Reservoir Engineer (Operational Exploration)

 Fervo is working to build the most cost-effective, repeatable geothermal power plants in the world. Delivering on this mission requires operational excellence across every function — including the production engineering systems, workflows, and technical standards that ensure our geothermal assets operate safely, reliably, and efficiently as we scale. 

Joining Fervo as a Reservoir Engineer focused on field diagnostics and exploration means owning well performance evaluation from test design through interpretation and applying those learnings to prospect maturation and development strategy. This role provides technical guidance, independent evaluation, and analytical support to Resource and Exploration teams. The position is ideal for an engineer who enjoys synthesizing complex diagnostic data, establishing best practices, and informing investment and development decisions across a portfolio. 

This position collaborates closely with Resource, Geoscience, D&C, and Development teams to review plans, interpret results, and provide recommendations that inform execution and portfolio decisions.  

Responsibilities

Reservoir Engineering Ownership  

• Advise Resource teams on the design and objectives of diagnostic programs, including pressure transient tests, interference tests, DFITs, step-rate tests, and completion step-down tests. 
• Independently review and interpret pressure, rate, and temperature data to assess reservoir properties, fracture behavior, and well performance. 
• Evaluate crossflow behavior, injector–producer connectivity, and reservoir compartmentalization to inform development strategy. 
• Provide guidance on lateral rate distribution and zonal performance diagnostics (e.g., PLT/DTS/DAS, tracer programs).  
• Review completion step-down tests, injection/falloff programs, and stimulation diagnostics to assess near-wellbore and fracture performance. 
• Support Exploration teams in prospect screening, reservoir characterization, and early-stage risk assessment. 
• Provide input on location selection and wellbore targeting based on structural, thermal, and permeability models. 
• Define minimum viable data acquisition strategies to evaluate new prospects efficiently and reduce uncertainty. 
• Deliver clear technical recommendations to asset teams to guide optimization, stimulation strategy, and injection management. 
• Promote consistent diagnostic standards and interpretation methodologies across projects. 
• Partner with D&C to refine stage design, cluster efficiency, and stimulation strategy based on observed performance. 
• Integrate diagnostic findings into reservoir models and development plans. 

Team and Culture 

• Operate with technical independence and objectivity while maintaining strong collaborative relationships with asset teams. 
• Provide constructive challenge and thoughtful recommendations grounded in data and engineering principles. 
• Balance rigor with pragmatism in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment. 
• Contribute to a culture of transparency, consistency, and continuous improvement across the portfolio. 
• Be responsive and reliable in remote settings, maintaining momentum without requiring constant oversight. 
• Adapt quickly to shifting priorities, new data, and evolving project scopes. 

Qualifications

Required 

• B.S. in Engineering (Petroleum, Mechanical, Chemical, or related discipline). 
• 4+ years of experience in reservoir engineering, well testing, production engineering, or a related subsurface role; advanced degree may be considered in lieu of experience. 
• Strong understanding of fluid flow in porous and fractured media. 
• Experience interpreting pressure transient tests (drawdown, buildup, interference, falloff). 
• Experience with DFIT analysis and fracture gradient estimation. 
• Familiarity with injection/production diagnostics and completion evaluation. 
• Ability to assess subsurface uncertainty and communicate risk clearly. 
• Strong analytical, synthesis, and communication skills. 

Preferred 

• Experience in geothermal reservoir engineering, enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), or unconventional resource development. 
• Experience supporting multiple assets or working in a centralized technical team. 
• Familiarity with fracture-dominated or thermally driven systems. 
• Experience integrating diagnostic insights into reservoir simulation or forecasting workflows. 
• Experience contributing to exploration screening or prospect maturation processes. 
• Ability to translate detailed technical analysis into executive-level summaries. 

Location

Fervo Energy is headquartered in Houston, TX, with growing offices in Golden, CO, Reno, NV, and Oakland, CA, and Salt Lake City, UT. This position will be eligible for some hybrid work flexibility, but regular in-office presence at the Golden or Houston office will be required. 

Compensation & Benefits

Fervo provides a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, short-term and long-term disability, flexible paid time off, and paid parental leave. Additionally, Fervo offers an incentive stock options program, a bonus incentive program, and a 401(k) plan with an employer match. 

Fervo Energy is providing the compensation range and general description of other compensation and benefits that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and geographic location. Expected Salary: $135,000-$195,000 based on Colorado locality, pay in other locations may vary.

Fervo Energy reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, or federal law.