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Reservoir Simulation Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Reservoir simulation, optimization, re-operation, and decision support * Hydrologic and climate change modeling, including ensemble and statistical analyses * Flood risk management, FERC relicensing ...

Technical Product Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$196K - $227K/yr

Experience with physical engineering, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), finite element analysis (FEA), or reservoir simulation. * Experience with 3D applications, industrial design software, or ...

... reservoir geomechanics * Organize, analyze, and interpret large geophysical sets from ongoing laboratory/field operations and physics-based simulations * Employ physical, statistical, or machine ...

... reservoir geomechanics * Organize, analyze, and interpret large geophysical sets from ongoing laboratory/field operations and physics-based simulations * Employ physical, statistical, or machine ...

... reservoir geomechanics * Organize, analyze, and interpret large geophysical sets from ongoing laboratory/field operations and physics-based simulations * Employ physical, statistical, or machine ...

Reservoir Simulation information

Is reservoir simulation a good career?

Reservoir simulation is a specialized field within the oil and gas industry that involves modeling subsurface reservoirs to optimize extraction. It requires strong skills in geology, petroleum engineering, and software tools like Eclipse or CMG. The career offers opportunities in exploration, production, and consulting, often with competitive salaries and the need for ongoing technical training.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a reservoir simulation engineer?

To thrive as a Reservoir Simulation Engineer, you need a solid background in petroleum engineering or related fields, with expertise in fluid dynamics, reservoir modeling, and data analysis. Proficiency with specialized simulation software such as Eclipse, CMG, or Petrel, as well as familiarity with programming languages like Python or MATLAB, is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help convey complex technical results to diverse teams. These skills are vital for accurately predicting reservoir performance, optimizing production strategies, and supporting informed decision-making in oil and gas operations.

What is the difference between Reservoir Simulation vs Reservoir Engineer?

AspectReservoir SimulationReservoir Engineer
Primary FocusDeveloping computer models to predict reservoir behaviorAnalyzing reservoir data to optimize production
Required SkillsPetroleum engineering, reservoir modeling, software proficiencyReservoir analysis, production forecasting, data interpretation
Work EnvironmentEngineering teams, software development, simulation labsField operations, data analysis, project planning
CertificationsPetroleum Engineering degree, software certificationsPetroleum Engineering degree, professional licenses

Reservoir Simulation involves creating models to predict reservoir performance, while Reservoir Engineers analyze data to optimize extraction. Both roles require petroleum engineering knowledge but focus on different aspects of reservoir management.

What is reservoir simulation?

Reservoir simulation is the process of using computer models to represent and predict the behavior of fluids (such as oil, gas, and water) within a reservoir underground. These simulations help engineers understand how a reservoir will respond to various extraction methods over time. By using data from geological, petrophysical, and production sources, reservoir simulation aids in optimizing production strategies and maximizing recovery while minimizing costs and risks.

What are some common challenges faced by reservoir simulation engineers, and how can they be addressed?

Reservoir simulation engineers often face challenges such as managing incomplete or uncertain subsurface data, integrating multidisciplinary inputs, and ensuring model accuracy for reliable forecasting. Addressing these challenges involves close collaboration with geologists, petrophysicists, and production engineers to validate assumptions and update models as new data becomes available. Regular calibration and validation of simulation models with actual production data, as well as ongoing training in the latest simulation software, also help enhance reliability and performance in this role.
What are popular job titles related to Reservoir Simulation jobs in California? For Reservoir Simulation jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Reservoir Simulation job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution.

Full Stack Engineer, Scientific Modeling Tools

Terra AI

Redwood City, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 20 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
Terra AI is building a new category at the intersection of artificial intelligence, geoscience, and critical resource development. The Full Stack Engineer will productionize and extend internal modeling tools used to generate subsurface outputs, collaborating closely with domain experts and improving internal modeling stacks for scientific workflows.
Responsibilities:
• Collaborate closely with domain experts to translate requirements into software that is correct, usable, and extensible.
• Own and improve internal modeling stacks, including:
• Refactoring and modularization for clarity and reuse
• Testing strategies that match scientific software realities (golden tests, invariants, property-based testing where useful)
• Performance profiling and optimization where it matters
• Documentation and developer experience improvements
• Design and implement APIs and interfaces that turn working examples into maintainable components.
• Build configuration management patterns that make runs reproducible and debuggable.
• Implement and maintain orchestration pipelines for simulation ensembles and data validation.
• Work primarily in Python and Julia.
• Integrate with ML-adjacent components and artifacts (inputs, outputs, model wrappers), without being responsible for inventing new ML methods.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Strong software engineering fundamentals and proven ability to take ownership of complex codebases.
• Production-grade Python skills.
• Comfort working in Julia or willingness to go deep quickly.
• Experience designing APIs, handling configuration, and building reliable execution paths for complex workflows.
• Familiarity with performance profiling and optimization tooling.
• Familiarity with ML frameworks at an integration level (PyTorch preferred, TensorFlow or JAX also relevant), including artifacts, I/O, and runtime concerns.
• Experience with orchestration or workflow tooling (Flyte, Prefect, Dagster, or similar), or equivalent patterns built in-house.
Preferred:
• Geophysics or geomodeling experience, including survey simulation or related tooling (SimPEG or similar).
• Reservoir simulation experience (Eclipse, Intersect, JutulDarcy, or similar).
• Experience solving PDE-based problems in HPC environments.
• Familiarity with Fortran or C++ codebases common in scientific stacks.
• Experience in simulation, CAD, CFD, or other engineering/scientific software domains.
• Experience supporting scientific users and workflows, where communication and shared language matter.
• Experience with batch pipelines and data-intensive systems.
Company:
Terra AI is a technology company that develops artificial intelligence software for the mining, energy, and subsurface resource sectors. Founded in 2023, the company is headquartered in Palo Alto, USA, with a team of 11-50 employees. The company is currently Early Stage.