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

State of Louisiana; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 58,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Louisiana, Office of Permitting & Compliance – Permitting, in Baton Rouge, seeks a Petroleum Scientist 1, 2, or 3 to oversee permitting and regulatory analyses for oil and gas operations.

The incumbent reports to the Petroleum Scientist Manager 1. The role involves processing permits and financial securities, evaluating projects, and ensuring compliance with state regulations. Eligible salaries reflect SER ranges and qualifications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in geoscience or engineering.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Assist in directing permitting activities for drilling operations throughout the state.
• Issue permits to drill, amendments, and determine requirements for such permits.
• Respond to inquiries from industry and citizens via telephone, fax, e-mail and mail.
• Process applications under the Severance Tax Relief Program (S.T.R.P.).
• Ensure proposed wells are in compliance with field orders and will optimize hydrocarbon drainage.
• Advertise legal notices for substitute and alternate unit wells and notify stakeholders properly.
• Conduct studies, evaluations, economic feasibility determinations, and analysis for proposed projects at public hearings.
• Ensure proper commingling and measurement of gas and liquid hydrocarbons.
• Review and approve applications for measurement and custody transfer of liquid hydrocarbons under Statewide Order 29-G-1 (LACT).
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Education

Geoscience or Engineering degree

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

This Petroleum Scientist 1, 2, or 3 position is located within the Permitting Division of the Office Permitting & Compliance and is domiciled in Baton Rouge, LA. The incumbent in this position reports to the Petroleum Scientist Manager 1. All work is performed in accordance with departmental policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.

Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• 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.

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.