Drilling Solutions Engineer

Cathedral Energy Services; Midland (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Altitude Energy Partners is seeking a Drilling Solutions Engineer to support technical drilling performance, optimization, and execution across drilling services operations. The role interfaces with Operations, Field, Sales, Engineering, and customers to implement drilling solutions that improve efficiency, reliability, and well execution.

The candidate will analyze historical and real-time data, evaluating drilling dynamics, BHA performance, and tool selection to optimize parameters and

Qualifications

• Requires high school diploma or equivalent and an engineering-related technical degree or certification.
• Minimum five years in drilling engineering, directional drilling, or related oilfield service roles.
• Experience analyzing drilling performance data and supporting drilling operations is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Analyze historical and real-time drilling data to identify trends and optimization opportunities.
• Recommend equipment selection and BHA configurations based on well objectives and formation characteristics.
• Support directional drilling planning and execution, including well plans and survey requirements.
• Provide technical support during job execution and troubleshoot drilling or downhole tool issues.
• Review objectives, offset performance, and risks during pre-job planning.
• Conduct post-job performance analyses and identify improvement opportunities.
• Participate in failure investigations and root-cause analysis.
• Develop and standardize drilling performance reports and KPIs.
• Coach field and customer personnel in drilling performance monitoring and optimization.

Skills

Downhole tools

Directional drilling

Drilling dynamics

BHA optimization

Drilling parameter optimization

Survey management

Data analysis

Microsoft Office

Education

Engineering degree preferred

High School Diploma

Tools

Drilling analysis software

Torque and drag modelling

Job description

About the Opportunity

Altitude Energy Partners is seeking a Drilling Solutions Engineer to support technical drilling performance, optimization, and execution across drilling services operations. This role works closely with Operations, Field, Sales, Engineering, and customer personnel to develop and implement drilling solutions that improve performance, efficiency, reliability, and overall well execution.

The successful candidate will analyze historical and real-time drilling data, drilling dynamics, and well objectives to optimize drilling parameters, BHA and equipment selection, directional drilling performance, and post-job results. This position provides technical support and recommendations throughout pre-job planning, execution, troubleshooting, customer engagement, and continuous improvement activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze historical and real-time drilling data to identify drilling trends, dysfunction, performance gaps, and opportunities for optimization.
• Use drilling analysis tools, parameter comparisons, and torque and drag modelling where applicable to evaluate performance and provide technical recommendations.
• Monitor drilling parameters and recommend adjustments to improve drilling efficiency, directional performance, and downhole tool performance.
• Support equipment selection and optimization, including bit, BHA, motor, and downhole tool combinations based on well objectives, formation characteristics, ROP, durability, and application requirements.
• Assist with directional drilling planning and execution, including well plans, survey requirements, BHA performance, and drilling parameter optimization.
• Provide technical support to Operations and field personnel during job execution and troubleshoot drilling or downhole tool performance issues.
• Review well objectives, offset performance, equipment selection, BHA configuration, drilling parameters, and operational risks during pre-job planning.
• Conduct post-job performance analysis to evaluate drilling results, service quality, equipment performance, and opportunities for improvement.
• Participate in failure investigations and root cause analysis, providing technical input on operational, application, and equipment-related factors.
• Identify service quality and performance trends and recommend improvements to Operations, Engineering, Repair and Maintenance, and management.

• Develop strong working relationships with customer office personnel, field supervision, rig personnel, and other key stakeholders.
• Work directly with customers to understand drilling objectives and provide technical recommendations based on operational requirements and performance data.
• Support customer meetings, presentations, performance reviews, and incident analysis as required.
• Provide feedback to internal and external engineering groups on field performance, tool functionality, reliability, testing requirements, and product improvement opportunities.
• Assist with the development and standardization of drilling performance reports, KPIs, well summaries, and other technical deliverables.
• Coach and support field and customer personnel in drilling performance monitoring, optimization techniques, and best practices.
• Maintain current knowledge of drilling technologies, downhole tools, industry practices, customer requirements, and market developments.
• Support Sales and Business Development with technical information and presentations as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required.
• Technical degree, certification, or degree in an Engineering discipline is preferred.
• Minimum of five years of experience in drilling engineering, directional drilling, drill-site operations, drilling optimization, or a related oil and gas service role.
• Experience supporting drilling operations and analyzing drilling performance data is preferred.

Skills and Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of downhole drilling tools and directional drilling operations.
• Strong understanding of the well construction process, including directional drilling and M/LWD operations.
• Knowledge of drilling dynamics, drilling dysfunction identification, drilling parameter optimization, and performance analysis.
• Ability to understand and recommend conventional BHA configurations used to hold, build, or drop inclination based on drilling requirements.
• Understanding of directional well planning, survey management, dogleg severity, build rate, walk rate, magnetic declination, and grid declination.
• Ability to analyze drilling data and translate findings into practical operational recommendations.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to anticipate operational challenges and develop recommendations or procedures to minimize or resolve issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate technical information to field personnel, customers, and management.
• Ability to work effectively with Operations, Engineering, Sales, Repair and Maintenance, field personnel, and customers.
• Proficiency with drilling analysis, data visualization, and Microsoft Office applications applicable to the position.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects and work independently with minimal supervision or as part of a team.
• Willingness to travel as required.

Competencies

• Strong analytical and technical problem-solving skills.
• Strong understanding of drilling performance and optimization principles.
• Ability to evaluate drilling parameters, BHA performance, and downhole behaviour to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ability to apply technical knowledge and field experience to improve drilling performance across individual wells and larger-scale projects.
• Ability to communicate technical recommendations and lessons learned across Operations, Engineering, Sales, customers, and field teams.
• Strong customer focus and the ability to develop effective professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrates initiative, sound judgment, accountability, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced operational environment.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to play a key technical role in drilling performance improvement, customer support, and applied drilling optimization. The Drilling Solutions Engineer will contribute directly to safe, efficient, and reliable well execution while working with experienced operations, technical, engineering, and field teams.