Research Engineer

00100 LEIDOS, INC.; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Presencial; USD 75.000 - 85.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Leidos in Pittsburgh is seeking a Research Engineer to design, conduct, and troubleshoot experiments advancing oil recovery from unconventional reservoirs. You will work in a lab with HPHT systems, XRD/CT/SEM, PVT, and core-flood apparatus to characterize rocks and fluids under simulated subsurface conditions.

You will join NETL’s Production team, performing interfacial science and reservoir-scale studies, collaborating with geologists, chemists, and engineers to push the boundaries of EOR

Formación

• Hands-on interfacial science experience: contact angle, interfacial tension, wettability studies.
• Experience operating rock/fluid characterization instruments (XRD, CT, SEM, PVT).
• Experience in high‑pressure/high‑temperature experiments and core flooding.
• Ability to design, run and troubleshoot lab experiments under simulated reservoir conditions.

Responsabilidades

• Conduct rock characterization and oil saturation mapping using advanced lab instruments.
• Perform PVT, interfacial tension, contact angle, and wettability assessments to optimize fluids.
• Design and execute experiments simulating reservoir conditions for EOR and measure hydrocarbon recovery.
• Operate and maintain HPHT systems and core flood apparatus for multiphase flow studies.
• Evaluate fracture conductivity, proppant performance, and geomechanical properties.
• Prepare technical reports and present findings; collaborate with interdisciplinary teams.

Conocimientos

Petrophysics

Rock characterization

PVT analysis

Interfacial science

Wettability testing

HPHT testing

Core flooding

XRD

SEM

CT scanning

Laboratory operations

Educación

Bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering or related field

Herramientas

XRD

CT scanners

SEM

PVT systems

Core flood setup

Descripción del empleo

Leidos is seeking an exceptional and motivated Research Engineer with a passion for hands‑on laboratory research to support the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Pittsburgh, PA. In this role you will work directly in the laboratory designing, conducting, and troubleshooting experiments focused on improving oil recovery from unconventional reservoirs. This role involves operating advanced laboratory equipment, high‑pressure/high‑temperature test systems, and diagnostic instruments to characterize reservoir rocks, fluids, and fluid‑rock interactions under simulated subsurface conditions. Specifically, you will work with NETL’s Production team to address the challenges of low permeability and complex fluid dynamics in shale formations by developing and testing secondary recovery methods, such as the injection of water, natural gas, or carbon dioxide with additives. This position offers extensive opportunities for hands‑on experimentation while collaborating with experts in reservoir engineering, subsurface geochemistry, fluid characterization, geomechanics, and advanced imaging technologies. Through laboratory testing and applied research, you will contribute to the development and optimisation of innovative oil recovery technologies that advance DOE’s fossil energy mission and support scientific and technological breakthroughs in unconventional resource development. What this opportunity with Leidos supporting NETL uniquely provides you: Working on applied, cutting‑edge projects with global impact while being mentored by the nation’s leading energy scientists and engineers. Real‑world experience supplemented with technical development and discussions that provide unique insight into the broad range of mission‑critical engineering and scientific disciplines NETL leverages to support national energy research and policy development. Access to world‑class, customised facilities and computational assets specific to high impact energy research, technology generation, and product development. Support proposal development focused on expanding industry and scientific partnerships and developing new technical opportunities for NETL with federal guidance.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Conduct hands‑on rock characterization experiments, including oil saturation mapping, mineralogical analysis, and measurement of porosity and permeability using advanced laboratory instrumentation.
• Perform fluid characterization testing, including pressure‑volume‑temperature (PVT) analysis, interfacial tension measurements, contact angle testing, wettability assessment, and evaluation of chemical additives to optimise fluid performance.
• Design, execute, and troubleshoot laboratory experiments that simulate reservoir conditions to evaluate enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes, quantify hydrocarbon recovery, and identify dominant recovery mechanisms under a range of injection scenarios.
• Operate and maintain high‑pressure/high‑temperature (HPHT) experimental systems and core flood apparatus to evaluate fluid‑rock interactions, multiphase flow behaviour, and recovery performance.
• Conduct laboratory testing to evaluate fracture conductivity, proppant performance, and geomechanical properties under varying stress and reservoir conditions.
• Perform extensive and comprehensive literature reviews and summarise the state of knowledge for various topics relevant to enhanced oil recovery.
• Prepare technical reports, publications, and presentations documenting experimental methods, data analysis, and research findings.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team, including geologists, geographers, chemists, computer scientists, environmental scientists, and other researchers to accomplish project‑related tasks.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering or related scientific/engineering field with 3+ years relevant and hands‑on experience. Higher‑level degree may be considered as a substitute for experience.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience conducting interfacial science experiments, including contact angle measurements, interfacial tension testing, wettability characterization, and wettability alteration studies.
• Practical experience operating and troubleshooting laboratory instrumentation such as XRD, CT scanners, SEM, PVT systems, and other rock and fluid characterization equipment.
• Experience preparing samples, conducting experiments, collecting data, and interpreting results related to mineralogy, petrophysical properties, and fluid‑rock interactions.
• Hands‑on experience operating high‑pressure/high‑temperature experimental equipment and performing laboratory investigations of multiphase flow in porous media.
• Experience designing, executing, and analysing core flooding, fluid injection, or enhanced oil recovery experiments under simulated reservoir conditions.
• Working knowledge of chemical EOR systems, including surfactants, polymers, gases, and associated laboratory evaluation techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to independently plan experiments, maintain detailed laboratory records, troubleshoot test setups, and communicate technical findings.
• Ability to meet the requirement for gaining access to work on the NETL campus.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience utilising Nuclear Magnetic Resonance scanning for oil saturation mapping.
• Experience interpreting complex experimental data using tools like python or MATLAB.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Salary Range for this position: $75,000 to $85,000

Pay Range: $69,550.00 - $125,725.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available here.

Commitment and Diversity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.