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How to hire a drilling fluids engineer

Drilling fluids engineer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring drilling fluids engineers in the United States:

  • There are a total of 4,015 drilling fluids engineers in the US, and there are currently 5,121 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a drilling fluids engineer is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per drilling fluids engineer on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Kokomo, IN, has the highest demand for drilling fluids engineers, with 3 job openings.

How to hire a drilling fluids engineer, step by step

To hire a drilling fluids engineer, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a drilling fluids engineer, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step drilling fluids engineer hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a drilling fluids engineer job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new drilling fluids engineer
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a drilling fluids engineer do?

Together with a drilling rig engineer, a drilling fluids engineer helps with the pumping of fluids, testing liquids for unwanted particles. They also are involved in mixing fluids needed to drill oil or gas. Another task is providing reports for fluid properties acquired and giving recommendations. They keep a timely record of the performance of each staff member. If staffing is inadequate, they are also tasked to calculate funds for the drilling, allocating budget in both the procedures and miscellaneous expenses.

Learn more about the specifics of what a drilling fluids engineer does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your drilling fluids engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a drilling fluids engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A drilling fluids engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, drilling fluids engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of drilling fluids engineers.

    Type of Drilling Fluids EngineerDescriptionHourly rate
    Drilling Fluids EngineerPetroleum engineers design and develop methods for extracting oil and gas from deposits below the Earth’s surface. Petroleum engineers also find new ways to extract oil and gas from older wells.$25-74
    Gas AnalystA gas analyst is faced with different responsibilities in the workplace. They are required to manage internal physical transactions with the gas management system... Show more$24-48
    EngineerEngineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more$31-62
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Drilling Fluid
    • Fluid Systems
    • Polymer
    • Logistics
    • CFD
    • OBM
    • Field Testing
    • API
    • Fluid Samples
    • System Problems
    • Well Control
    • Product Inventory
    • RAN
    • WBM
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
    • Train on operations of OBM & WBM applications and products.
    • General responsibilities in the field for analyzing WBM and OBM to drill horizontal wells.
    • Develop a system to convey wireline tools on lateral open hole wells without pumping down.
    • Work closely with field personnel to push performance, minimize NPT, and reduce cost / foot.
    • Preform day to day operation and maintenance of wireline truck, crane and 5k and 10k pressure control equipment.
    More drilling fluids engineer duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your drilling fluids engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A drilling fluids engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a drilling fluids engineer in South Dakota may be lower than in Nevada, and an entry-level drilling fluids engineer usually earns less than a senior-level drilling fluids engineer. Additionally, a drilling fluids engineer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average drilling fluids engineer salary

    $89,974yearly

    $43.26 hourly rate

    Entry-level drilling fluids engineer salary
    $52,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 20, 2025

    Average drilling fluids engineer salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Texas$122,450$59
    2Florida$109,518$53
    3California$106,718$51
    4Arizona$105,342$51
    5Washington$104,114$50
    6Virginia$100,367$48
    7South Carolina$97,513$47
    8Connecticut$96,569$46
    9Oklahoma$92,948$45
    10Louisiana$92,198$44
    11Wisconsin$92,096$44
    12Missouri$87,489$42
    13Michigan$82,192$40
    14Indiana$82,054$39
    15Kansas$82,005$39
    16Georgia$79,316$38
    17Alabama$64,435$31

    Average drilling fluids engineer salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Koch Industries$132,116$63.52
    2Schlumberger$116,976$56.242
    3PRO Unlimited$112,194$53.94
    4ConocoPhillips$110,020$52.89
    5General Electric$100,371$48.2611
    6TechnipFMC$100,263$48.20
    7Momentus Space$97,872$47.05
    8American Axle & Manufacturing$95,760$46.04
    9Electric$95,170$45.75
    10Jacobs Enterprises$95,156$45.75
    11Loram Maintenance of Way$94,541$45.45
    12Firefly Aerospace$94,258$45.32
    13SpaceX$94,206$45.299
    14Virgin Hyperloop$94,184$45.28
    15Brunswick$93,710$45.05
    16Quaker Houghton$93,597$45.001
    17SRC$93,324$44.87
    18Hyspeco$93,126$44.77
    19Plug Power$91,536$44.011
    20General Dynamics$91,323$43.913
  4. Writing a drilling fluids engineer job description

    A drilling fluids engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a drilling fluids engineer job description:

    Drilling fluids engineer job description example

    Pratt & Whitney is working to once again transform the future of flight-designing, building and servicing engines unlike any the world has ever seen. And because transformation begins from within, we're seeking the people to drive it. So, calling all curious.

    Come ready to explore and you'll find a place where your talent takes flight-beyond the borders of title, a country or your comfort zone. Bring your passion and commitment and we'll welcome you into a tight-knit team that takes our mission personally. Channel your drive to make a difference into shaping an organization and an industry that's evolving fast to the future.

    Innovation through diversity of thought. At Pratt & Whitney, we believe diversity of thought enables creativity, innovation, and a foundation for inclusion. By fostering an inclusive culture, we accept a shared accountability and responsibility to recognize, sponsor, coach, hire and promote talent equally. We welcome our employees to be their whole - best - selves at work because trust, respect and integrity, are a part of our DNA.

    At Pratt & Whitney, the difference you make is on display every day. Just look up. Are you ready to go beyond?

    The Pratt and Whitney North Berwick Engineering Center (NBEC) is currently seeking an Engineer with interest in Flow and Thermal analysis to work commercial and military gas turbine engines.
    Key Responsibilities:

    + Thermal analysis of static components within the turbine and compressor sections.

    + Support all phases of design, development, validation, and production implementation

    + Support fleet management of engines flying throughout the world.

    Basic Qualifications:

    + Master's Degree in Engineering or Bachelors degree in Engineering and 2+ years' experience is required.

    + Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)

    + US Citizenship required due to government contracts

    + Active Security clearance OR ability to obtain

    Preferred Qualifications:

    + Working knowledge of: Solid Modeling / Finite Element Modeling / CFD

    + Computer programming (Perl, C++, Python, Matlab, etc)

    + Optimization

    + Statistics / Minitab

    What is my role type?

    In addition to transforming the future of flight, we are also transforming how and where we work. We've introduced role types to help you understand how you will operate in our blended work environment. This role is:

    Hybrid: Employees who are working in Hybrid roles will work regularly both onsite and offsite. This means that responsibilities of the job need to be performed onsite on a regular basis.

    Candidates will learn more about role type and current site status throughout the recruiting process. For onsite and hybrid roles, commuting to and from the assigned site is the employee's personal responsibility.

    Raytheon Technologies is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.

    Raytheon Technologies is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right drilling fluids engineer for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your drilling fluids engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit drilling fluids engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting drilling fluids engineers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new drilling fluids engineer

    Once you have selected a candidate for the drilling fluids engineer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new drilling fluids engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a drilling fluids engineer?

Recruiting drilling fluids engineers involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $89,974 per year for a drilling fluids engineer, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for drilling fluids engineers in the US typically range between $25 and $74 an hour.

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