Specialist Drilling Researcher Job in Westhill

Aramco is one of the world's largest integrated energy and chemicals companies. Aramco Europe is headquartered in The Hague with offices across the continent. For over 60 years we have supported Aramco with a wide range of activities from facilitating safe and reliable delivery of energy to customers around the globe to pushing for breakthroughs in research and innovation. Our services include in-depth technology advice and support in established and emerging sectors of oil, gas and energy, as well as finance, HR, legal, PR and communications.

About the Company: At Aramco Europe, we believe in the power of energy to transform lives, strengthen communities, and support human progress. We connect people, projects, and markets to help deliver reliable energy solutions around the world while advancing innovation and sustainability. Our European research centres play a key role in developing next-generation technologies that address some of the industry's most complex challenges. Through collaboration, scientific excellence, and a commitment to innovation, we support the development of technologies that improve operational performance, enhance safety, and contribute to a more sustainable energy future.

Job Purpose: We are seeking an experienced Specialist Researcher to join our research team in Aberdeen. This is a senior technical position for an individual with deep expertise in drilling technologies, applied research, and technology development. The successful candidate will serve as a recognised subject matter expert, leading advanced research into complex and emerging drilling challenges. You will help define research priorities, provide scientific leadership across significant areas of the drilling research programme, and develop innovative technologies that can be translated into practical engineering solutions.

Responsibilities:

• Lead advanced applied research into drilling performance, wellbore stability, drilling fluids, hydraulics, drill-string dynamics, formation interaction, equipment reliability, and emerging drilling technologies.
• Identify high-value research opportunities, define priorities, and develop proposals, roadmaps, and portfolio recommendations aligned with operational and strategic objectives.
• Develop, test, and validate drilling technologies, tools, materials, methodologies, and digital solutions through laboratory studies, simulations, field trials, and operational pilots.
• Enhance research methods, analytical models, processes, and technical approaches to improve quality, efficiency, repeatability, and practical application.
• Provide expert advice on complex drilling challenges, integrating scientific evidence, operational data, and engineering expertise to identify root causes and recommend solutions.
• Analyse data, identify trends, and communicate findings and recommendations to technical, operational, and management stakeholders.
• Apply advanced analytics, predictive modelling, machine learning, and data-driven techniques to improve drilling performance, risk management, technology evaluation, and operational decision-making.
• Develop business cases and funding proposals, assess technical and commercial value, and support measurement of realised operational benefits.
• Monitor and evaluate emerging technologies including AI, automation, robotics, advanced materials, digital solutions, and lower-carbon drilling technologies.
• Translate research outcomes into engineering solutions, operating practices, technical standards, methodologies, decision-support tools, and implementation plans.
• Lead field trials, technology demonstrations, and pilot programmes, overseeing qualification, readiness assessments, deployment planning, and scale-up activities.
• Ensure research activities and proposed technologies comply with HSE, regulatory, technical assurance, ethical, and governance requirements.
• Provide scientific leadership across multiple projects or major research programmes, managing priorities, risks, dependencies, resources, and delivery outcomes.
• Build and maintain relationships with universities, research institutes, technology providers, drilling contractors, service companies, and industry organisations.
• Protect confidential information and intellectual property, support patents and invention disclosures, and ensure compliance with research governance requirements.
• Provide specialist guidance on policies, procedures, technical matters, and business processes.
• Support adherence to organisational policies, regulatory requirements, and professional standards.
• Deliver agreed objectives and maintain high standards of individual performance and accountability.
• Act as a recognised subject matter expert, maintain professional accreditation where applicable, and support capability building through continuous professional development, mentoring, and knowledge sharing.

Education: Candidates should possess a Master's degree or PhD in Drilling Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, Chemical Engineering, Data Science applied to Engineering, or another closely related technical discipline. A Bachelor's degree combined with significant technology-development and field-deployment experience may also be considered. Equivalent professional experience may be accepted in place of formal academic qualifications where candidates can demonstrate exceptional technical expertise and achievement within the relevant field.

Experience: We are seeking an accomplished engineering and research professional with typically 12+ years of relevant experience in drilling technology, applied research, engineering, or a related upstream discipline. Extensive experience designing and delivering advanced applied research programmes focused on complex drilling challenges. Proven success developing and validating drilling technologies, tools, materials, software applications, or technical methodologies. Experience applying experimental methods, advanced analytics, simulation, statistical techniques, and modelling approaches to solve operational challenges. A strong track record of resolving complex, non-routine drilling problems by combining scientific evidence, engineering judgement, and operational experience. Demonstrated experience leading significant research projects or technical workstreams and translating research outputs into practical operational solutions.

Managerial/Mentoring Experience: The role typically requires between two and four years of experience providing technical leadership, mentoring, coaching, or strategic guidance to experienced engineers, researchers, and specialists. You will be expected to support the development of technical capability within the organisation, transfer critical knowledge, influence professional standards, and help prepare future technical leaders to address increasingly complex operational and research challenges.

Additional – Optional/Advantageous: The following qualifications and experience would be considered advantageous: Chartered Engineer (CEng) status through the Engineering Council UK or an equivalent professional accreditation. European Engineer (EUR ING) recognition through FEANI. PRINCE2 Practitioner, PMP, or similar project management certification. A proven history of innovation through patents, invention disclosures, technology commercialisation, or field-deployed technologies. Experience managing large research programmes, technology portfolios, or multidisciplinary technical initiatives. Recognised contributions to industry research, technical publications, conferences, or professional organisations.