Lead Drilling Engineer

Position: Lead Drilling Engineer
Start date: October 2025
Duration: 12 months renewable (4 years minimum)
Location: Paris then Suriname / Paramaribo from March 2026
Work pattern: 5 weeks in Suriname, 3 weeks remote working, 1 week off

The Lead Drilling Engineer will provide technical expertise to firm up the well design and the operational sequence for a 32 wells subsea development in Suriname.

The service holder will review the existing well design, liaise with the service and drilling contractors to prepare fit for purpose equipment and procedures, and coordinate with the engineering and operational team to ensure optimized operations workflow.

Activities
• Prior to rig arrival
 Engineering
- Review well design to optimize architecture based on local geological environment
- Optimize well trajectory to reduce operational exposure and maximize resources recovery
- Recommend new technologies to improve operations efficiency, reduce cost and decrease carbon footprint
- Ensure that drilling referential is respected throughout engineering. Highlight all gaps with
referential and prepare derogations and associated mitigation measures.

 Operational readiness :
- Select fit for purpose rig equipment
- Ensure full readiness and reliability of subsea Well Control Equipment
- Review planned BHA based on actual expected formations and data acquisition objectives
- Follow up on service company readiness to ensure kick start of operations
- Establish roadmap for rig specialization

 Operational workflow :
- Review and optimize rig automation workflows in conjunction with the service company
- Review and optimize engineering-to-operations workflow with the aid of Horizon56
• During drilling and completion operations:

 HSE
- Ensure permanent focus on Major Risks: loss of well integrity
- Be a HSE leader and ensure full application of company rules, policies & procedures in the rig operations

 Operations follow-up
- Control and participate to the safe and efficient implementation of the drilling and completion programs
- Capture all lessons learnt for subsequent operations.
- Optimize well design based on geological derisking
- Control logistics plan to ensure no idle time
- Actively prepare and participate in audits for rig contract and drilling services company

 Performance drive
- Monitor actual well performance
- Conduct operational syntheses
- Participate in launching and realizing ad-hoc studies with head office or external vendors to improve performance
- Propose technological innovations

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- At least 20 years' experience in Drilling Engineering and Drilling Operations
- Technical Management position in major Deepwater Development
- Fully experienced with the geological challenges of the Guyana basin
- Conversant with the logistics challenges of the Caribbean
- HPHT and NMWW drilling experience required
- Dynamism, high motivation, ability to convince, organized, leadership and analytical approach to solve challenges
- Pragmatic approach, excelling at finding sound solutions under stress
- Ability to work on complex projects with numerous interfaces
- Languages: Fluent in English, French will be appreciated

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.