Product Center Engineering Manager

Overview

GA Drilling is developing next generation drilling technologies to unlock geothermal energy anywhere on Earth. Our mission is to make geothermal a globally scalable, baseload source of clean power by enabling access to hard, hot rock at depths and temperatures that conventional drilling cannot reach economically.

Our work demands mastery across all facets of engineering—electronics, hydraulics, mechanics, systems, and control—and project management to create products that can survive and perform in harsh, high-temperature, high-load downhole conditions. Our technologies include smart downhole anchoring and drive systems that control the drilling process at the bit, plasma-based rock-destruction systems that fracture rock ahead of the drill bit, and innovative reeled drilling systems that redefine how hard-rock wells are constructed.

These innovations—whether deployed individually or integrated into a groundbreaking autonomous reeled drilling system—enable hard-rock wells to be drilled further, faster, and safer than conventional technologies. With engineering teams in the USA, Brazil, the UK, and across Europe, and strong collaboration with leading operators, GA Drilling is progressing rapidly toward commercial deployment of these technologies.

The opportunity for you

We seek an experienced and versatile Product Center Engineering Manager in Brazil with 25+ years of experience in offshore drilling technology development, commercialization and the establishment of world class facilities and teams to support. We have a multi-year development cooperation agreement with Petrobras, with others in the pipeline, and need to aggressively expand our infrastructure and technical team to capitalize on the immense opportunities presented.

You will own

• Continue to deliver exceptional new product development projects to our Brazilian project partners and collaborators
• Project, resource and tasks management to ensure on time, on quality delivery
• Align local project strategy/deliverables with global GA Drilling strategy
• Interface and collaborate with overseas Subject Matter Experts to ensure best technical solution to problems

Recruit, develop, and retain a high-caliber team and establish effective new product development ecosystem

• Hire and lead highly experienced and skilled team of engineers, scientists, technicians and support staff
• Establish collaborations and partnerships with industry and academia
• Provide training, mentorship, and career development opportunities to ensure retention of key talent and to foster a culture of continuous improvement
• Build and manage facilities, equipment, and support team needed to assemble, test, repair, and maintain advanced drilling systems working closely with our teams in the USA, UK and Europe
• Ensure that infrastructure supports both near-term research and development activities and that can scale to meet long-term commercial deployments

Define and implement robust processes

• Create and enforce procedures that deliver consistent, reliable, and high-quality projects/products to customers ensuring that processes are right sized for the maturity of the project/product
• Integrate root cause analysis, corrective action, and lessons-learned to continuously improve performance of the Product Center and teams
• Utilize ERP/MRP or equivalent systems to support planning, inventory control, and traceability

Champion safety, excellence, and accountability

• Establish a strong safety culture where all activities are carried out in compliance with HSE requirements and industry standards
• Promote technical excellence and precision workmanship in all MFG and R&M activities—emphasizing “do it right the first time.”
• Ensure compliance with relevant certifications (ISO, API, local regulatory requirements)

Cross-Functional and Customer Interface

• Act as the primary technical link between GA Drilling and our Brazilian project partners/collaborators
• Support testing and deployment activities in Brazil and wider area
• Provide feedback into the New Product Development team for continuous improvement
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including QHSE, procurement, manufacturing, HR, and finance, to define…