years of permitting or regulatory experience supporting energy, mining, oil & gas, geothermal, or other large infrastructure projects.
  • Demonstrated experience preparing and obtaining drilling permits from state and/or federal regulatory agencies.
  • Strong understanding of geothermal drilling operations and well development.
  • Excellent organizational, communication, project management, and stakeholder coordination skills.
  • Self-starter capable of managing multiple complex projects simultaneously.
  • Commitment to environmental stewardship, regulatory excellence, and responsible energy development.
  • Ability to travel approximately 25% to project sites throughout the western United States.

Preferred
  • 3+ years of team management experience is preferred.
  • Geothermal well permitting experience with the BLM (43 CFR Parts 3200-3280) and/or state geothermal regulatory agencies (Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, or New Mexico).
  • Professional Engineer (PE), Professional Geologist (PG), or Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is desirable.

Location
Fervo has offices in Houston, TX; Golden, CO; Reno, NV; Oakland, CA; and Salt Lake City, UT. The preferred location for this role is Reno, with alternative options in Houston or Salt Lake City. Approximately 25% travel will be required to support field operations and regulatory engagement throughout the western United States.

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