Description
The Well Construction Advisor is the primary technical authority for well construction design across Fervo's Drilling and Completions teams. Reporting to the Director of Drilling and Completions and based in Houston, TX, this individual leads casing and tubing design, provides engineering assurance on well construction decisions, and develops the internal capabilities of the D&C team through structured teaching and mentorship. The role sits at the intersection of engineering rigor and operational practicality, translating complex analysis into design standards and field-ready guidance that teams can act on with confidence.
This position does not require routine field travel, though opportunities to visit Fervo's field operations will be available. Success in this role requires the ability to work collaboratively across disciplines, communicate technical recommendations to both engineers and executive stakeholders, and bring a builder's mindset to developing standards and practices that will scale with Fervo's growth.
Requirements
Responsibilities
WellCat Design & Casing/Tubing Engineering
- Lead primary well design for drilling and completions using WellCat, encompassing casing design, connection selection, load case development, and wellbore integrity evaluation
- Conduct casing and tubing stress analysis for drilling, completions, stimulation, and intervention operations, including thermal and mechanical loading scenarios
- Evaluate wellhead and conductor load capacity for drilling, frac, production, and intervention applications, and develop design recommendations to meet operational requirements
- Support liner hanger and seal assembly design evaluations, including compatibility and suitability assessments for non-standard casing configurations
- Develop and maintain well design templates and load case libraries that support consistent, repeatable engineering across Fervo's well program
Technical Assurance & Engineering Standards
- Serve as the primary technical reviewer and assurance authority for well construction design across the D&C team
- Develop and maintain well construction engineering standards, design guidelines, and technical procedures that reflect operational learnings and best practices
- Apply risk assessment, hazard analysis, and Management of Change (MOC) processes to well designs, design modifications, and operational procedures
- Support continuous improvement and cost optimization in well construction activities, providing engineering input for both early-stage planning and detailed approvals
- Prepare and present technical documentation and design recommendations for internal reviews and leadership decision-making
Operational Modeling & Cross-Functional Support
- Provide drilling engineering modeling support to operations as required, including torque and drag, casing running analysis, and cementing evaluations
- Collaborate closely with the completions team on WellCat analyses for frac pressure evaluation, well cooling assessments, and intervention planning
- Partner with facilities and completions teams to ensure wellhead and Christmas tree equipment compatibility across Fervo's well programs
- Support cross-functional well planning efforts including coordination with subsurface, reservoir engineering, and facilities teams
Training, Mentorship & Knowledge Development
- Design and deliver structured training programs in well construction engineering, including WellCat, casing design principles, and wellbore integrity, for D&C engineers
- Mentor D&C engineers to build internal well design capabilities and reduce reliance on external expertise over time
- Conduct technical peer reviews and design critiques that elevate the engineering quality of the broader D&C team
- Create and maintain lessons learned, design playbooks, and technical reference materials that preserve institutional knowledge as the team grows
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent technical discipline
- 15+ years of well construction engineering experience, with a track record of technical leadership
- Recognized subject matter expert in WellCat casing and tubing design, with demonstrated application across complex, multi-well programs
- Deep expertise in casing design principles, load case development, connection selection, and wellbore integrity evaluation
- Demonstrated experience providing formal technical assurance on well designs and serving as a go-to engineering authority within an organization
- Proven ability to develop engineering standards, procedures, and training materials that improve team performance and design consistency
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex technical findings to non-specialist stakeholders and executive audiences
Preferred Qualifications
Candidates must also demonstrate expertise in at least one of the following areas:
- Wellhead and Christmas tree design, conductor load analysis, and equipment compatibility evaluation across multi-phase well programs
- Torque and drag modeling for drilling BHAs and coiled tubing, with experience translating model outputs into operational guidance
- Downhole drilling dynamics analysis and autodriller parameter optimization for improved drilling performance
- Liner hanger and seal assembly design and installation engineering for complex casing configurations
- Fiber optic system design and installation operations, including downhole sensing and monitoring integration
Location
Fervo Energy has offices in Houston, TX, Golden, CO, Reno, NV, Oakland, CA, and Salt Lake City, UT. This position will be eligible for some hybrid work flexibility, but regular in-office presence at our Houston Office will be required.
