AFE -Well Engineer

Baker Hughes Company; The Woodlands (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & welfare programs

401k Thrift Plan

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Baker Hughes is seeking an experienced AFE Engineer to provide independent technical assurance of engineering and operational assumptions used in AFEs, tenders, and project budgets. The role involves reviewing, challenging, and validating technical and cost estimates to ensure realism and feasibility.

The candidate will assess well construction, drilling, P&A, and intervention aspects, and collaborate with Commercial and Costing teams to reflect material requirements in cost models.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering discipline is required.
• 12+ years of relevant well engineering and/or operational experience.
• Experience in well construction/drilling with exposure to P&A, completions, production engineering, or well intervention.

Responsibilities

• Independently review the engineering basis and operational assumptions supporting AFEs, tenders, and project budgets.
• Assess well construction, drilling, P&A, completion, and intervention assumptions for proposed projects.
• Review and challenge proposed well designs, operational sequences, equipment requirements, and service requirements.
• Evaluate operational durations, rig/vessel requirements, logistics, NPT, and productivity assumptions.
• Identify technical uncertainties and assess their impact on schedule, resources, execution risk, and cost.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or another relevant engineering discipline

Job description

Driving Technical Excellence Through Independent Operational Validation Improving Cost Predictability Through Engineering Assurance and Benchmarking Partner with the best Baker Hughes is a global energy technology company serving customers across more than 120 countries. Our Integrated Solutions business delivers innovative technologies, services, and expertise that help customers optimize performance across the energy value chain. Through collaboration across engineering, commercial, and operational functions, we provide integrated solutions that create long-term value and sustainable growth.

Fuel your passion

The AFE Engineer is responsible for providing independent technical assurance of the engineering and operational assumptions used in AFEs, Integrated Services tenders, and project budgets. Unlike a project or tender engineer, the AFE Engineer does not own the well design or execution plan. Instead, the role independently reviews, challenges, and validates the assumptions developed by engineering and project teams to ensure they are technically sound, operationally achievable, and appropriately reflected within the project cost estimate.

• Independently reviewing the engineering basis and operational assumptions supporting AFEs, tenders, and project budgets.
• Assessing well construction, drilling, plug & abandonment (P&A), completion, and intervention assumptions associated with proposed projects.
• Reviewing and challenging proposed well designs, operational sequences, equipment requirements, personnel assumptions, and service requirements.
• Evaluating operational durations, rig and vessel requirements, logistics assumptions, productivity expectations, and non-productive time (NPT) assumptions.
• Validating operational time estimates and identifying assumptions that may result in material cost overestimation or underestimation.
• Comparing proposed operational assumptions against historical project performance, offset wells, operational benchmarks, and actual field data.
• Identifying key technical uncertainties and assessing their potential impact on schedule, resources, execution risk, and project cost.
• Challenging unsupported productivity and efficiency assumptions to improve estimate realism and execution confidence.
• Identifying opportunities to improve operational efficiency without compromising technical integrity, HSE performance, or execution reliability.
• Working closely with Commercial and Costing specialists to ensure all material technical requirements are accurately reflected in project cost models.
• Supporting the development and maintenance of technical benchmark databases, including activity durations, equipment utilization, NPT, and operational performance metrics.
• Participating in independent peer reviews of critical, high-risk, and strategic opportunities.
• Conducting planned-versus-actual reviews following project execution and identifying the root causes of significant operational variances.
• Capturing lessons learned and contributing to the continuous improvement of estimating methodologies, technical benchmarks, and operational assumptions.
• Providing fact-based recommendations to the AFE Cell Leader regarding the technical robustness and operational feasibility of proposed estimates.

To be successful in this role you will:

• Have a Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or another relevant engineering discipline.
• Have 12+ years of relevant well engineering and/or operational experience.
• Possess experience in well construction/drilling, together with relevant exposure to one or more of P&A, completions, production engineering, or well intervention.
• Previous relevant experience working in Integrated Services projects or for an operator is strongly preferred.

Work in a way that works for you

We recognize that everyone is different and that the way people work and perform at their best varies. In this role, flexible working arrangements may be available in accordance with business requirements.

Working with us

Our people are at the heart of what we do at Baker Hughes. We know we are stronger when our employees are empowered to bring their whole selves to work, develop their capabilities, and contribute to meaningful business outcomes. We invest in employee development, leadership growth, well-being, and an inclusive culture that enables our teams to thrive.

Working for you

Our people are at the heart of what we do at Baker Hughes. We foster an environment where innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement drive business success. We invest in employee development, leadership growth, and wellbeing to help our people achieve their full potential.

• You will be eligible to participate in Company-sponsored benefit programs, including health & welfare programs and the Thrift Plan (401k).
• You will have a choice of coverage options that best suit your needs.
• Coverage options and contribution amounts are related to your benefit elections, base salary level, and specific requirements of each of these plans.
• This position is eligible for our comprehensive and competitive benefits package, which can be found here, and is further eligible for additional forms of compensation such as bonuses subject to the terms of the applicable benefit plans or policies.

The Baker Hughes internal title for this role is: Services Senior Manager - Field Services

At Baker Hughes, we are transforming the future of energy. With operations in over 120 countries, we are developing and deploying industry-leading technologies and services to take energy forward. For more than a century, our inventions have revolutionized energy. Today, we are bringing our expertise to make oil and gas safer, cleaner, and more efficient. Our people are the trusted experts, relied on to solve customer challenges big and small. We invest in the health and well-being of our workforce, train and reward talent, and develop leaders at all levels to bring out the best in each other. We believe in creating an environment of diversity and inclusion, without bias. We know we are better when all of our people are developed, engaged, and able to bring their whole authentic selves to work. We're makers, inventors, and leaders who aren't afraid of the tough challenges. We believe pushing boundaries will help to lead the way for a new energy future.