Staff Wells Engineer

Location: Rio De Janeiro - Ventura Office

Time Type: Full time

Job Description

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Job Family Group:

Research and Development

Worker Type:

Regular

Posting Start Date:

August 11, 2026

Business Unit:

Downstream and Renewables

Experience Level:

Experienced Professionals

Job Description:

What's the Role?

As a Staff Wells Engineer, you will be a key member of Shell Brazil's Upstream Technology organization, responsible for shaping, developing, and deploying innovative well technologies that improve safety, performance, and value across operated and non-operated assets.

The role provides technical leadership across a portfolio of Wells technology and R&D projects, working closely with Shell assets, global Wells organizations, service companies, universities, startups, and research institutions to accelerate technology maturation and deployment.

The successful candidate will combine deep wells engineering expertise with strong project leadership, stakeholder engagement, and commercial awareness to deliver technology solutions from concept through qualification, field deployment, and scale-up.

Accountabilities

• Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of Wells technology development and R&D projects, ensuring compliance with HSSE, technical, commercial, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and subject matter expertise to multidisciplinary project teams, external partners, and technology developers.
• Develop, mature, and deploy innovative technologies addressing high-value business challenges across drilling operations.
• Manage technology projects through the full lifecycle, including opportunity identification, framing, technology qualification, field piloting, deployment, and value realization.
• Lead technical oversight of university and service-provider contracts, ensuring delivery against project objectives, budgets, schedules, and performance expectations.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with industry, academia, startups, and research centers to enhance Shell's innovation ecosystem.
• Collaborate with asset teams in Brazil and the Global Wells organization to ensure alignment between technology development priorities and business needs, while identifying global deployment and replication opportunities.
• Ensure effective management of project risks, technology uncertainties, and HSSE considerations through disciplined application of Systems Engineering and TECOP principles.
• Steward project budgets and supplier interfaces while supporting contracting, procurement, and commercial strategies.
• Ensure compliance with ANP R&D Levy requirements and contribute to continuous improvement in R&D governance and execution efficiency.
• Champion modern ways of working, including agile delivery, digitalization, systems engineering, and value-focused technology development.
• Promote a culture of innovation, collaboration, continuous improvement, and technical excellence across the organization.

What We Need From You

Experience & Technical Competencies

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering; Master's degree or postgraduate qualification is advantageous.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in the oil and gas industry, including significant experience with strong technical background in deepwater and pre-salt drilling operations.
• Proven experience leading technology development, qualification, piloting, and deployment projects in complex operating environments.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering, technology maturation processes, risk management, and technology qualification methodologies.
• Demonstrated project management capabilities, including management of scope, schedule, budget, supplier performance, and delivery risks.
• Practical knowledge of ANP R&D Levy regulations and experience in project framing, contracting, execution, and regulatory compliance.
• Commercial skilled with experience managing external partnerships, contracts, and supplier relationships.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Demonstrated ability to influence and align diverse stakeholders without direct authority.
• Strong communication and engagement skills, with the ability to operate effectively across technical, commercial, and business leadership communities.
• Proven record of collaborating with universities, research organizations, service providers, and technology partners.
• Demonstrated commitment to HSSE leadership and continuous improvement.
• Ability to identify opportunities, challenge established practices, and drive adoption of innovative solutions.
• Strong track record of delivering business value through technology deployment and organizational collaboration.
• Self-driven, adaptable, and comfortable operating in ambiguous and evolving environments.

Why this Role Matters

This position plays a critical role in delivering Shell Brazil's Wells technology strategy by connecting business challenges with innovative solutions, accelerating technology deployment, and building the partnerships required to unlock long-term value from Brazil's world-class deepwater assets.

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