Engineer - Petroleum Scientist 1, 2, or 3 (Permitting & Compliance)

DCE-Conservation and Energy; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 58,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

DCE-Conservation and Energy seeks a qualified permitting professional to support the Office of Permitting & Compliance – Permitting in Baton Rouge. This role oversees processing of financial securities, permit-to-drill applications, and related regulatory activities across Louisiana.

The position requires a geoscience or engineering degree and experience in permitting, with responsibilities including issuing permits, responding to inquiries, and ensuring compliance with state orders and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in geoscience field or engineering required.
• Experience with permitting processes and regulatory compliance preferred.

Responsibilities

• Process Financial Security related to Bond, CD, and Letter of Credit for well plugging and abandonment.
• Process applications for Permit to Drill for Minerals for the State of Louisiana.
• Assist in directing permitting activities for drilling operations across the state.
• Issue permits to drill and amendments; determine permit requirements.
• Respond to inquiries via phone, fax, email, and mail.
• Process applications under the ST RP program.
• Ensure wells comply with field orders to optimize drainage.
• Advertise substitute and alternate unit well designations properly.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Data interpretation

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in geoscience or engineering

Job description

Office of Permitting & Compliance – Permitting

The Office of Permitting and Compliance (OPC) oversees all permitting and regulatory functions within the Department, ensuring clarity, consistency, and regulatory integrity. By streamlining processes, accelerating permitting timelines and enhancing data-driven decision-making, the Office ensures compliance with environmental standards while supporting responsible economic development.

OPC centralizes all permitting and compliance functions, aligning engineering, geology, ecology, design, and compliance divisions into a single workflow. Its structure includes integrity and production audits, UIC and storage regulation, groundwater protection, coastal permits and mitigation, and reservoir and legacy site management.

A bachelor’s degree in a geoscience field or engineering.

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties

• Process Financial Security pertaining to Bond, CD, and Letter of Credit posted by operators to cover and insure funds for well plugging and abandonment.
• Process Applications for Permit to Drill for Minerals (original and amended) for the State of Louisiana.
• Responsible for assisting in the direction of permitting activities for drilling operations throughout the state.
• Responsible for the issuance of permits to drill, amendments, and for the determination of the requirements placed on such permits.
• Responds to inquiries from industry and citizens via telephone, fax, electronic mail and regular mail.
• Process applications under the Severance Tax Relief Program (S.T.R.P.).
• Ensure the proposed well or existing well for any application is in compliance with existing field orders and will result in the most efficient and economic drainage of hydrocarbons under consideration.
• Ensure the legal notice for substitute unit well and alternate unit well designation is legally advertised in the correct manner and proper notification is given to ensure the fair and equitable rights of all parties are protected.
• Conducts studies, evaluations, economic feasibility determinations, and analysis of various complex proposed projects to improve the recovery of producing oil and gas reservoirs submitted at public hearings for approval.
• Ensure the commingling of gas and/or liquid hydrocarbons and the use of methods will provide reasonable accurate measurement, will not create inequities, etc.
• Responsible for the review and approval of applications for the measurement and transfer of custody of liquid hydrocarbons required by Statewide Order 29-G-1 (LACT).
• May perform other duties as assigned.

POSITION-SPECIFIC DETAILS

Appointment Type: Probational

Career Progression: This position does participate in a Career Progression Group Petroleum Scientist 1, 2, or 3.

Work Schedule: Work hours are flexible.

Compensation: The salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.This position is eligible for premium pay of up to $2.00 per hour for licensed employees. A Special Entrance Rate (SER) is offered to qualified applicants.

• ENGINEERING DEGREE (NON-PETROLEUM)/GEOLOGY or GEOSCIENCE DEGREE
• Title/Level: Petroleum Scientist 1, Petroleum Scientist 2, Petroleum Scientist 3
• Pay Level: TS-312, TS-314, TS-316
• SER Hourly Range: $27.65 - $43.28, $30.55 - $49.55, $33.76 - $56.73
• SER Monthly Range: $4,792.67 - $7,502, $5,295.33 - $8,589, $5,851.73 - $9,833
• SER Annual Range: $57,512 - $90,022, $63,544 - $103,064, $70,220.80 - $117,988
• PETROLEUM ENGINEERING DEGREE
• SER Hourly Range: $28.85 - $43.28, $33.03 - $49.55, $37.82 - $56.73
• SER Monthly Range: $5,000.67 - $7,502, $5,725.20 - $8,589, $6,555.47 - $9,833
• SER Annual Range: $60,008 - $90,022, $68,702.40 - $103,064, $78,665.60 - $117,998

Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.