Senior Data Scientist

Patterson-UTI's Data Science and Analytics team turns rig data into better drilling. We partner primarily with the Drilling Automation team to design, test, and refine new automation technology, using analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to make drilling safer and more efficient.

As a Senior Data Scientist, you'll own analytics projects from first stakeholder conversation to final presentation, mentor junior teammates, occasionally spend time on rigs to test new technology or understand the operations behind the data.

Projects you may work on include:

• Modeling greenhouse gas emissions across the rig fleet to reduce environmental impact and improve reporting
• Designing drilling advisory systems that improve efficiency
• Building automated monitoring, detection, and alerting for operational events
• Developing models that predict downhole and surface equipment failures

This is an individual contributor role reporting to the Senior Manager, Data Science. We're looking for someone who is technically strong in Python and time-series analysis, comfortable explaining complex methods to non-technical audiences, and excited to work alongside the people who run the rigs. This is an applied research role with impact on real world operations.

Detailed Description:

• Mentor and coach other data scientists and analysts

• Execute as an individual contributor multiple analytics projects of varying complexity and data sources (~1 week to ~3 months; time series and relational databases)

• Become the subject matter expert on projects, including visiting rigs to gain a deeper understanding of drilling rig operations.

• Maintain standards on code quality and code management

• Be the focal point for analytics: work and communicate with multiple stakeholders, understand project requirements, and deliver analytics solutions that add business value

• Assist with developing and improving our suite of data analytics applications and visualizations, including developing requirements and working with developers

• Independently manage and execute above projects from start-to-finish, including understanding stakeholder needs; acquiring necessary data; cleaning / analyzing data and innovating beyond initial requirements; generating visuals / reports; and presenting results to stakeholders

• Identify opportunities for more advanced data science solutions

Job Requirements

• Prior experience in oil and gas data analytics

• Expert in programming to generate analyses, algorithms, and visuals

• Able to articulate complex data science techniques to end-users that have minimum technical background

• Have excellent soft skills to gain rapport within the organization and seek out buy-in for our analytics team

• Able to work both independently and as part of a team, managing multiple tasks and projects simultaneously to meet challenging deadlines

• Able to think strategically and translate concepts into action plans and track results

• Able and willing to occasionally visit a drilling rig location to gain subject matter knowledge

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Represent the data science team by presenting drilling intelligence, automation products, and AI/ML initiatives to customers and end users, while representing Patterson-UTI at internal and external events, including marketing and sales engagements

• Capable of leading a small team of data analysts and data scientists, with the potential to grow into a Lead Data Scientist role

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Computer Science or related field

• 5 years of experience applying data science techniques specifically to industrial operational data (i.e. Oil and Gas, chemicals, manufacturing, etc.)

• 3 years of experience in Python for data analysis and visualization (including Jupyter Notebooks, Pandas, Numpy, Matplotlib)

• 3 years of experience using scikit-learn or equivalent software

• 3 years of experience analyzing time series data

• 3 years of experience using SQL for data extraction and manipulation

• 1 year of experience using Git for code management

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Engineering, Physics, Computer Science or related field

• Over 2 years of experience applying data science techniques to data generated from oil and gas drilling operations

• Over 2 years of experience using PowerBI or other business intelligence tools

• Over 2 years of experience developing and deploying models at the edge

• Over 2 years of experience in any of the following:

  • Physical modeling of mechanical systems

  • Predictive maintenance or reliability modeling of equipment

  • Drilling automation systems

  • Control systems for industrial applications

• Existing research publications and/or patents related to oil and gas drilling