Specialist Drilling Researcher (Drilling Technology)

Location: Westhill, United Kingdom; the role is based in Aberdeen.

Company

hirify.global supports Aramco through energy and chemicals research, technology development, and operational services across Europe.

What you will do

• Lead advanced applied research into complex drilling, production, completions, intervention, integrity, and subsurface challenges.
• Design, develop, test, and validate drilling technologies, tools, materials, methodologies, and digital solutions through laboratory studies, simulations, field trials, and operational pilots.
• Analyse operational and subsurface data using scientific methods, predictive modelling, machine learning, and AI to identify risks, trends, root causes, and technical solutions.
• Lead research projects and workstreams, managing priorities, dependencies, technical risks, funding proposals, and value realisation.
• Translate research findings into engineering solutions, technical standards, operating practices, decision-support tools, and implementation strategies.
• Build partnerships with universities, research institutes, technology providers, operators, and industry organisations while providing technical leadership and mentoring.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree in petroleum engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, applied physics, or a related engineering or scientific discipline.
• Typically 15+ years of relevant experience in drilling technology, research, engineering, or a related upstream discipline.
• Strong expertise in at least one drilling technology discipline and an understanding of broader drilling and well construction systems.
• Track record of delivering applied research, developing and validating technologies, and progressing solutions from concept through field deployment.
• Experience solving complex technical challenges with scientific evidence, operational data, modelling, and engineering judgement.
• Strong communication skills for technical reports, scientific publications, presentations, management briefings, and research documentation.

Nice to have

• Advanced analytics, machine learning, AI, digital technologies, predictive modelling, or automation experience applied to drilling operations.
• Chartered Engineer or European Engineer recognition.
• PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification.
• Experience with patents, invention disclosures, technology licensing, or commercially deployed technologies.
• Recognised technical innovation and industry leadership.

Culture & Benefits

• Work on high-impact research supporting safer, more efficient, and more sustainable drilling operations.
• Collaborate with leading experts across research, engineering, operations, academia, and the wider energy industry.
• Contribute to next-generation technologies addressing complex energy-sector challenges.
• Support professional development through industry engagement, conferences, publications, knowledge sharing, and technical capability building.