Technical Operations Lead

Bedrock Energy•Austin, TX

43d

About The Position

Bedrock is in our second year of deploying our engineering-intensive, technology-enabled approach to ambient geothermal construction. We seek to establish the foundations for scale up of our technical operations, which require rigorous processes tying engineering best practices to field deployment. To lead this effort, we are bringing on a Technical Operations Lead to oversee clear, structured, and comprehensive drilling & completions engineering programs to be implemented in field operations. This responsibility includes oversight of the technical rigor, operational compatibility, ROI efficiency, and clarity of our drilling & completions work. This role will also oversee performance measurement and management, so that our technical operations can continuously improve across projects, regions, and rig versions. Ultimately, this lead role will own the technical integrity of Bedrockâs operational deployment. They will oversee proper engineering of Bedrockâs ambient geothermal construction (bore designs, downhole tools, drilling parameters), and ensure these technical plans are consistent with company standards for safety, quality, uptime, cost, and performance.

Requirements

Masterâs Degree in Petroleum Engineering or Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline
10-20 years of experience in drilling engineering, e.g. as a drilling engineer and/or O&G wellsite supervisor, with strong knowledge of drilling engineering principles: drilling fluids, wellbore stability, geomechanics, hydraulics, well control, torque and drag, and managed pressure drilling (MPD); rig and surface equipment operations, BHA dynamics; data-driven performance optimization
3+ years of people management experience
Relevant certifications such as IWCF, WellCAP, Well Control
Familiar with software like WellPlan, Landmark, OpenWells, DrillOps, or WellView
Demonstrated experience initiating and communicating new processes based on evolving information and on-the-ground experience
Strong project management and problem-solving skills, especially in environments with new approaches built from scratch, frequent growth-driven changes and contending priorities, and complex stakeholders
Proven ability to build credibility across diverse team members and around diverse technical topics, and to navigate technical and business trade-offs effectively
Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to distill complex ideas and problems into actionable decision trees, and to clearly map out system dependencies
Positive, âyes ifâ mindset with a bias towards action; proactive and resourceful problem-solver with the ability to drive to consensus while maintaining healthy interpersonal respect and empathy for different viewpoints
Passion for the energy transition

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of coiled tubing operations and geothermal borehole design and construction are preferred

Responsibilities

Manage, mentor, and technically supervise operations engineers in the development and validation of D&C programs
Approve borehole construction programs (drilling, completion, mud, BHAs, hydraulics).
Oversee engineer rotation for real-time technical support to field crews on downhole or surface equipment problems.
Drive technical capability development through mentoring, structured training, and performance feedback.
Review and technically approve operations engineersâ deliverables before execution
Validate engineering calculations for operational usability and technoeconomic optimization, driving D&C procedures from ideation to field verification.
Lead solutioning ofcomplex technical analyses, directing operations engineers on timely, accurate, and practical solutions.
Ensure consistency and accuracy in operations engineering products prior to execution.
Establish development workflows for technical standards, procedures, and manuals
Collaborate closely with Technology Engineering to develop technical operations guidance for their technologies, tools, and equipment products
Collaborate closely with Field Operations to establish accountability processes and KPIs
Manage interface between operations engineering and field operations teams for new releases of technology and operational procedures
Oversee readiness, training, and risk mitigation planning for upcoming field operations.
Coordinate communication and feedback between operations engineering and field operations to ensure seamless deployment and compliance
Oversee resources, schedules, and deliverables across the operations engineering team and external stakeholders (vendors, clients, corporate).
Represent operations engineering in cross-functional and corporate meetings to align technical initiatives with budget, strategy, and safety objectives.
Support sales engineering for customer acquisition
Collaborate with Field Operations to ensure health & safety adherence and risk management
Ensure HSE compliance and borehole control readiness.
Review and approve risk assessments and contingency plans.
Conduct incident investigations and root-cause analyses.
Implement corrective actions and technical safeguards.
Integrate daily lessons learned into subsequent operations
Develop trackers/workflows for continuous improvement in drilling & completions performance and reliability (e.g., formation response, bit wear, mud loss).
Review daily drilling reports (DDR) and advise on parameter adjustments.
Lead regular technical optimization reviews and after-action analyses
Regularly evaluate construction efficiency and adherence to best practices in partnership with Field Operations Lead.
Drive technical solutioning sprints and report cross-functionally on progress and company implications
Benchmark rigs or teams and drive standardization of best practices.
Champion data-driven decision-making by implementing digital drilling systems, real-time analytics, and automation tools to optimize performance.
Drive adoption of performance improvements across rigs and projects through structured rollout plans and measurable KPIs.
Example: Use real-time data analytics to identify inefficiencies like wiper trips duration and length, and roll out improvements fleet-wide.
Work closely with Product and Technology Engineering to identify, specify, and prioritize R&D projects from mechanical/electrical/software engineers to facilitate efficiency and safety