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Lead Petroleum Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Woodside Petroleum Ltd

WI · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

Lead integrated petroleum systems evaluations from regional play screening through prospect ... Partner closely with structural geologists, geophysicists, geochemists, reservoir engineers, and ...

New

Airswift

Lead SURF Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$97K - $128K/yr

Lead SURF Engineer Duration: 2 years (possibility of extension) Location: Houston, TX This ... Advanced degree in subsea, mechanical, structural, ocean or petroleum engineering. * Knowledge of ...

Worley

Lead SURF Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$97K - $128K/yr

Role Summary The Lead SURF (Subsea Umbilicals, Risers & Flowlines) Engineer is responsible for ... Bachelor's degree in subsea, mechanical, structural, ocean, or petroleum engineering (advanced ...

Celonis

Lead Value Engineer - Energy

New York, NY

$112K - $147K/yr

We are looking for a Lead Value Engineer to own customer success and drive high-stakes SaaS and AI ... S. or M.S. in Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial ...

Celonis

Lead Value Engineer - Energy

$104K - $138K/yr

We are looking for a Lead Value Partner to own customer success and drive high-stakes SaaS and AI ... S. or M.S. in Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial ...

Tribonet

$120 - $130/hr

Lead rock characterization of oil saturation mapping, mineral analysis, porosity and permeability ... Required Qualifications * Master's degree in petroleum engineering or related scientific ...

Posted today

Leidos

Senior Research Engineer

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

$120K - $130K/yr

Lead rock characterization of oil saturation mapping, mineral analysis, porosity and permeability ... Master's degree in petroleum engineering or related scientific/engineering field with 6+ years of ...

Commander, Navy Installations Command

$100K - $130K/yr

You will serve as the engineering focal point for all petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL ... To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree (or higher) in a school of ...

Leidos

Senior Research Engineer

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

$120K - $130K/yr

Lead rock characterization of oil saturation mapping, mineral analysis, porosity and permeability ... Master's degree in petroleum engineering or related scientific/engineering field with 6+ years of ...

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Lead Petroleum Engineer information

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$42.5K

$123.8K

$180.5K

How much do lead petroleum engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead petroleum engineer in the United States is $123,784.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,500.00 and $135,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a lead petroleum engineer do?

A Lead Petroleum Engineer oversees the design, development, and management of processes for extracting oil and gas from underground reservoirs. They lead teams of engineers and technicians to plan drilling operations, evaluate production methods, and ensure safety and efficiency in extraction projects. This role also involves analyzing geological data, optimizing production strategies, and ensuring compliance with environmental and regulatory standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a lead petroleum engineer?

To thrive as a Lead Petroleum Engineer, you need a strong background in petroleum engineering principles, reservoir management, and project leadership, typically supported by a bachelor's or master's degree in petroleum engineering or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard software like Petrel, Eclipse, and well simulation tools, along with certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE), are commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, effective communication, and team management abilities set outstanding candidates apart. These skills ensure safe, efficient extraction processes, optimize reservoir performance, and facilitate successful coordination of multidisciplinary teams.

How does a lead petroleum engineer typically collaborate with multidisciplinary teams during large-scale drilling projects?

A Lead Petroleum Engineer frequently works alongside geologists, drilling engineers, production teams, and safety specialists to coordinate all aspects of drilling operations. This collaboration ensures that geological data is accurately interpreted, drilling technologies are optimally deployed, and safety and environmental standards are rigorously maintained. Effective communication and project management skills are vital, as the Lead Petroleum Engineer often serves as the central point of contact, aligning technical strategies and troubleshooting issues across departments. This teamwork approach is essential for meeting project milestones and maximizing resource recovery while minimizing risks.

What is the difference between Lead Petroleum Engineer vs Reservoir Engineer?

AspectLead Petroleum EngineerReservoir Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Petroleum Engineering, Professional Engineer (PE) license often preferredBachelor's or Master's in Petroleum Engineering, Reservoir Engineering, or Geosciences; PE license optional
Work EnvironmentOn-site oil and gas exploration and production sites, offices, project teamsOffice-based analysis, field data interpretation, reservoir modeling teams
Employer & Industry UsageOil & gas companies, exploration firms, production companiesOil & gas companies, reservoir consulting firms, E&P companies

The Lead Petroleum Engineer focuses on overall drilling, production, and operational strategies, while the Reservoir Engineer specializes in analyzing subsurface reservoirs to optimize extraction. Both roles require petroleum engineering credentials and often work closely but serve different technical functions within the industry.

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What job categories do people searching Lead Petroleum Engineer jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Lead Petroleum Engineer jobs are:

Lead Petroleum Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lead Petroleum Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $123,784 per year, or $59.5 per hour.

Petroleum Engineer

US Department of the Interior

Houma, LA

$122K/yr

Full-time, Part-time

Posted 9 days ago

U.S. Department Of The Interior rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 14 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

416th of 848 rated public administrative organizations

Job description

You will serve as a Petroleum Engineer with Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. You will serve as a technical expert on oil and gas drilling operations.

Salary Range Information (Per Annum.) GS-13: Step 1 $122,749 - Step 10: $ 159,575
First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Qualifications:All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 08/27/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:
Basic Educational Requirement AND Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

(1) Basic Educational Requirements: To be qualified for this position, you must meet either A or B below for the series to which you are applying.
NOTE: This position requires specific educational coursework to qualify. You MUST provide transcripts (unofficial are acceptable) in order to verify that the educational requirements have been met. This information must be received by the closing date of the announcement. Failure to provide this information may result in you receiving an "INELIGIBLE" rating.
A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. You must submit transcripts.
-OR-
B. Combination of education and experience: college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

  1. Professional Registration or Licensure
  2. Written Test
  3. Specified Academic Courses
  4. Related Curriculum

For further information on the adequacy of such background, demonstrated by one of the above listed, are found in the link below: Petroleum Engineering Series 0881
AND
(2) Specialized Experience
To qualify for the GS-13, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
1. Analyzing and evaluating exploration and development operations that involve workover/completion activities.
2. Has working knowledge of American Petroleum Institute (API) incorporated documents identified in CFR 250.198 as it pertains to workover/completion operations.
3. Experience with subsea intervention and their individual components.
4. Meets with operators and contractors/vendors to discuss and resolve complex workover/completion issues.
Must Meet 2 out of 4


Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.Education:This position does not allow substituting education for experience.
This position has a mandatory education requirement.
You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualificationsEmployment Type: OTHER

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