Drilling Engineer

About the Role:
We are currently seeking a skilled Drilling Engineer to support the planning and execution of drilling programs across Western Canada. Based in Calgary, this role will work closely with field operations, providing technical guidance to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective well delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and plan drilling programs, including well trajectories, casing design, and drilling fluids
• Prepare detailed drilling procedures, AFE’s, and cost estimates
• Provide real-time technical support to Wellsite Supervisors and field teams during operations
• Monitor drilling performance, analyze data, and recommend optimization strategies
• Troubleshoot operational issues and implement solutions to minimize downtime and cost
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and company standards
• Work closely with geoscience, completions, and production teams to align on well objectives
• Conduct post-well reviews and capture lessons learned for continuous improvement

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Petroleum, Mechanical, or related discipline)
• 3–8+ years of drilling engineering experience
• Strong understanding of drilling operations, well design, and execution
• Experience supporting horizontal and multi-well pad drilling programs
• Knowledge of Western Canadian regulatory requirements
• Proficiency in drilling software and reporting tools
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills

Preferred Experience:

• Hands-on experience designing and executing horizontal wells, including BHA selection, hydraulics, torque & drag modeling, and anti-collision planning
• Strong exposure to drilling optimization techniques such as ROP improvement, bit performance analysis, and minimizing NPT
• Experience working closely with field operations, including real-time decision-making and supporting Wellsite Supervisors during critical operations
• Familiarity with AFE tracking, cost control, and variance analysis throughout the drilling lifecycle
• Experience conducting post-well analysis, offset well reviews, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives
• Exposure to drilling in complex environments (e.g., HP/HT, sour service, or geologically challenging formations) considered an asset
• Working knowledge of industry-standard software (e.g., WellView, Landmark, or similar platforms)

 

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.