SUMMARY
The Senior Petroleum Engineer will provide advanced technical and economic advisory support to mineral owners, Federal Regional and Agency Offices, and the Department of the Interior (DOI) to promote the development of conventional energy resources. The position involves a broad spectrum of responsibilities, including technical analysis, economic evaluation, marketing support, and direct liaison with mineral owners and industry partners. As a Senior Petroleum Engineer, you will serve in a leadership capacity, potentially with supervisory responsibilities, and will be responsible for the day-to-day direction of technical work under the federal department lead function.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serves as a leadership position within the Petroleum Engineer labor category, providing expert engineering support and applying advanced petroleum engineering methodologies to diverse oil and gas projects on mineral rich lands.
- Responsible for the day-to-day direction of technical work as required by specific work orders, including generating well decline forecasts, future production forecasts, remaining reserve analyses, and stimulation recommendations.
- May be expected to perform supervisory responsibilities, overseeing well workovers, pipeline design analyses, facility design, and providing guidance on potential field expansion projects while reporting to the On-Site Lead and Project Manager.
- Generates comprehensive economic evaluations and sensitivity analyses for oil and gas operations to provide mineral owners with potential income forecasts and critical negotiating information for Indian Mineral Development Act (IMDA) agreements.
- Performs sophisticated reservoir simulations and characterizations to maximize oil and gas production and conducts well log analyses to identify potential bypassed production.
- Acts as a primary technical specialist and liaison between mineral owners, federal agencies, and commercial contractors on complex project issues, processes, and methods related to both conventional and unconventional resource plays.
- Evaluate grant applications from tribal organizations for the Energy and Mineral Development Program (EMDP), providing technical assessments and recommendations.
- Monitors assigned grants throughout their entire lifecycle, ensuring compliance, tracking progress, and providing technical assistance to tribal grantees to support successful project outcomes.
- Formulates and recommends comprehensive plans for the development of oil, gas, and other mineral deposits.
- Provides essential oil, gas, and mineral training and education to Tribal communities, enhancing their capacity for self-determination and resource management.
- Supports the marketing and promotion of Tribal energy resources by assisting in the creation of technical presentations and displays for industry trade shows and forums.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Technical Capacity: Advanced petroleum engineering across conventional and unconventional plays including coalbed methane, shallow low-pressure wells, tight gas, and liquids-rich/resource plays. Proficient in horizontal drilling, well construction, and completion strategies (including hydraulic fracturing) from design through execution.
- Quantitative Analysis & Economics: Expert command of resource/reserve estimation methods and classification frameworks; skilled in decline-curve analysis, discounted cash flow, rate-of-return, and present-value modeling to inform development phasing and capital decisions.
- Complex Problem Solving: Ability to evaluate multi-variable field and project challenges integrating geology, petrophysics, drilling/completions, production, facilities, and market factors to assess technical, operational, and financial feasibility and recommend data-driven paths forward.
- Tools & Data Mastery: Deep familiarity with well-log analysis platforms and proficiency with at least one commercial reserves estimation application; comfortable synthesizing subsurface and production datasets into clear, defensible conclusions.
- Communication: Strong technical liaison skills translating complex concepts for diverse stakeholders (Tribal leadership, government officials, industry contractors) and producing clear specifications, reports, and executive-level briefings.
- Leadership and Direction: Provides day-to-day technical direction under work orders; mentors junior engineers/consultants and conducts QA/QC to ensure accuracy, compliance, and on-time delivery.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Petroleum Engineering or closely related discipline; Master’s preferred (e.g., Petroleum Engineering, Reservoir Engineering, Energy Systems). FE required; PE strongly preferred (or ability to obtain within 12 months).
- 6-8 years of progressively responsible experience spanning drilling, completions/stimulation, production operations, petrophysics/log interpretation, and reservoir engineering/economic evaluation across conventional and unconventional plays.
- Demonstrated success in reserves assessment and field development planning using SPE-PRMS/SEC/SK-1300 frameworks: type-curve/decline-curve analysis, material balance, well test analysis (PTA/RTA), and dynamic/static model integration to support bankable development cases.
- Significant experience leading well and facility design: drilling programs (trajectory/BHA, mud/casing design), hydraulic fracturing/completions strategy (stages/fluids/proppant), artificial lift selection, flow assurance, surface facilities (separation, dehydration, compression), and commissioning/O&M documentation plus QA/QC of team deliverables.
- Commercial and regulatory interface experience representing mineral owners/operators (including Tribal mineral owners where applicable) in lease and royalty negotiations, unitization/JOAs, rights-of-way, and permitting; adept at coordinating with regulators (NEPA/NHPA touchpoints), legal, and environmental stakeholders.
- Proven capability in project economics: capex/opex estimating, cash-flow modeling, sensitivities, NPV/IRR, breakeven pricing, and risk registers that inform go/no-go and phasing decisions; contributions to A&D due diligence and development phasing.
- Track record of executive-level presentations and concise decision memos for senior stakeholders (community leadership, boards, investors, federal program managers), translating technical trade-offs and risk mitigations into actionable recommendations.
- Supervisory/mentoring experience directing junior engineers and consultants: establishing work plans, providing day-to-day technical direction, conducting design/calculation reviews, and developing team capability and safety culture.
- Toolset proficiency: reservoir simulation (CMG/ECLIPSE), network/nodal analysis (PIPESIM/PROSPER), economic software (ARIES/PHDWin), petrophysics/log analysis (Techlog/Interactive Petrophysics), production surveillance (OFM/Avocet), and strong Excel-based models; familiarity with GIS a plus.
- Field readiness & HSE: comfortable with rig/site operations, FAT/SAT, start-up/commissioning, and audits; strong knowledge of well integrity management and safety practices (H₂S, LOTO, JSAs); current well-control certification (IADC/IWCF) preferred; willingness to travel to operating sites and community locations.
Work Environment
This job operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers. Work will primarily be performed at the DEMD facility in Lakewood, Colorado, with options for authorized remote work.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time position. Normal business hours align with DEMD’s core hours of 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. Evening and weekend work may occasionally be required to meet project demands.
Travel Requirements
Travel is required to provide support at government or Tribal sites, attend meetings, conduct grant site visits, and represent DEMD at conferences. All travel must be pre-approved by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and will be reimbursed in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations (FTR).
Clearance/License Requirements
- A Public Trust clearance is required for this position. A minimum background investigation (NACI) is required for access to DOI facilities and information systems.
- Must maintain a valid Driver’s License and be insurable under the company insurance program.
Our Values: Native American Owned & Proud | Accountable | Team Focused | Innovative | Visionary | Excellence
AAP/EEO Statement Ho-Chunk, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are considered without regard to age, sex, race, national origin, religion, marital status or physical disability. However, preference may be extended to persons of Indian descent in accordance with applicable laws.
