SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Endurance Energy is building modular subsea geothermal power plants to convert thermal resources beneath the ocean into baseload clean energy. The company is backed by top-tier VCs (Founders Fund, Felicis, First Round Capital, Point72 Ventures) and has a founding team with experience from SpaceX, Helion, Blue Origin, and Apple. They have completed multiple deep-ocean deployments and are launching a long-term demonstration project.
As Principal Geologist, you will be at the forefront of identifying and characterizing the most promising subsea geothermal sites globally. You'll combine cutting-edge marine geology techniques with practical drilling operations experience to unlock energy potential beneath the ocean floor. This is a high-autonomy role requiring deep technical expertise in resource drilling and an entrepreneurial mindset to pioneer an entirely new energy category.
Key responsibilities include: taking ownership of geological and drilling decision-making with limited oversight; leading geological site assessment and characterization for subsea geothermal installations along mid-ocean ridges and hydrothermal systems; developing drilling strategies and wellbore designs optimized for subsea geothermal extraction; analyzing seafloor geology, heat flow patterns, and hydrothermal fluid characteristics to identify optimal drilling locations; interpreting geophysical surveys, bathymetric data, and subsurface imaging to map geological structures and thermal anomalies; designing and overseeing geological sampling programs using ROVs, submersibles, and specialized drilling equipment; collaborating with marine operations teams to plan and execute subsea drilling campaigns; rapidly assessing geological risks including seismic activity, seafloor stability, and thermal system variability; creating geological models to predict long-term reservoir performance; supporting environmental impact assessments and regulatory permitting; and working across multiple disciplines as needed.
You'll wear multiple hats, working directly with engineering teams to translate geological insights into actionable deployment strategies while also getting hands-on with field operations and data collection. In startup fashion, you'll move fast, make decisions with incomplete information, and adapt quickly as the company learns from each deployment. Your geological expertise will be fundamental to scaling clean energy infrastructure globally, with autonomy to shape how the company approaches subsea geology as it grows.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Geology, Petroleum Engineering, or related discipline (MS or PhD preferred)
- Direct experience with drilling operations, including oil and gas, geothermal systems (including EGS), and/or deep water wells (2,000+ ft); demonstrated track record managing drilling projects with cumulative budgets in the $10M–$100M+ range
- Familiarity with drilling techniques, wellbore design, and completion techniques
- 4+ years of experience in the subsurface fluid resource sector (oil and gas, solution mining, or geothermal); experience at an operator strongly preferred
- Demonstrated ability to manage project budgets and control costs
- Experience interpreting geophysical data (seismic, magnetics, etc.), well logs, and other subsurface geological information
- Background in hydrothermal systems, volcanic geology, or geothermal resource assessment
- Ability to thrive in ambiguous, fast-moving environments with minimal structure and maximum autonomy
- Comfortable making critical geological decisions with incomplete data and tight deadlines
- Strong bias toward action and hands-on problem solving
- Excellent adaptability and willingness to tackle challenges outside traditional geological scope
PREFERRED SKILLS:
- Offshore geoscience operations, including field experience on research vessels or offshore drilling platforms
- Experience with ROV/AUV operations and subsea geological sampling techniques
- Knowledge of reservoir engineering principles and geothermal fluid dynamics
- Understanding of seafloor drilling systems (riserless drilling, seafloor templates, subsea wellheads)
- Experience with geological risk assessment for offshore energy projects
- Background in structural geology, tectonics, or volcanology
