Senior Reservoir Engineer IV-V, Geothermal

Reservoir Engineer

Final Filing Date:
First review of applications will be on February 16, 2026. NCPA reserves the right to close this posting once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

This position performs a variety of engineering tasks relating to plant reliability and performance efficiency, troubleshoots plant and equipment problems and is responsible for the collection, processing and interpretation of production, thermodynamic, geologic and geophysical data necessary to recommend actions to maximize steam production and plant generation. This position may also undertake special projects as assigned by and through the Plant Manager.

The level of supervision will be dependent upon the incumbent's classification level (IV or V) but all levels will perform a variety of assigned complex technical and professional work.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

This position requires the incumbent reports for work on time and maintains satisfactory attendance in accordance with Agency policy; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; arrives to meetings and appointments on time; performs special assignments for the Plant Manager or others as assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Level IV:

This is the journey person level class within the Engineer series. Working with minimal direction, employees at this level perform the projects and troubleshooting assignments. May lead capital projects including prioritizing work, giving project assignments, directing and reviewing work, and providing guidance and instruction to project personnel including professional engineering staff, other staff and contractors.

Level V:

This is the senior level class within the Engineering series. Working with minimal direction often taking plant goals and translating them into work assignments for the individual and in many cases other departments. Employees at this level are given the most complex projects (many cases maybe multi-year, many different disciplines of work, large contracts) and complex trouble shooting.

Responsibilities:

Level IV:

Interfaces with plant staff to optimize plant output.

Estimates forward projection of steam supplies and generation of the geothermal field.

Evaluates the effects of injection within the field and makes injection recommendations based on the available tracer, MEQ, and reservoir data.

Recommends pipeline and control system design changes necessary to increase system operating efficiencies.

Reduces operating expenses in conjunction with the business unit goals and budget.

Develops and uses databases to perform analysis of plant generation and production including predictions of reservoir reserves, forward projections for generation and production, and impact analysis of future projects both within the existing site and the analysis of any investment possibilities.

Acts as a point of contact with the NCPA Generation Services Engineering Department and provides engineering assistance as requested.

Assists in the preparation of engineering solutions for problems related to production, generation and transmission.

Communicates with staff, management, technical committees, commission, and regulators through memos, meetings, and reports.

Assists in making injection recommendations to maximize the recovery of injection-derived-steam.

Develops conceptual models of the reservoir, prepares estimates of field reserves and forecasts of future production and generation and related reports, as needed.

Initiates, develops and presents annual Steam Field budget.

Prepares and submits reservoir maps based on well flowrate, pressure, gas and tracer data.

Initiates and approves requisitions and invoices, tracks cost and insures projects are cost-effective.

Acts as project manager on assigned projects which includes planning, interdepartmental coordination, budgeting, implementation, progress reporting, quality control, payment approval, etc.

Level V:

In addition to Level IV class, this item:

Sets standards of performance for direct reports, provides coaching and development opportunities, and assesses performance.

Gathers and interprets the necessary information to comply with permits from the Bureau of Land Management, Regional Water Quality Control Board, and Air Quality Management District(s) for all drilling, workover, conversion to injection and well abandonment programs.

Prepares and submits required periodic operations reports.

Represents Agency on the Effluent Committee, Geothermal Resources Council and Geysers Geothermal Association.

Analyzes and interprets wireline logs including, but not limited to: PT, PTS and Casing Caliper logs.

Coordinates with other staff at the NCPA Geothermal facility and others in providing steam field engineering support.

Develops and utilizes computerized databases to analyze generation and production in support of engineering solutions and recommendations.

Maintains good working relationship…