Oil Rig Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Title: Drilling/Workover Manager
Department: Field Services
Reports To: VP-Field Services
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Employment Type: Regular Full-Time
Overview of Position:
Under direction, the Drilling/Workover Manager is responsible for leading the planning, execution, and oversight of drilling, workover, recompletion, sidetrack, and plugging and abandonment activities. This position directs well design and engineering programs, manages rig operations and third-party service providers, and ensures work is completed safely, efficiently, on schedule, and in compliance with applicable California oil and gas regulations. The role partners closely with subsurface, reservoir engineering, environmental, land, legal, compliance, and leadership teams to align well operations with field development plans, regulatory requirements, budget expectations, and company safety and performance objectives.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Directs well design, drilling and workover programs, casing and cementing plans, AFEs, engineering packages, and offset well analyses for new drills, sidetracks, recompletions, and workovers.
• Oversees geo-mechanical, pressure, and hazard assessments, including H2S, lost circulation, shallow gas, and seismic considerations, for California reservoirs.
• Coordinates with subsurface and reservoir engineering teams to align well placement and design with field development plans.
• Manages daily rig operations and supervises company representatives, contractors, and third-party service providers on location.
• Monitors real-time drilling data, daily reports, mud programs, bit/BHA runs, and performance issues to keep wells on plan, on schedule, and within safety expectations.
• Directs rig selection, contracting, scheduling, well control, blowout prevention, and emergency response readiness across active rig sites.
• Serves as operations lead for CalGEM well permitting and maintains timely, accurate submissions for notices of intent, sundry notices, and plugging and abandonment plans.
• Maintains compliance with California oil and gas regulations, including setback requirements, idle well management, well integrity testing, Cal/OSHA requirements, and oilfield-specific safety orders.
• Partners with Environmental and Air Quality teams to satisfy San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and South Coast AQMD permitting conditions for drilling and completions equipment.
• Maintains audit-ready documentation and briefs leadership on evolving California oil and gas legislation, regulatory guidance, inspections, and agency or internal compliance reviews.
• Owns the drilling and completions capital budget and tracks AFE performance, cost-per-foot, well delivery economics, variances, and forecasts.
• Negotiates and manages contracts with drilling contractors, service companies, and equipment suppliers while evaluating vendor performance and pricing.
• Identifies and executes cost-efficiency initiatives without compromising safety, well integrity, or regulatory compliance.
• Champions a strong safety culture, leads incident investigations and root-cause analyses, and implements corrective action plans across rig sites.
• Identifies operational, environmental, and regulatory risks across the well lifecycle and implements mitigation strategies to protect schedule, cost, safety, and compliance.
• Coordinates emergency response planning and ensures well control equipment, blowout preventers, and critical safety systems are tested, certified, and maintained to regulatory standards.
• Supervises assigned company employees and contractors, setting performance expectations and supporting professional development.
• Partners with Land, Legal, Environmental, and Compliance to coordinate surface access, right-of-way, community notification, and regulatory requirements for drilling activity.
• Communicates well status, risks, and program performance to executive leadership and non-operating partners, and represents the Company with CalGEM, air quality districts, and other regulatory bodies during inspections or audits.
• Performs all other job-related duties as assigned.
Requirements
Education and Experience
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• Minimum of 10 years' related experience of progressively responsible, hands-on experience in drilling engineering and drilling operations.
• Leadership experience managing employees, contractors, or multidisciplinary field teams in drilling, completions, or workover operations.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Drilling and workover engineering principles .
• Well design, casing/cementing, mud programs, BHA/bit selection, and well integrity.
• California oil and gas regulations and permitting.
• Rig operations, well control, BOP requirements, and emergency response.
• Safety leadership, risk assessment, incident investigation, and root-cause analysis.
• Budget management, AFE tracking, forecasting, and cost control.
• Contractor management and vendor performance evaluation.
• Ability to interpret technical data and communicate operational risks to leadership.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to deal logically and effectively with department heads and engineering personnel to accomplish the goals for the Drilling/Workover department.
• Proficiency with personal computers and software. Working knowledge of Windows, Microsoft, and e-mail.
• Valid California driver's license with a driving record deemed acceptable by the company's auto insurance carrier is required due to regular travel to field and operational sites.
Environment & Physical Demands
Work is performed extensively in outdoor environments, exposed to a wide range of weather conditions, including extreme temperatures (both heat and cold), wetness, and humidity. The essential functions of this position include adjusting/moving in all directions objects up to 50 pounds occasionally and 100 pounds with assistance rarely; sitting, standing, walking, walking on uneven surfaces, bending, kneeling, stooping; repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers; visual acuity for reading computer screens or preparing data, inspecting objects, and operating vehicles; operating a motor vehicle and/or heavy equipment; working near moving mechanical parts, tight spaces, and on high and precarious surfaces; and/or communicating with others to exchange information. Exposure to environmental elements such as dirt, dust, fumes, odors, and loud noises should be expected. Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all tasks is required. Incumbents must adhere to all safety protocols, especially those concerning heat illness prevention (access to water and shade).
Disclaimer:
The position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. The essential duties, responsibilities and physical requirements above describe those functions that are essential to the performance of this job. The above description does not include all the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by management.
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Sentinel Peak Resources Management LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability, Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law.
Salary Description
$220,000-$290,000