Well Permitting Specialist

Fervo Energy•Golden, CO

7h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Well Permitting Specialist is part of Fervo Energy’s Land, Environment, and Permitting team. The role secures permits and ensures regulatory compliance for geothermal well drilling across the company’s exploration, appraisal, development, and commercial operations portfolio. The specialist obtains and maintains state and federal drilling authorizations, ensures compliance with permit conditions during drilling and well completion, and serves as a liaison between project teams and regulatory agencies. Working with Drilling, Completions, Construction, Surveying, Environmental, and Land teams, the specialist supports permitting strategies that accommodate project schedules while enabling safe, compliant, and environmentally responsible geothermal development. The role oversees the lifecycle of well permits, from early planning through drilling, testing, completion, production, injection, suspension, plugging, and long-term regulatory compliance. It requires strong communication, organizational, and technical skills, coordination with internal and external stakeholders, and contributions to continuous improvement of permitting and compliance programs. The position reports to the Well Permitting Manager or designated Land, Environment, and Permitting leadership. The position is based at one of Fervo Energy’s offices, with Golden, Colorado or Houston, Texas preferred. It follows a hybrid schedule requiring three days per week in the office and approximately 25% travel to project sites and regulatory engagements throughout the western United States.

Requirements

Degree or educational background in Engineering, Geology, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Planning, or a related technical discipline.
At least 4 years of well permitting or regulatory experience supporting energy, mining, oil and gas, geothermal, or other related infrastructure projects.
Proven track record of drafting and submitting drilling permits to support multiple rigs across federal and state regulators.
Strong understanding of geothermal or oil and gas drilling operations and well development.
Excellent organizational, communication, and stakeholder coordination skills.
Ability to coordinate multiple complex project tasks simultaneously as a self-starter.
Commitment to environmental stewardship, regulatory excellence, and responsible energy development.
Ability to travel approximately 25% to project sites throughout the western United States.

Nice To Haves

Geothermal well permitting experience with the BLM under 43 CFR Parts 3200–3280 and with western state geothermal regulatory agencies, particularly in Utah and Nevada.

Responsibilities

Support permitting strategies for exploration, appraisal, injection, monitoring, production, and commercial geothermal well development.
Prepare and submit complete drilling permit applications to state and federal agencies.
Coordinate permit sequencing with project schedules, drilling programs, and construction milestones.
Identify permitting risks and develop mitigation strategies to minimize impacts to project schedules.
Work with the Well Permitting Manager to maintain a comprehensive permitting schedule and forecast for active and future drilling programs.
Coordinate regulatory agency meetings and technical reviews, respond to agency requests for additional information, and negotiate permit conditions where appropriate.
Maintain positive working relationships with regulatory personnel.
Review technical information, including drilling programs, casing and cementing programs, blowout prevention (BOP) specifications, directional drilling plans, well location plats, surface use plans, and other well-development plans and programs.
Ensure drilling operations comply with permit conditions and regulatory requirements, and manage permit amendments as drilling programs evolve.
Track permit obligations, reporting deadlines, inspections, and regulatory commitments.
Coordinate responses to agency inspections and compliance reviews.
Support internal compliance audits and continuous improvement initiatives.
Maintain complete regulatory records for all well permits.
Develop and use standardized permitting templates and procedures.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision plan options.
Employer-paid basic life insurance and short-term and long-term disability coverage.
401(k) plan with up to 6% employer match.
Flexible paid time off.
Paid parental leave.
Family-building, fertility, hormonal health, pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting support through Carrot.
Dependent care FSA for eligible child and elder care expenses.
Annual Lifestyle Spending Account for eligible wellness expenses, including fitness, financial planning, pet insurance, and pet care.
Employee ownership opportunities through Fervo’s Employee Stock Purchase Program.
LTI and bonus opportunities for eligible roles.