NSTA 478 Senior Well Engineer

The NSTA's hybrid working includes an expectation for staff to spend 40% of their time in the office.

Brief overview of role

The Senior Well Engineer will play a critical role in supporting NSTA's objectives of security of supply, emissions reduction, and transition to net zero. The role includes assessing well decommissioning plans and applications, licence applications, technology plans, and well designs, with a central focus on well decommissioning activities. The position requires close collaboration with operators, technology vendors, and internal teams to ensure compliance and promote best practices.

The successful candidate will have a strong wells technical background, combined with industry and/or regulatory experience in one or more energy sectors, including oil and gas, decommissioning and CCS.

The role requires a strong team player with the ability to manage a high level of responsibility and cross-team interactions. It will need strong communication, interpersonal and influencing skills to work closely and flexibly across the NSTA, and with the industry.

Detailed job description and key responsibilities

Reporting to the NSTA Wells Manager, your key responsibilities will include:

• Working with other NSTA teams, support license reviews related to decommissioning, oil and gas and carbon storage applications with respect to wells;
• Provide expert input into internal and external guidance documents on Well development, well decommissioning and CCS.
• Maintain strong relationships with industry and research bodies to share knowledge and influence best practice in well decommissioning.
• Lead and support NSTA's license stewardship process related to carbon storage and oil and gas licences, with strong emphasis on well decommissioning planning and execution.
• Review and assess WONS applications to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and alignment with best practices.
• Evaluate legacy wells, containment risks, and new well designs, particularly in the context of carbon storage and decommissioning.
• Participate in operators' Wells and Technology Review meetings, offering technical insight and challenge where appropriate.
• Conduct horizon scanning to identify emerging technologies and practices that enable safe and efficient well decommissioning and CCS developments.
• Contributing to NSTA analysis and publications related to wells;
• Monitor progression of industry's wells practices and technologies, engaging with both licence operators and technology suppliers;
• Collate technology roadmaps on specific wells domains (inc. decommissioning, drilling, well intervention and CCS wells requirements);
• Maintain relationship with significant industry and research bodies in all areas related to wells;
• Work with other parts of the NSTA, and other regulators as required, to utilise technology knowledge and technical lessons learned in industry and regulatory interactions.

Person specification

Competence 1: Decision Making & Judgement

Uses sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to arrive at accurate, expert and professional decisions and advice on subsurface development projects and technologies.

Competence 2: Leading & Communicating

Meets challenges with resourcefulness, generates suggestions for improving work and develops innovative approaches and ideas; Strong team player with a collaborative and proactive approach; Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence are essential; Mentor and coach to others; unlocking potential and maximising performance.

Works collaboratively with other NSTA teams, research and industry stakeholders, sharing information appropriately and building supportive, trusting and professional relationships. Has the confidence to challenge assumptions and create an inclusive environment.

Competence 4: Strategic & Commercial Thinking

Having a commercial and strategic mindset and focusing your contribution on the activities which will meet the NSTA's organisational goals and also recognising how these fit with wider UK priorities, such as the move to net zero carbon by 2050. Develops a clear picture of how the UK offshore regions can effectively support the energy transition of the UK towards 'net zero by 2050' and the in-depth understanding of how specific technologies can contribute to deliver that vision.

Specialist Skills, Qualifications, Experience, Licenses, Memberships or Language

• An undergraduate degree in relevant science/engineering disciplines, or equivalent experience
• Industry experience in planning, delivery, operations and/ decommissioning of oil and gas wells;
• A high level of competence in analysing wells plans and delivery, risks and performance, developing clear recommendations with supporting evidence;
• Experience in delivering high-quality reports, presentations and communicating technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences;
• Strong team player and influencer, with the ability to effectively engage and collaborate across multiple stakeholders.
• Expertise in well design, integrity, and abandonment techniques.
• Knowledge of CCS well requirements and containment risk management.
• Ability to contribute to guidance development and influence best practices across the industry.
• Proficiency in risk assessment and mitigation strategies for well decommissioning, along with the key stages of planning and executing this work
• Master's degree in relevant Engineering disciplines;
• Knowledge of the latest technology advances across one or more wells areas (among decommissioning, drilling, construction, completions and operations);
• Knowledge of technical risks and uncertainties associated with oil and gas, and/or storage (natural gas, carbon dioxide);
• Experience in presenting to conference audiences and publishing reports.
• Salary £83,425
• Appointment Type Permanent
• Appointment Term Full time
• Vacancy Reference Number NSTA 478
• No. of posts 1
• Grade SEO
• Travel to other location within the UK? Occasional
• Level of Security Clearance basicMedical Required? No
• Unless otherwise stated consideration will be given to requests to work on a part time or job share basis. Flexible working hours can also be considered.
• Closing date for applications 25 January 2026
• Anticipated shortlisting date TBD
• Anticipated interview date TBD

Personal information

I am a UK national, EU national covered by current EU settlement regulations, or hold a valid visa and work permit to enable me to reside and work within the United Kingdom. For more information on right to work please visit Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK (). Please note that the NSTA do not have the license to sponsor visas. All applicants must hold the existing right to work to work in the UK. Most roles require Baseline Personnel Security Standard clearance, but some roles also require National Security Vetting. Where this is the case I consent to completing the process and its requirements as set out by UK Security Vetting(please note the job profile will detail the current level of clearance required). I hold the educational and competence requirements for the role as set out in the job profile

Use of AI in the drafting, completing or enhancing of your application must be declared at the time of submission of your application. Failure to do so may mean that your application is not progressed or assessed. Any over-reliance on AI may reduce the chance of your application being successful.

Inclusion and Diversity statement

The NSTA is committed to embedding equality and diversity into all our policies and processes. We will aim to recruit, retain and promote staff on the basis of competence and regardless of characteristics including those listed under the Equality Act 2010. These protected characteristics are; age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.

The NSTA is an accredited Disability Confident Committed employer. We have also been awarded silver accreditation for the Gender Diversity Benchmark through Business in the Community, The Prince's Responsible Business Network. In addition, we are signed up to their Race at Work Charter and implement its five principles. As a further commitment to attracting, retaining and developing a diverse workforce we have signed up to the Axis Pledge.