Senior Wellbore Engineer - Hybrid

Location: Calgary, Edmonton, AB preferred, any AER office location will be considered.

Employment Type: Full Time – Permanent

Salary Range: SP4, Level 6, $116,960 - $146,200 per year. The final compensation for this position will be determined based on individual factors, including education, qualifications, experience, and internal equity.

Senior Wellbore Engineer - Hybrid

The Opportunity

The In Situ Applications Approvals team is adding a Senior Wellbore Engineer to the team. This role is a great fit for someone who is keen to expand their knowledge of the regulatory environment in Alberta and wants to be an integral part of the decisions that are made by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER). If you are motivated to be part of a team that has a strong emphasis on continuous improvement, inclusive culture, and solving complex problems in drilling and completions, wellbore integrity, abandonment and suspension and thermal compatibility, this position may be the next step in your career.

As a Senior Wellbore Engineer, you will be responsible for engaging with other technical professionals to review applications and submissions relative to provincial policy and AER requirements, clearly identify and articulate risks associated with each activity, liaise with operators and applicants, and support risk-based and outcomes-focused regulatory modernization initiatives. You will make recommendations and decisions on well-related issues in Alberta’s oil sands areas. This can involve all well types, throughout the entire well lifecycle from drilling, through integrity management, to abandonment.

You’ll be supported by In Situ Applications Approvals team members and a broader AER well integrity community of wellbore engineers. The broader group collaborates and ensures a consistent approach is adopted in reviews and recommendations for well integrity related matters across the various energy development sectors within the province to meet the AER’s mandated outcomes.

What your day-to-day will look like:

1. Review and make recommendations and decisions on applications and submissions to ensure new and existing wells are completed, suspended or abandoned in a manner that is compatible with proposed thermal or heavy oil operations, ensuring wellbore regulatory requirements are met.
2. Apply extensive breadth and depth of regulatory knowledge and technical competency to lead and oversee complex files, applying risk-based technical review principles and delivering reviews on time. Support appeals and hearings as needed.
3. Communicate with representatives from regulated parties, the public and government on regulatory requirements associated with in situ oil sands developments and new policy and regulatory framework development.
4. Develop and perform audits to ensure operational risks have been mitigated using AER compliance assurance mechanisms. Lead coordination of compliance actions with regulatory compliance staff and associated AER field centres.
5. Provide technical support for emergency incident response and conditions management. After-hours on-call duties are available on a voluntary basis with additional compensation.
6. Mentor and provide guidance to other technical staff. Seek out and share learning opportunities with the team.

What we’re looking for in you:

1. Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering with a focus in mechanical, chemical, or oil and gas.
2. 10+ years of related experience in wellbore engineering or related oil and gas field of study within the in situ oil sands sector.
3. Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) is preferred.
4. Strong technical knowledge in wellbore engineering including Alberta’s regulatory framework and associated legislation, with critical thinking skills to identify broader impact of decisions and use of a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving.
5. Strong self-leadership with the ability to present and communicate complex technical information, recommendations and decisions to a variety of audiences and all staff levels.

Additional Information:

1. All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada at the time of application.
2. Should an individual with the required qualifications not be available, applicants with closely related qualifications may be considered. As a result, the position may be redesigned and/or reclassified.
3. If you need accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please email PeopleServices@aer.ca. Information relating to the need for accommodation and accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

What we offer you:

1. Great benefits from your first day of work
2. Flexible Work Program - hybrid work and flexible hours
3. Defined benefit pension plan(s)
4. Flexible benefits program options, including Personal & Health spending account(s)
5. Generous vacation entitlement and flex days

More information about working at the AER including our comprehensive Total Rewards package can be found in the careers section of our website here.

Our Commitment to Diversity:

At the AER, our values of Accountability, Collaboration, Transparency, and Trust & Respect are foundational to our culture – a culture where every individual, regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected factors, thrives and contributes their unique perspectives.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion fuels innovation, creating a brighter, more sustainable Alberta for all. Join us in shaping this dynamic future.

Application closing date: April 30, 2025 at midnight