Thermal Production Engineer

Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL); Calgary; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

relocation assistance

Health, Dental and Vision Benefits

Wellness Spending Account

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) is seeking a Thermal Production Engineer to maximize asset value and production efficiency for Alberta operations in Calgary. You will support SAGD, Steam Flood, and CSS developments while collaborating across Operations, Reservoir Engineering, Geoscience, and Facilities teams.

The role emphasizes well integrity, optimization, and cost reduction through data analytics, engineering best practices, and cross-functional teamwork.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in chemical, mechanical, petroleum, or energy engineering.
• Registered or eligible for APEGA as EIT or P.Eng.
• 3+ years of engineering experience.
• Strong knowledge of production engineering, fluid flow, thermodynamics, and thermal recovery.
• Proficiency with MS Office; experience with Power BI/Tableau/Python/VBA is a plus.
• Excellent communication, organization, and teamwork skills.
• Valid Class 5 driving license.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily surveillance, analysis, and optimization of thermal production and injection wells to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective operations.
• Monitor production performance, identify risks/opportunities, and implement corrective actions to maximize recovery and asset value.
• Evaluate well, reservoir, and steam performance to improve production rates, steam efficiency, and SOR.
• Collaborate with Operations and cross-functional teams to execute production plans and support reservoir management.
• Lead or support well interventions, workovers, optimization projects, and development initiatives including economic evaluations.
• Maintain well integrity programs and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and long-term asset reliability.
• Analyze operational and reservoir data, prepare technical recommendations and reports, drive continuous improvement via data analytics.

Skills

Engineering knowledge

EIT/P.Eng.

3+ years experience

Analytical skills

MS Office / data tools

Communication

Valid driver's license

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Energy Engineering

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

Python

VBA

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

At Canadian Natural, we are proud to be a leader in Canada’s energy industry. Join us and help drive innovation and long-term value through integrity, teamwork, and a passion for doing things right.

The Opportunity

JOB DESCRIPTION

At Canadian Natural, we are proud to be a leader in Canada’s energy industry. Join us and help drive innovation and long-term value through integrity, teamwork, and a passion for doing things right.

Make your mark while you grow your career! The Thermal Production Engineer is responsible for maximizing the value of thermal oil sands assets through the safe, reliable, and efficient management of production operations. Supporting Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD), Steam Flood (SF), and Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS) developments, the role combines production engineering, operational support, well integrity management, and asset optimization to deliver sustainable production performance.

Working within a multidisciplinary team of Operations, Reservoir Engineering, Geoscience, Facilities, Maintenance, and Drilling professionals, the Thermal Production Engineer provides technical expertise to evaluate well performance, identify optimization opportunities, and develop strategies that enhance recovery, improve reliability, and reduce operating costs.

• Job location: Calgary, Alberta
• Shift schedule: 5 x 2, 8-hour shifts
• Safety sensitive position: Yes
• Application deadline: October 14, 2026

Key Accountabilities

• Providing daily surveillance, analysis, and optimization of thermal production and injection wells to ensure safe, reliable, compliant, and cost-effective operations
• Monitoring production performance, identifying risks and opportunities, and implementing corrective actions to maximize recovery and asset value
• Evaluating well, reservoir, and steam performance to improve production rates, steam efficiency, and steam-oil ratios (SOR)
• Collaborating with Operations and multidisciplinary teams to execute production plans, resolve performance issues, and support reservoir management strategies
• Leading or supporting well interventions, workovers, optimization projects, and development initiatives, including economic evaluations and business case development
• Maintaining well integrity programs and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and long-term asset reliability objectives
• Analyzing operational and reservoir data, preparing technical recommendations and reports, and driving continuous improvement through data analytics and performance management

What You Bring To The Role

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Petroleum, or Energy Engineering
• Registered, or eligible for registration, with APEGA as an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Professional Engineer (P.Eng.)
• 3+ years of engineering experience
• Strong technical knowledge of production engineering principles, fluid flow, thermodynamics, and thermal recovery processes
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications; experience with Power BI, Tableau, Python, VBA, or other analytical tools is considered an asset
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams
• Valid Class 5 driver's license.

Preferred Experience

• Thermal oil sands operations, including SAGD, Steam Flood, or CSS
• Well performance analysis and production optimization
• Artificial lift systems, including rod pumps, gas lift, and ESPs.
• Wellbore design, integrity management, and intervention planning
• Drilling, completions, and facilities engineering
• Data analytics, performance reporting, and business process improvement

What We Offer

• Competitive salary, stock options, company matched stock savings plan, annual bonuses
• May be eligible for relocation pursuant to Canadian Natural’s Relocation Policy
• 100% Employer paid extended Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
• Health & Wellness Spending Account
• Multiple volunteer opportunities within the community
• Employee & Family Assistance Program
• Access to online learning platforms for continuous learning and development
• Paid vacation and time off during Christmas week and summer Fridays

Check out our COMPENSATION & BENEFITS to learn more about what we have to offer!

About Us

We are proud to be ranked as one of Forbes’s Canada’s Best Employers in 2025 and 2026.

We invest in your career through offering a culture that focuses on developing people, working together and doing it right, with fun and integrity.

Industry Leader: We commenced business in 1989 with a handful of employees and modest production, but today we employ more than 10,000 people and produce over 1 million BOE/d.

Community Investment: Social responsibility is a critical element of our commitment to responsible operations and part of our success and pride as a Company. We are committed to investing in the communities where we live and work, creating shared value along the way.

Compensation and Benefits: We strive to share Company success with all employees through a comprehensive total compensation package.

Our People, Our Stories: Our stories demonstrate the strong culture that exists at Canadian Natural – one that focuses on developing people, working together and doing it right, with fun and integrity.

Check out some of our Employee Testimonials!

All candidates applying to Canadian Natural must have legal authorization to work in Canada with no restrictions.

While we appreciate all applications we receive, kindly note only candidates under consideration will be contacted.