Research Engineer

Description

We are seeking an exceptional and motivated Research Engineer to work alongside world class engineers and researchers supporting the mission of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Pittsburgh, PA. This work will involve a multi-disciplinary, scientific, and technically oriented national laboratory team, with participation alongside other data scientists, engineers, and geologists that produces technological solutions for America's energy challenges.The successful candidate will conduct high-impact research focused on wellbore simulation and plugging practices.

What this opportunity with Leidos supporting NETL uniquely provides you:

• Working on applied, cutting-edge projects with global impact while being mentored by the nation's leading energy scientists and engineers.
• Real-world experience supplemented with technical development and discussions that provide unique insight into the broad range of mission critical engineering and scientific disciplines NETL leverages to support national energy research and policy development.
• Access to world-class, customized facilities and computational assets specific to high impact energy research, technology generation, and product development.
• Support proposal development focused on expanding industry and scientific partnerships and developing new technical opportunities for NETL with federal guidance.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Perform extensive and comprehensive literature reviews and summarize the state of knowledge for various topics relevant to wellbores.
• Develop standard operating procedure documents and guidance documents for wellbore plugging practices.
• Model and simulate wellbore processes including gas migration during wellbore cementing operations and wellbore plugging.
• Conduct rheological measurements of bentonite to evaluate mechanical properties.
• Use machine learning models to optimize wellbore plugging strategies.
• Utilize Lattice Boltzmann numerical models to simulate wellbore conditions.
• Investigate the effects of injecting produced water on unplugged and plugged wells.
• Interpret model outputs and document findings in peer-reviewed studies, technical reports, and internal/external presentations.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team, including geologists, geographers, chemists, computer scientists, environmental scientists, and other researchers to accomplish project related tasks.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (civil, environmental), or related field with 4+ years relevant experience (Higher level degree preferred)

• Experience working for a U.S. national laboratory as a staff scientist/engineer or postdoctoral fellow.
• Experience with wellbore infrastructure and cementing/plugging practices.
• Experience with Matlab, Python, C++, and other programming languages.
• Strong history of publishing work in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
• Experience using Ansys, OpenFOAM, and other similar software.
• Familiarity with oil/gas industry (e.g. wells, pipelines, geology).
• Ability to communicate research results via peer-reviewed publications or professional conferences.
• Conducting research as part of a multi-disciplinary team of scientists with some support and leadership roles.
• Ability to meet the requirement for gaining access to work on the NETL campus.

Salary Range for this position: $95K to $100K

Come break things (in a good way). Then build them smarter.

We're the tech company everyone calls when things get weird. We don't wear capes (they're a safety hazard), but we do solve high-stakes problems with code, caffeine, and a healthy disregard for "how it's always been done."

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.