Job Title: Senior Drilling Engineer - Deepwater

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Malaysian candidates only)

Contract: 24-month renewable contract

Overview

A major oil and gas operator is seeking a Senior Drilling Engineer with deepwater expertise to lead the planning and execution of complex offshore wells. The role focuses on deepwater well design, riser and subsea systems, and high-specification drilling operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective well delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Deepwater Well Engineering & Design

• Lead design of deepwater and ultra-deepwater wells, including casing design, riser analysis, and BOP/wellhead specifications
• Conduct advanced pore pressure and fracture gradient studies, shallow hazard assessments, and wellbore stability modelling
• Develop detailed well programs, equipment specifications, AFEs, time/cost curves, and barrier philosophies

Execution & Operational Support

• Provide real-time engineering support during offshore drilling campaigns on DP rigs and deepwater floaters
• Manage critical deepwater operations including riser running/pulling, BOP testing, dual-gradient or managed-pressure drilling, and deepwater cementing
• Troubleshoot complex well issues such as kicks, shallow water flows, wellbore instability, and casing wear challenges

Subsea & Rig Interface Management

• Collaborate with subsea engineering on wellhead systems, tree designs, connectors, and BOP stack configurations
• Coordinate with drilling contractors to ensure rig readiness and emergency disconnect sequences compliance
• Lead verification and audits for subsea equipment integrity and operational readiness

HSE, Regulatory & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with deepwater well control standards and regulatory requirements
• Lead risk assessments, DWOP sessions, HAZOP/HAZID, and well control emergency response planning
• Promote a strong HSE culture and operational excellence

Vendor, Contract & Performance Management

• Engage with service companies for deepwater tools and technologies (LWD/MWD, MPD, liner hangers, cementing)
• Support tendering, contract evaluation, and vendor performance reviews
• Drive continuous improvement via post-well reviews and technical innovation

Technical Leadership & Collaboration

• Integrate subsurface, subsea, completions, and marine teams for optimized well delivery
• Mentor junior engineers and build deepwater capability across the wells organisation
• Prepare technical documentation and present designs and performance updates to senior leadership

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline
• 10-15+ years of drilling engineering experience with significant deepwater exposure
• Proficiency with deepwater well engineering software (WellPlan, Compass, StressCheck, Drillbench, WellCat)
• Experience on DP deepwater floaters (6th/7th generation), subsea BOP systems, and riser operations
• IWCF or IADC Well Control certification at Supervisor level
• Strong project management, communication, and leadership skills