Senior Drilling Engineer (Group)
The role
Ad Terra Group is hiring a Senior Drilling Engineer, based in Geneva, to own well design and drilling execution for the whole group. This is an in-house role serving all our companies: drilling is a core competence we want to fully integrate, given the number of wells planned over the coming years.
You will deliver drilling engineering to our operating companies — deep geothermal and lithium brines first, as well as natural helium and native hydrogen — and to Ad Terra's third-party consulting clients.
You will also help drive the group's AI transformation in drilling, bringing data and digital tools into how wells are planned, drilled and reviewed.
The role is designed to grow with the group's drilling activity, with scope to take on broader technical leadership over time.
About Ad Terra Group
Ad Terra Group is a Geneva-based multi-resource energy platform — the E&P platform for energy, metals and critical elements. Its wells follow a conventional E&P approach, but also require dedicated expertise in new drilling technologies.
Company ResourceWhat you would support
SGE - Swiss Geo Energy Deep geothermal Lead drilling engineering on Swiss projects, starting with the Éclépens pilot
LiCAN Resources Lithium and bromine from brines Well design and drilling for brine extraction programs
45-8 Energy Natural helium and native hydrogen Support and peer review alongside the in-house drilling team
Ad Terra Consulting Third-party mandates Drilling expertise on client projects, including international O&G work
Key responsibilities
- Support the group's AI transformation in drilling: data-driven well planning, real-time monitoring, performance analytics and digital tools across all projects.
- Design wells end to end, from the Basis of Design (BOD) to casing and cementing programs, trajectories, mud, completion, workover and well testing design, materials for corrosive brines and H₂/He, and well integrity through to plugging and abandonment (P&A).
- Prepare drilling programs, cost estimates (AFEs) and schedules; build the business case with each OpCo.
- Lead rig and service-contractor selection, run tendering processes and carry out the technical evaluation of drilling contracts, contract strategy and insurance.
- Supervise operations on site when needed and remotely otherwise; act as the group's technical authority on drilling.
- Own drilling risk: well control, HSE, induced seismicity, aquifer protection, lost circulation, pore pressure, wellbore stability in fractured and karstified formations.
- Prepare technical files for permits and regulators in Europe, North America and APAC.
- Contribute to consulting mandates: reviews, audits, drilling plans and expert opinions for clients.
- Build the group's drilling standards and lessons-learned base, and mentor junior engineers.
Profile and experience
- At least 15 years of drilling engineering experience, mostly in oil and gas, with both office design and wellsite exposure.
- Proven experience drilling carbonate reservoirs.
- Proven experience in fractured formations: losses, stability, and the drilling and completion choices they drive.
- International track record across several basins and operators, onshore and preferably offshore.
- Strong knowledge of the drilling contractor and well-services market, and of tendering processes.
- Deep, high-temperature or high-pressure wells, hard-rock drilling and advanced technologies (e.g. MPD) are a strong plus; geothermal, helium or hydrogen experience is welcome but not required.
- Degree in petroleum, drilling or mechanical engineering, or equivalent; IWCF or IADC well-control certification.
- Fluent English; French and German are a plus.
- Recognized references in the discipline and genuine interest in the energy transition.
Personal qualities
- Energetic, hands-on and motivated by building something new, not by managing a large legacy organization.
- Creative problem-solver: able to adapt proven O&G practice to new resources and to frontier wells.
- Comfortable working across several companies and priorities at once, with the autonomy of a consultant.
- Clear communicator with management, partners, contractors and regulators.
Terms
- Location Geneva, Switzerland - at the foot of the Alps, ideal for those who love the mountains
- Workload 100%
- Travel Regular travel to well sites and clients projects, in Switzerland and abroad.
- Start date As soon as possible
- Package Competitive base salary plus bonus, in line with the Geneva market
How to Apply
Thank you for considering joining our team. We look forward to reviewing your application!
Skills Required
- At least 15 years of drilling engineering experience, primarily in oil and gas, including office design and wellsite exposure
- Proven experience drilling carbonate reservoirs
- Proven experience in fractured formations, including losses, stability, and drilling and completion decisions
- International experience across multiple basins and operators, onshore and preferably offshore
- Strong knowledge of drilling contractors, well services, and tendering processes
- Degree in petroleum, drilling, or mechanical engineering, or equivalent
- IWCF or IADC well-control certification
- Fluent English
- Deep, high-temperature, or high-pressure wells; hard-rock drilling; or advanced technologies such as MPD
- Geothermal, helium, or hydrogen experience
- French and German language skills
- Recognized professional references in drilling engineering
- Willingness to travel regularly to well sites and client projects internationally
What We Do
Ad Terra is a Swiss energy group that designs, invests in and operates energy solutions providing significant environmental benefits and attractive financial returns. Its three branches are Ad Terra Energy, which operates geothermal, direct lithium extraction, natural hydrogen, solar and energy storage projects; Ad Terra Synergy, an investment platform for innovative energy technologies; and Ad Terra Consultancy, which provides technical, commercial and strategic expertise to the energy sector.
