TECHNICAL MANAGER

As Technical Manager – Rig Automation, you will play a critical role in maximizing the value, utilization, and lifecycle of Nabors' capital investments in rig automation technologies. By establishing fleet-wide capital strategies, leading modernization initiatives, managing automation equipment lifecycles, and coordinating major upgrade programs, this role directly supports safe and efficient rig operations while ensuring automation investments align with operational and long-term fleet requirements.

The Technical Manager – Rig Automation is responsible for the fleet-wide capital equipment strategy, lifecycle management, standardization, modernization, and deployment of rig automation technologies and associated equipment. This role provides strategic and technical leadership for automation-related capital assets, ensuring investments are effectively prioritized, managed, and deployed across the fleet.

Partnering closely with Operations, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Field Support, Finance, and District teams, the Technical Manager develops and executes strategies to improve fleet capability, equipment availability, capital utilization, and operational performance. The role serves as a key resource for automation capital planning, equipment lifecycle decisions, fleet modernization, and major technology deployment programs.
 

Capital Equipment Strategy & Lifecycle Management
•  Develop and manage the fleet-wide capital equipment strategy for rig automation technologies.
•  Maintain visibility of automation capital equipment across the fleet, including equipment type, configuration, location, condition, availability, repair status, and upgrade status.
•  Develop lifecycle strategies for equipment replacement, refurbishment, modernization, redeployment, and disposition.
•  Identify current and future capital requirements based on fleet needs, equipment condition, operational priorities, and technology lifecycle.
•  Drive equipment standardization to improve fleet consistency, interchangeability, and capital utilization.
•  Identify opportunities to redeploy or utilize existing assets before additional capital investment.
•  Support long-range planning for aging, obsolete, or unsupported automation equipment.
Capital Planning & Fleet Modernization
•  Develop short- and long-range capital plans supporting rig automation and fleet modernization requirements.
•  Prioritize capital investments based on operational needs, fleet requirements, equipment availability, lifecycle considerations, and business value.
•  Develop recommendations and business justification for equipment replacement, refurbishment, modernization, and new capital investment.
•  Support annual capital budgeting and multi-year fleet modernization planning.
•  Develop fleet modernization roadmaps and establish priorities for major automation upgrades and technology deployment.
•  Monitor capital expenditures, modernization progress, and future investment requirements.
•  Provide leadership and stakeholders with clear visibility of capital priorities, risks, constraints, and fleet requirements.
Upgrade & Deployment Projects
•  Lead capital upgrade and modernization projects related to rig automation technologies and associated equipment.
•  Develop project scope, schedules, equipment requirements, resource plans, and fleet deployment strategies.
•  Coordinate procurement, equipment preparation, logistics, installation, commissioning, and field deployment activities with internal teams and external vendors.
•  Coordinate deployment schedules around rig operations, rig moves, equipment availability, manpower, and other operational constraints.
•  Track project progress, equipment availability, capital spending, risks, and implementation status.
•  Coordinate field trials and pilot programs for new automation technologies.
•  Support evaluation of new automation equipment based on operational requirements, fleet applicability, capital requirements, and long-term fleet strategy.
•  Capture lessons learned from deployments and incorporate them into future modernization programs.
Capital Spares & Equipment Availability
•  Develop and maintain capital spare strategies for critical rig automation equipment.
•  Establish recommended capital spare requirements based on fleet population, equipment availability, repair cycle, operational exposure, and business risk.
•  Maintain visibility of equipment that is ready for deployment, in service, undergoing repair or refurbishment, or awaiting disposition.
•  Partner with Supply Chain and Maintenance to optimize capital spare levels while minimizing operational risk.
•  Coordinate repair-versus-replacement decisions for major automation capital assets.
•  Identify opportunities to standardize equipment and improve interchangeability across the fleet.
•  Support lifecycle and obsolescence planning for critical automation equipment with extended lead times or limited availability.
Fleet Performance & Cross-Functional Leadership
•  Utilize equipment, operational, maintenance, reliability, and utilization data to support capital investment and lifecycle decisions.
•  Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting for automation equipment populations, upgrade programs, equipment availability, and capital requirements.
•  Monitor completed capital upgrades and modernization initiatives to determine whether intended fleet and operational objectives have been achieved.
•  Identify equipment trends that may support future replacement, refurbishment, modernization, or capital investment decisions.
•  Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Finance, Field Support, and District teams to coordinate capital planning and project execution.
•  Communicate fleet modernization priorities, equipment availability, project status, risks, constraints, and capital requirements to stakeholders and leadership.
•  Coordinate competing fleet requirements to establish equipment and deployment priorities.
•  Drive continuous improvement in the planning, management, deployment, and utilization of automation capital equipment.
 

Minimum Qualifications
•  Bachelor's degree in a related technical or business discipline preferred.
•  Minimum 10 years of experience in drilling equipment, rig automation, capital equipment management, technical operations, asset management, or related areas.
•  Strong understanding of drilling rig operations, rig automation technologies, and associated equipment utilized in land drilling operations.
•  Experience managing capital equipment, fleet upgrades, equipment modernization, or large-scale technology deployments.
•  Experience coordinating procurement, logistics, equipment preparation, installation, commissioning, and field deployment activities.
•  Strong understanding of equipment lifecycle management, asset utilization, and capital planning.
•  Experience managing multiple projects and competing operational priorities.
•  Demonstrated ability to lead fleet-wide initiatives and influence cross-functional teams.
Preferred Qualifications
•  Experience leading fleet-wide automation, technology, or equipment modernization initiatives.
•  Experience developing capital equipment strategies and multi-year fleet modernization plans.
•  Experience with capital budgeting, investment prioritization, and project justification.
•  Experience managing capital spares, equipment repair programs, and lifecycle strategies.
•  Experience utilizing equipment performance and operational data to support capital investment decisions.
•  Experience developing fleet-level asset tracking and capital planning reporting.
•  Experience supporting multiple districts, regions, or international operations.
•  Strong project management and technical leadership experience.