Research Engineering/ Scientist Associate V, Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering

The University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin's Cockrell School of Engineering invites applications for a Research Engineering/Scientist Associate V in the Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering on UT's main campus. The role advances computational methods for quantitative formation evaluation and subsurface interpretation.

Responsibilities include developing electromagnetic forward models, improving solvers, integrating tools into consortium software, and collaborating with sponsors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus eight years of related experience.
• Experience in borehole electromagnetic modeling and inversion.
• Proficiency in MATLAB and Python; experience with Fortran or a comparable compiled language.
• Experience in numerical methods, scientific data analysis, parallel computing, and collaborative software development.
• Strong technical communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate electromagnetic forward models and inversion methods for formation evaluation.
• Improve numerical solvers and performance through parallel and high-performance computing.
• Integrate modeling, inversion, and visualization capabilities into consortium software, including 3D UTAPWeLS.
• Analyze subsurface data and assess model sensitivity and uncertainty.
• Collaborate with researchers and sponsors; prepare documentation, publications, presentations, and user support.

Skills

MATLAB

Python

Parallel computing

Numerical methods

Technical communication

Teamwork

Fortran

Education

Bachelor's degree

PhD preferred

Tools

Fortran

Job description

Job Posting Title

Research Engineering/ Scientist Associate V, Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering

Hiring Department

Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering

Position Open To

All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours

40

FLSA Status

Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date

Immediately

Position Duration

Expected to Continue

Location

UT MAIN CAMPUS

Job Details

General Notes

As a top-10 engineering school with the No. 1 program in Texas, the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) has been a global leader in technology innovation and engineering education for over a century. With 11 undergraduate and 13 graduate programs, over 20 research centers and a faculty community that boasts one of the highest number of National Academy of Engineering members among U.S. universities, Texas Engineering has launched some of the nation's most accomplished leaders and pioneered world-changing solutions in virtually every industry, from space exploration to energy to health care. Situated in the heart of Austin - named "America's Coolest City" by Expedia and "The Best Place to Live in the U.S." by U.S. News and World Report - the Cockrell School embodies the city's innovative spirit. Major companies with Austin campuses, such as Dell, National Instruments, Apple, IBM, Samsung, Google and many others, continue to recruit Cockrell School students at a remarkable rate, launching thousands of successful careers and developing Texas Engineers into industry leaders.

Purpose

Advance computational methods and research software for quantitative formation evaluation, emphasizing multidimensional borehole electromagnetic modeling and resistivity inversion. Develop reliable, efficient tools that translate research advances into practical subsurface interpretation workflows and support consortium research and technology transfer.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate electromagnetic forward models and inversion methods for formation evaluation.
• Improve numerical solvers and performance through parallel and high-performance computing.
• Integrate modeling, inversion, and visualization capabilities into consortium software, including 3D UTAPWeLS.
• Analyze subsurface data and assess model sensitivity and uncertainty.
• Collaborate with researchers and sponsors; prepare documentation, publications, presentations, and user support.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus eight (8) years of related experience.
• Research experience in borehole electromagnetic modeling and inversion.
• Proficiency in MATLAB and Python; experience with Fortran or a comparable compiled language.
• Experience in numerical methods, scientific data analysis, parallel computing, and collaborative software development.
• Strong technical communication and teamwork skills.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in petroleum engineering, energy resources engineering, earth science and engineering, or a related field; postdoctoral research experience.
• Experience with gradient-based and stochastic inversion, UDAR interpretation, 3D anisotropic electromagnetic solvers, and OpenMP, MPI, or GPU computing.
• Experience with UTAPWeLS or comparable software, reservoir simulation, production forecasting, or large well datasets.
• Scientific publications or conference contributions.

Salary Range

$80,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in a standard office environment
• Repetitive use of keyboard at workstation.

Work Shift

• Standard business hours are Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Work outside of normal business hours may be required on an occasional basis during peak times

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• Letter of interest
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

Employment Eligibility

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer,complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university's company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.