Research Engineer - Geothermal Reservoir & Well Engineering

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom Heriot-Watt University Job Description

Role: Research Engineer - Geothermal Reservoir & Well Engineering

Salary: Grade 7 - £37,694 - £47,389 per annum

Contract Type: Part Time (0.5FTE/17.5 hours per week), Fixed Term for 24 months

Rewards and Benefits: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full-time staff

About the Organisations

TownRock Energy is the UK's largest independent geothermal specialist, combining shallow, mine water and deep geothermal expertise to guide pioneering organisations from early-stage scoping through to delivery and long-term operation. With a strong track record across UK and international projects, TownRock Energy occupies a unique position at the intersection of technical rigour and commercial delivery in the rapidly expanding UK geothermal sector.

Heriot-Watt University is a world-leading research university with globally recognised expertise in energy, engineering, and the built environment. Based at its Edinburgh campus, the Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering (IGE) conducts internationally excellent applied research in geomechanics, reservoir engineering, and subsurface energy systems, supported by world-class laboratory and computational facilities.

This jointly hosted role reflects a strategic partnership between TownRock Energy and Heriot-Watt University, enabling the successful candidate to contribute to industry-facing geothermal projects while embedded in a leading academic research environment.

Role Overview

We are seeking an exceptional Research Engineer to join TownRock Energy and Heriot-Watt University in a unique, jointly hosted appointment. This is an exciting opportunity for a candidate with both PhD-level academic training and hands-on industry experience in subsurface and reservoir engineering to contribute directly to the technical advancement of geothermal energy development specifically in Scotland, Ireland, Austria and Lithuania, and tangentially across Europe and beyond.

The post-holder will support a portfolio of geothermal project development activities in the GeoGuard project (https://geoguard.hw.ac.uk) spanning reservoir characterisation, subsurface simulation modelling, well engineering design, and reservoir stimulation assessment. Working across both the TownRock Energy project delivery team and the Heriot-Watt University research group, the role bridges rigorous academic analysis and practical engineering application.

This is a Grade 7, post-doctoral level position on the Heriot-Watt University pay spine, carrying a salary of approximately £40,000 per annum. The exact spine point will reflect the candidate's experience and qualifications, with the potential for progression during the 24-month appointment. The role is fixed-term and is anticipated to commence in late Summer or Autumn 2026.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Reservoir Engineering & Simulation

• Design, build, and run subsurface reservoir simulation models for tight hot sedimentary aquifer geothermal projects, industry-standard and research-grade simulation software.
• Develop and implement coupled modelling concepts for well stimulation
• Undertake reservoir characterisation studies including thermal-hydraulic modelling, geomechanical assessment, and pressure-temperature analysis.
• Interpret geological, geophysical, and drilling datasets to inform and calibrate reservoir models.
• Contribute to uncertainty analysis and probabilistic resource assessments in support of investment and project development decisions.

Well Engineering

• Provide technical input to well design studies, including casing design, completion strategies, and well integrity assessment for geothermal applications.
• Support pre-drill well planning, site investigations, and drilling programme development in collaboration with operations and HSE functions.
• Review and interpret well test data, temperature and pressure logs, and production performance records.

Reservoir Stimulation

• Assess reservoir stimulation options - including hydraulic fracturing, chemical stimulation, thermal stimulation and a variety of next generation stimulation techniques - in the context of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) and productivity optimisation.
• Contribute to techno-economic evaluations of stimulation programme options and post-stimulation evaluation in support of project research and development activities.

Research & Knowledge Development

• Produce high-quality technical reports, research outputs, and stakeholder-facing (investor, developer, government, public) deliverables to appropriate academic and industry standards.
• Contribute to academic publications and conference presentations arising from the research programme.
• Identify and help develop opportunities for further research collaboration between TownRock Energy and Heriot-Watt University.
• Remain current with developments in geothermal subsurface science, reservoir simulation methodology, and relevant regulatory frameworks.

Collaboration & Project Support

• Work effectively with multidisciplinary project teams including geoscientists, structural and mechanical engineers, and project managers.
• Engage proactively with academic supervisors, industry colleagues, supply chain representatives, and where appropriate, other external stakeholders.
• Support TownRock Energy's business development activity through technical input to proposals, feasibility studies, and scoping reports.
• Assist in mentoring junior technical staff and students as the research programme develops.

Administrative & Compliance Duties

• Adhere to the policies, procedures, and values of both TownRock Energy and Heriot-Watt University, including data management, intellectual property, health and safety, and research integrity requirements.
• Maintain accurate records of research activities, data, and outputs in accordance with funder and institutional requirements.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential

1. PhD in a relevant discipline (e.g. Petroleum/Reservoir Engineering, Geomechanics, Geothermal Engineering, Civil/Geotechnical Engineeering, Applied Mathematics, Earth Sciences, or closely related field). The PhD is a minimum, not an alternative, qualification for this post.
2. Undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Engineering, Geoscience, or Physical Sciences (first degree or integrated master's as foundation for doctoral study).
3. Demonstrated experience of subsurface reservoir simulation, ideally including thermal-hydraulic or coupled thermal-hydraulic-mechanical (THM) modelling of geological systems.
4. Practical familiarity with at least one industry-standard reservoir simulation platform (e.g. TOUGH2/TOUGH+, CMG, Eclipse/Intersect, MRST, DuMuX, OPM, FEFLOW, OpenGeoSys, or equivalent).
5. Proficiency in at least one high-level programming language (e.g. Python, Julia, MATLAB, C++, or R)
6. Fundamental understanding of mathematical modelling concepts and numerical solution techniques
7. Familiarity with reservoir stimulation techniques and their application in subsurface energy contexts, including an understanding of hydraulic fracturing mechanics, chemical stimulation, or thermal stimulation.
8. Ability to produce high-quality, well-structured technical reports and research outputs to both academic and industry standards.
9. Track record of, or demon