About the Company

At Aramco Europe, we believe in the power of energy to transform lives, strengthen communities, and support human progress. We connect people, projects, and markets to help deliver reliable energy solutions around the world while advancing innovation and sustainability.

Our European research centres play a key role in developing next-generation technologies that address some of the industry's most complex challenges. Through collaboration, scientific excellence, and a commitment to innovation, we support the development of technologies that improve operational performance, enhance safety, and contribute to a more sustainable energy future.

As part of one of the world's largest integrated energy and chemicals companies, you will have the opportunity to work on high-impact projects, collaborate with leading experts, and contribute to technologies that can shape the future of the energy industry.

Job Purpose

We are seeking an experienced Specialist Researcher to join our research team in Aberdeen. This is a senior technical position for an individual with deep expertise in drilling technologies, applied research, and technology development.

The successful candidate will serve as a recognised subject matter expert, leading advanced research into complex and emerging drilling challenges. You will help define research priorities, provide scientific leadership across significant areas of the drilling research programme, and develop innovative technologies that can be translated into practical engineering solutions.

Working with considerable autonomy, you will tackle complex multidisciplinary challenges, apply advanced technical judgement, and influence both research strategy and operational outcomes.

The role requires a balance of technical excellence, innovation, commercial awareness, and collaboration, as you work with stakeholders across Aramco and the wider industry to drive the development and deployment of new technologies. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to safer, more efficient, and more sustainable drilling operations while helping shape the future direction of drilling technology research.

Responsibilities

• Production and Completions Research and Technical Investigation: Lead advanced research into production and completions challenges, including completion design, production optimisation, artificial lift, stimulation, flow assurance, sand management, well integrity, intervention, production chemistry, equipment reliability, and emerging technologies.
• Research Strategy and Portfolio Development: Identify high-value research opportunities, develop research roadmaps and proposals, and help shape production and completions technology strategy aligned with operational and business needs.
• Technology Development and Validation: Develop, test, and validate new production and completions technologies, tools, materials, methodologies, and digital solutions through laboratory studies, simulations, field trials, and operational pilots.
• R&D Methodologies and Tools: Evaluate and improve research processes, analytical approaches, models, and tools to enhance research quality, efficiency, repeatability, and practical application.
• Operational Problem-Solving and Expert Advice: Provide specialist technical guidance on complex production and completions challenges by integrating research findings, operational experience, and well and facility data to deliver effective solutions.
• Research Insights and Reporting: Analyse and integrate findings from multiple studies and data sources, identify trends and opportunities, and communicate clear recommendations to technical, operational, and management stakeholders.
• Data Collection, Predictive Modelling and Analysis: Apply advanced analytics, physics-based modelling, predictive techniques, machine learning, and AI to production, completions, intervention, integrity, and subsurface data to improve performance and support decision making.
• Research Investment, Funding Proposals and Value Realisation: Develop business cases and funding proposals for research initiatives, assessing costs, risks, benefits, technical feasibility, and tracking realised operational value following implementation.
• Horizon Scanning and Opportunity Assessment: Monitor emerging technologies and industry developments, including automation, AI, robotics, advanced materials, downhole sensing, electrification, and lower-carbon production solutions, identifying opportunities for adoption and innovation.
• Research Translation and Implementation: Convert research outputs into practical engineering solutions, technical standards, operating practices, methodologies, and decision-support tools that deliver measurable business value.
• Field Trials and Performance Evaluation: Define validation strategies and oversee field trials, pilot programmes, and technology demonstrations, evaluating performance and recommending next steps for further development, deployment, or adoption.
• Technical Assurance, Safety and Compliance: Ensure research activities, trials, and proposed solutions comply with applicable HSE, regulatory, technical assurance, research integrity, and ethical standards.
• Research Programme and Portfolio Delivery: Provide scientific leadership across multiple projects and research workstreams, setting priorities, managing risks and dependencies, and ensuring delivery of strategic research objectives.
• External Research Collaboration: Build and maintain partnerships with universities, research institutes, technology providers, operators, service companies, and industry bodies to support innovation and research delivery.
• Intellectual Property and Research Governance: Protect confidential information and intellectual property, support invention disclosures and patent development, and ensure compliance with research governance and documentation requirements.
• Information and Business Advice: Provide specialist advice on policies, procedures, technical matters, and business processes, resolving issues and escalating complex matters where appropriate.
• Operational Compliance: Monitor activities and behaviours to ensure compliance with organisational policies, regulatory requirements, and professional standards.
• Performance Management: Set and manage personal performance objectives, taking accountability for delivery, continuous improvement, and achievement of agreed goals.
• Personal Capability Building: Act as a recognised subject matter expert, maintaining technical excellence through professional development, industry engagement, conferences, publications, and awareness of emerging technologies and best practices.