Applied Research Engineer - Reservoir Rocks & EOR Lab

Pittsburgh Tomorrow; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Research Engineer to join the NETL Pittsburgh lab, designing, conducting, and debugging experiments to improve oil recovery from unconventional reservoirs. You will operate HPHT systems, XRD, CT, SEM, and PVT instruments to characterize rocks, fluids, and rock-fluid interactions under simulated subsurface conditions.

You will collaborate with geologists, chemists, and computer scientists to develop and test EOR methods, such as water or gas injection with additives,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering or related field with 3+ years of hands-on experience.
• Experience with interfacial science experiments (contact angle, interfacial tension, wettability).
• Experience operating rock/fluid characterization equipment (XRD, CT, SEM, PVT).
• Experience in core flooding, fluid injection, or enhanced oil recovery under simulated conditions.
• Ability to plan experiments, maintain records, and communicate results.

Responsibilities

• Conduct rock characterization experiments (oil saturation mapping, porosity, permeability).
• Perform fluid characterization tests (PVT, interfacial tension, contact angle).
• Design and troubleshoot experiments simulating reservoir conditions for EOR.
• Operate HPHT systems and core flood apparatus to study fluid–rock interactions.
• Assess fracture conductivity, proppant performance, and geomechanical properties.
• Review literature and summarize knowledge on EOR topics.
• Prepare technical reports and present findings with an interdisciplinary team.

Skills

Hands-on lab work

Interfacial science

PVT analysis

High-pressure testing

Lab troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's in petroleum engineering or related

Tools

XRD

CT scanners

SEM

PVT systems

Python/MATLAB

Job description

Leidos is seeking a Research Engineer to join the NETL Pittsburgh lab, designing, conducting, and debugging experiments to improve oil recovery from unconventional reservoirs. You will operate HPHT systems, XRD, CT, SEM, and PVT instruments to characterize rocks, fluids, and rock-fluid interactions under simulated subsurface conditions.

You will collaborate with geologists, chemists, and computer scientists to develop and test EOR methods, such as water or gas injection with additives,