Lead Reservoir Engineer - Oil & Gas Exploration

Placements24; LegKraal Gate; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work arrangement

Competitive salary

Professional development and training

Health, dental and vision insurance

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly experienced Lead Reservoir Engineer to guide reservoir studies, develop production strategies, and maximize hydrocarbon recovery on global oil and gas projects from a fully remote position.

You will lead field development planning, mentor engineers, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver value, using Eclipse, Petrel RE, and CMG while staying current with EOR techniques.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Petroleum Engineering, Reservoir Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in reservoir engineering in oil and gas.
• Proven expertise with reservoir simulation software (Eclipse, Petrel RE, CMG).
• Strong understanding of reservoir physics, fluid flow in porous media, and EOR techniques.
• Experience with reserve estimation and reporting (SEC, PRMS).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities and mentoring of technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead evaluation and characterization of oil and gas reservoirs, including formation evaluation and core analysis.
• Develop and manage reservoir simulation models to predict performance and optimize recovery.
• Conduct economic evaluations and risk assessments for projects.
• Plan and oversee reservoir data acquisition programs (well testing, production logging).
• Develop and implement reservoir management plans for long-term field viability.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and geoscientists.
• Collaborate with drilling, production, and facilities engineers for integrated field development.
• Stay current with advancements in reservoir engineering technologies and methodologies.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and recommendations for management and stakeholders.
• Contribute to strategic decisions on reserve estimation and asset portfolio management.

Skills

Reservoir engineering

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Education

Master's or PhD in Petroleum/Reservoir Eng

Tools

Eclipse

Petrel RE

CMG

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a globally recognized exploration and production company, is seeking a highly experienced Lead Reservoir Engineer to join their team. This is a fully remote position, offering the unique opportunity to contribute to significant oil and gas exploration and development projects from anywhere in the world, while still supporting operations and strategic planning related to assets in regions like Mahikeng, North West. You will be responsible for leading reservoir studies, developing production strategies, and maximizing hydrocarbon recovery from complex reservoirs. The ideal candidate will possess advanced knowledge of reservoir simulation, formation evaluation, and reservoir management principles. This is a critical leadership role for an expert engineer looking to drive value in the upstream energy sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the evaluation and characterization of oil and gas reservoirs, including formation evaluation, core analysis, and log interpretation.
• Develop and manage comprehensive reservoir simulation models to predict reservoir performance and optimize recovery strategies.
• Conduct economic evaluations and risk assessments for exploration and development projects.
• Plan and oversee reservoir data acquisition programs, including well testing and production logging.
• Develop and implement reservoir management plans to ensure optimal production and long‑term field viability.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior reservoir engineers and geoscientists.
• Collaborate with drilling, production, and facilities engineers to ensure integrated field development.
• Stay current with advancements in reservoir engineering technologies, software, and methodologies.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and recommendations for management and stakeholders.
• Contribute to strategic decision‑making regarding reserve estimation and asset portfolio management.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering, Reservoir Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in reservoir engineering within the oil and gas industry.
• Proven expertise in reservoir simulation software (e.g., Eclipse, Petrel RE, CMG).
• Strong understanding of reservoir physics, fluid flow in porous media, and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques.
• Experience in reserve estimation and reporting (e.g., SEC, PRMS).
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities and experience in mentoring technical teams.
• Experience with unconventional reservoirs is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and effectively in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance‑based bonuses.
• Fully remote work arrangement, offering ultimate flexibility.
• Opportunity to work on challenging and high‑impact upstream projects.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous retirement savings plan with employer matching.
• Extensive professional development and continuous learning support.
• Access to leading‑edge reservoir engineering tools and technologies.
• Be part of an innovative company driving advancements in energy exploration.