Remote Principal Drilling Engineer: Lead High-Impact Campaigns

Placements24; Rustenburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 client in the Energy sector seeks a Principal Drilling Engineer near Rustenburg, North West, with a remote work arrangement.

This senior role leads planning, execution, and optimization of complex drilling campaigns, mentors junior engineers, and drives safety, cost control, and compliance.

You will work with subsurface and operations teams, evaluate new technologies, and manage risk, well design, and performance improvement.

Qualifications

• Minimum 12–15 years of progressive drilling engineering experience.
• Master's degree preferred; Bachelor's required.
• Proven leadership and ability to mentor junior engineers.
• Strong remote collaboration and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee drilling plans for complex wells.
• Lead risk assessments and mitigation strategies.
• Optimize drilling parameters and wellbore stability.
• Manage drilling rig selection and contracts.
• Mentor junior engineers and guide teams.
• Ensure safety and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with subsurface and operations teams.
• Implement new drilling technologies.

Skills

Leadership

Drilling operations

Well planning

Risk assessment

Remote collaboration

Communication

Project management

Drilling software

Education

Bachelor's in Petroleum Engineering

Master's degree

Tools

Drilling simulation software

Project management tools

Well control systems

Job description

Placements24 client in the Energy sector seeks a Principal Drilling Engineer near Rustenburg, North West, with a remote work arrangement.

This senior role leads planning, execution, and optimization of complex drilling campaigns, mentors junior engineers, and drives safety, cost control, and compliance.

You will work with subsurface and operations teams, evaluate new technologies, and manage risk, well design, and performance improvement.