Drilling Optimization Engineer - Midland, TX

Oil Authority; Midland, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits and 1

Mental health support 1

Wellness programs

Job summary

ConocoPhillips is seeking a Drilling Optimization Engineer to join the Drilling Intelligence Group (DIG) in Midland, TX. This on-site, full-time role focuses on improving drilling performance through real-time support, engineering analysis, and data-driven decisions in collaboration with I&E teams, geologists, and field operations.

The candidate will develop dashboards and analytics, promote automation, and drive improvements in ROP, slide efficiency, and wellbore quality while ensuring safety

Qualifications

• Must have legal authorization to work in the United States.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Petroleum or related technical field.
• 5+ years of drilling experience.
• Willing to travel up to 20% annually.

Responsibilities

• Identify opportunities to improve drilling performance and partner with teams to implement solutions.
• Serve as Drilling Automation Champion and promote automation adoption.
• Use historical data to identify repeatable practices and standardize across teams.
• Analyze data to provide actionable recommendations for ROP, slide efficiency, and wellbore quality.
• Collaborate with engineers, geologists, and field ops to optimize execution.
• Evaluate new technologies and lead process/technology improvements, focusing on real-time and cloud solutions.
• Develop and maintain dashboards, KPIs, and analytical tools for visibility and decision making.
• Partner with Global Wells to scale wells analytics tools.

Skills

Drilling experience

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, or related field

Tools

SQL

Corva

TIBCO Spotfire

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

Welcome to ConocoPhillips, where innovation and excellence create a platform for opportunity and growth. Come realize your full potential here.

Who We Are

We are one of the world’s largest independent exploration and production companies, based on proved reserves and production of liquids and natural gas. With operations and activities in 13 countries, we explore for, develop, and produce crude oil and natural gas globally. We are challenged with an important job to safely find and deliver energy to the world. Our employees are critical to our success, and with them we power civilization.

We’re grounded by our SPIRIT Values – safety, people, integrity, responsibility, innovation, and teamwork. These values position us to deliver strong performance in a dynamic business – but not at all costs. We believe it’s not just what we do – it’s how we do it – that sets us apart.

Fostering an Inclusive Work Environment

To deliver superior performance, we create an environment that respects the contributions and differences of every individual. Wherever possible, we use these differences to drive competitive business advantage, personal growth and, ultimately, create business success.

The Lower 48 segment consists of operations located in the 48 contiguous U.S. states, with a portfolio mainly consisting of low cost of supply, short cycle time, resource-rich unconventional plays and commercial operations. The majority of our acreage is unconventional. Based on 2025 production volumes, the Lower 48 is our largest segment and contributed 67 percent of our consolidated liquids production and 74 percent of our consolidated natural gas production.

In 2025, net production averaged 1,484 MBOED.

Position Overview

ConocoPhillips is seeking a highly motivated Drilling Optimization Engineer to join the Drilling Intelligence Group (DIG) within our Wells Remote Operations Center in Midland, TX. This is a full-time, on-site Monday-Friday position based in Midland and is not eligible for remote work. Candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to the Midland area to support business and operational needs. This role is responsible for improving drilling performance through real-time operational support, engineering analysis, performance optimization, and data-driven decision making. Working in a collaborative environment alongside drilling engineers, directional drilling teams, geologists, field operations, and analytics professionals, you will help maximize drilling efficiency while maintaining the highest standards of safety, wellbore quality, and excellence of execution.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify and prioritize opportunities to improve drilling performance, then partner with engineering and functional teams to implement solutions and capture measurable operational value.
• Serve as Permian’s Drilling Automation Champion, promoting effective automation solutions and support adoption across the organization.
• Use historical well and operational data to identify repeatable practices and support standardization across discipline engineering teams, improving program predictability and reliability.
• Analyze operational data, offset performance, and drilling trends to provide actionable recommendations that improve Rate of Penetration (ROP), slide efficiency, wellbore quality, and execution consistency.
• Collaborate with drilling engineers, directional drilling teams, geologists, and field operations personnel to optimize execution and achieve development objectives.
• Evaluate new technologies and solution options, recommend fit-for-purpose approaches, and lead improvements to processes, procedures, and technology, with a primary focus on real-time and cloud-based solutions.
• Develop and maintain performance dashboards, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and analytical tools to improve operational visibility and decision making.
• Partner with the Global Wells organization to enhance the suite of wells analytics tools and help scale successful solutions across teams.

Success Profile

Leadership Competencies critical to success in this role:

• Takes Accountability: Takes ownership of actions and follows through on commitments by courageously dealing with important problems, holding others accountable, and standing up for what is right.
• Makes Decisions: Generates effective solutions based on available information and makes timely decisions that are safe and ethical.
• Partners Collaboratively: Builds strong relationships based on trust and seeks opportunities to collaborate across the matrix/organizational boundaries to achieve business goals.

Required Qualifications:

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, another related technical field, or foreign equivalent.
• 5 or more years of experience working in drilling.
• Willing and able (with or without unreasonable accommodation) to travel up to 20% annually.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced knowledge of drilling processes and operational data used to evaluate performance.
• Advanced knowledge of Structured Query Language (SQL) for retrieving, preparing, and analyzing data.
• Advanced knowledge of Corva and its user interface.
• Advanced knowledge of TIBCO Spotfire, Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, or similar data visualization and analytics software.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and teamwork skills, with the ability to communicate technical insights to a variety of audiences.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement, safety, environmental stewardship, and ethical business practices.

Apply By:

Oct 12, 2026

Sponsorship:

ConocoPhillips’ sponsorship for employment authorization in the U.S. is NOT available for this position.

Benefits Overview

ConocoPhillips offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and career growth:

• Taking Care of Your Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, mental health support, and wellness programs.

• Supporting and Building Financial Security: Competitive base pay, annual performance bonuses, and retirement savings plans.

• Promoting Work-Life Balance: Paid time off, paid parental leave, and family support resources.

• Offering Career Development: Access to training, mentoring, and internal career mobility tools.

• Guiding Recognition & Inclusion: Peer-nominated awards, inclusive culture, and employee resource groups.

Why ConocoPhillips

At ConocoPhillips, we believe our people power the future of energy. We’re committed to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow—professionally and personally.

We don’t just offer jobs—we offer meaningful careers in a company that values how we work as much as what we achieve.

EEO:

In the US, ConocoPhillips is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.