Reservoir Development Engineer

Imperial Oil; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Relocation assistance

Training and mentorship

Employee resource groups (ERG)

Job summary

Imperial Oil is seeking a Reservoir Engineer for our Cold Lake operation in Alberta. You will apply reservoir engineering to support development planning, performance management, and studies for the Cold Lake asset, including future solvent-assisted SAGD projects.

This role offers exposure to diverse recovery technologies and cross-functional collaboration. Ideal candidates have a Bachelor’s in Engineering, PEng with APEGA, and 5–10 years in heavy oil reservoir experience, with a strong focus on

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required.
• Registered Professional Engineer with APEGA and 5–10 years heavy oil reservoir experience.
• Deep understanding of thermal recovery processes and well performance analysis.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with geoscience, reservoir, facilities engineering, and operations teams to identify and execute new opportunities at Imperial's Cold Lake Operation.
• Leverage reservoir simulation capabilities for interpretation, rock/fluid properties, history matching, and forecasting.
• Support development scopes including well placement, pad design, and surface facilities selection.
• Work with senior planners on planning and economic analyses of new opportunities.
• Conduct reserves and resource assessments and develop volumes, capex and opex outlooks for new opportunities.
• Monitor reservoir performance, progress studies, and recommend optimization opportunities across thermal recovery technologies.

Skills

Reservoir engineering

SAGD operations

Thermal recovery

Reservoir simulation

Well performance analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelors in Engineering

Tools

CSS knowledge

Job description

At Imperial, we work every day to responsibly develop Canada's energy resources - applying technology and innovation to supply affordable, accessible and reliable energy while reducing emissions. Imperial recognizes the important role we can play by advancing climate solutions within our operations and by providing lower life-cycle emission products to our customers. This effort is powered by a unique and diverse workforce fueled by a pride in what we do and what we stand for.

The success of our upstream, downstream and chemical, and corporate divisions is the result of the talent, curiosity and drive of our people. They bring solutions every day to optimize our strategy in energy, chemicals, lubricants and lower-emissions technologies.

Imperial honours diverse backgrounds so we can be a place where people can bring their full selves to work, no matter their identity, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, or ability.

At Imperial, we want you to come for the position and stay for the career. As an integrated company, we are uniquely positioned to offer you a wide range of career prospects and growth opportunities through the course of your career with us. We invite you to bring your ideas and help create sustainable solutions that improve quality of life and meet society’s evolving needs.

About Imperial's Cold Lake Operation

Cold Lake is an in-situ oil sands operation in northern Alberta. Sitting on a large, high-quality resource base, the operation is using and piloting next-generation solvent technologies that can improve production and lower greenhouse gas emissions intensity.

Cold Lake is one of the longest running oil sands operations in northeastern Alberta and one of the largest in-situ thermal operations in the world. The operation supplies refineries across Canada and the United States with the crude needed to create fuel, asphalt and other important products. The site’s past success and current strength stem from the skills, commitment and passion of the site’s workforce, made up of approximately 400 employees and 1,000 contractors including from Indigenous-owned businesses. In 2025, gross production at Cold Lake averaged 151,000 barrels per day.

What role you will play in our team

The successful candidate will apply reservoir engineering expertise to support development planning, reservoir performance management, and studies for our Cold Lake asset. As part of this role, they will support the development of future solvent-assisted SAGD projects for Cold Lake. This role offers the opportunity to work across a diverse portfolio of recovery technologies, supporting optimization and future development of the asset.

What you will do

• Collaborate cross-functionally with geoscience, reservoir, facilities engineering, and operations teams to identify, mature, and execute new greenfield / brownfield opportunities at Imperial's Cold Lake Operation.
• Leverage reservoir simulation capabilities, including reservoir interpretation, rock and fluid properties, history matching, and forecasting.
• Support scopes of future development projects including well placement, well pad design, and pad surface facilities selection.
• Work closely with senior development planners to support planning and economic analysis of new opportunities.
• Conduct reserves and resource assessments and analysis and develop volumes, capital and opex outlooks for new opportunities as part of annual corporate plan.
• Monitor reservoir performance, progress studies, and recommend optimization opportunities across a variety of thermal recovery technologies.

About You

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required – preferably Petroleum, Chemical, or Mechanical
• Registered as a Professional Engineer with APEGA and 5-10 years heavy oil reservoir experience
• Deep understanding of thermal recovery processes and well performance analysis
• Experience with SAGD operations
• Experience with depletion planning, reservoir surveillance, and recovery optimization
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across a multi-disciplinary team and manage time pressures and changing priorities
• Thermal reservoir simulation experience

Preferred Skills And Qualifications

• Excellent communication, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Experience with CSS and follow-up optimization processes is an asset
• Reserves evaluation experience is an asset

Your benefits

An Imperial career is one designed to last. Our commitment to you runs deep: our employees grow personally and professionally, with benefits built on our core categories of health, security, finance, and life. Imperial Oil has been recognized as one of Canada’s and Alberta’s top employers (2024) as recognized by Mediacorp Canada Inc.’s 24th annual competition.

We offer you:

• Competitive salary
• Training and mentorship
• Relocation assistance as required
• Employee resource groups (ERG's) – opportunity to participate in volunteer groups that support furthering the company’s inclusion objectives

Imperial is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Imperial is committed to providing equitable treatment and equal opportunity to all individuals and encourages all eligible applicants to apply.

Imperial conducts business in a manner that respects the land, environment, rights and cultures of Indigenous communities. In the areas where we explore, develop and operate, Imperial engages Indigenous communities in open and forthright consultation and strives to establish meaningful relationships built on mutual trust and respect. Please see here for more information on Imperial’s Indigenous Relations Guiding Principles and Guidelines.

Imperial is committed to supporting persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. We will work with qualified applicants to provide reasonable accommodation upon request at [e-mail].

Eligibility to work in Canada

All applicants who receive an offer of employment must be eligible to work in Canada on a regular full-time basis without restrictions on their start date. Proof of eligibility shall be in the form of a Canadian birth certificate, Canadian passport, Canadian citizenship certificate, Canadian certificate of permanent residence, Canadian open work permit or receipt from Immigration Canada of an application for a post-graduate work permit.

Proof of eligibility

Proof of eligibility must be current and valid (not expired, cancelled or voided). Proof of eligibility will be required if an offer of employment is made. Failure to provide proof of eligibility at least six (6) weeks prior to the start date may result in the offer of employment being rescinded.