Lead Subsea Drilling Engineer

Location: Mexico

Employment Type: Full Time

Working Arrangement: Onshore (with offshore interface during drilling operations)

The Lead Subsea Drilling Engineer will lead the engineering design, planning, and execution of drilling activities for a major offshore development project.

The position serves as the technical authority for drilling engineering, ensuring that drilling designs, operational programs, and execution strategies meet Company standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices while maintaining the highest HSES standards.

The role works closely with wells management, drilling engineers, completion engineers, subsurface teams, supply chain, and service providers to deliver safe, efficient, and cost-effective drilling operations.

Drilling Engineering Leadership

• Lead the design and engineering of drilling programs for offshore subsea wells.
• Ensure drilling strategies align with project objectives, operational constraints, and safety requirements.
• Act as the project’s technical authority for drilling engineering.
• Ensure compliance with Company standards and international industry practices.

Operations Preparation & Execution

• Prepare and review drilling programs, operational procedures, well schematics, and cost estimates.
• Monitor well construction activities with the rig team and provide guidance during execution of the drilling program.
• Ensure drilling operations are conducted safely, efficiently, and according to approved plans.
• Coordinate offshore drilling activities and follow up operational performance.

Technical Coordination

• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams including:
  • Wells management
  • Completion engineering
  • Subsurface teams
  • Subsea engineering
  • HSE
  • Supply chain and procurement
  • Production and operations teams
• Ensure drilling design integrates properly with subsea infrastructure and field development plans.

Contractor & Vendor Management

• Manage technical interfaces with drilling service companies and equipment suppliers.
• Support procurement strategies and evaluation of drilling service providers.
• Ensure delivery of reliable and innovative drilling solutions.

Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

• Identify operational risks and implement mitigation measures.
• Participate in readiness reviews, service quality meetings, and risk assessments.
• Conduct post-well evaluations and capture lessons learned to improve future drilling operations.

Team Development

• Provide mentoring and technical guidance to junior drilling engineers.
• Promote knowledge transfer and competence development within the wells team.

• Ensure all activities are carried out safely and comply with regulatory requirements and Company HSE procedures.
• Promote strong safety culture across engineering and operational teams.
• Participate in risk assessments and operational safety reviews.

• Ensure all activities comply with Company ethics and compliance policies.
• Complete mandatory compliance training as required.

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering or related discipline.

• Minimum 20 years of experience in drilling engineering and operations.
• Minimum 7-8 years specifically in offshore subsea drilling projects.
• Strong experience in planning and execution of subsea wells.