Well Engineer
Are you an experienced Well Engineer with a strong focus on safety, technical quality, and innovation? Do you know how to engineer complex well operations while keeping risks under control? And would you like to work on challenging international projects within the oil and gas industry? This is an opportunity to make a real impact. As a Well Engineer, you will play an important role in the engineering and preparation of workover and plug & abandonment operations. You will work on technically demanding projects where professionalism, safety, and continuous improvement are key.
Description
As a Well Engineer, you will be responsible for preparing, engineering, and reviewing well programmes for workover and plug & abandonment activities. You will assess the technical situation of wells, advise on safe and efficient closure strategies, and help ensure that operations are executed according to the highest standards.
Your work involves both detailed engineering and practical problem-solving. You will develop well-on-paper scenarios, review operational risks, and provide technical advice when unexpected situations occur. You will also work closely with colleagues, clients, and operational teams to ensure that every project is well prepared and professionally executed.
Your activities include:
- Engineering, writing, and reviewing workover and plug & abandonment programmes
- Developing well-on-paper scenarios for abandonment and workover operations
- Advising on safe, efficient, and technically sound well closure strategies
- Participating in after-action reviews to identify lessons learned and improve future operations
- Researching innovative products, technologies, and services within the market
- Supporting R&D and innovation teams in the development of practical technical solutions
- Providing ad-hoc technical advice during unexpected operational situations
- Contributing to cost control, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement
Requirements
You are analytical, decisive, and able to keep the bigger picture in mind while working through complex technical details. Safety is central to your way of working, and you are comfortable taking responsibility in a technically demanding environment.
You bring:
- A completed Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, or a related technical field
- Minimum of 3 years of experience as a Well Engineer, Well Supervisor, or in a similar role within the oil and gas industry
- A recognised well control certification
- Strong knowledge of workover and plug & abandonment operations
- Experience with internal and annular remediation techniques
- Understanding of cost control and operational efficiency in well operations
- A structured and safety-focused approach to engineering
- Strong communication skills in English and Afrikaans
- Willingness to relocate to the Netherlands and learn Dutch
- Valid driver’s license
What we offer
Benefits
At Employ IR, we believe in giving you the freedom and support to build a meaningful career abroad. We create an environment where you can use your skills to the fullest while growing personally and professionally.
We offer:
- Base salary between €4.357 – €5.500 gross per month, based on experience
- 8% holiday allowance on top of your annual salary
- Work-related expenses fully covered, including relocation to the Netherlands
- Company vehicle, also available for private use
- 26 vacation days per year
- Solid pension contribution
- A safe, stable, and supportive working environment
- Training and development opportunities
- Full support throughout your relocation and integration process
About the client
Our client is a Dutch-based engineering and well services company active globally in the energy sector, with specialism in well intervention, decommissioning, and modular unit development for operations such as snubbing, hydraulic workover, and Plug & Abandon. The company supports onshore and offshore projects across oil, gas, geothermal and subsurface storage industries, and emphasises innovation, safety and sustainability in its operations.
More information
About Employ IR
Employ IR connects skilled South African professionals with leading technical employers in the Netherlands. We guide you through the entire relocation and placement process, ensuring a smooth transition into your new role and environment.
Interested?
Are you ready to bring your civil engineering expertise to high-impact infrastructure projects in the Netherlands? Apply now for this vacancy.
Know someone else who might be a good fit? Feel free to share this vacancy.
Apply for the position of Well Engineer
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Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about working in the Netherlands, your relocation or the process at Employ IR? Below are the questions we receive most often. Can't find your question? Please feel free to contact us.
View all frequently asked questionsHow does health insurance work in the Netherlands?
In the Netherlands, you are required to have health insurance, which covers essential services such as doctor visits, hospital care and medications. Health insurance costs about €150 per month. Employ IR offers independent experts to help you choose a health insurer, and the government ensures that all insurers offer the same basic coverage. There is an annual deductible, but most basic care is covered. For a referral to a specialist, you first visit your family doctor. Additional insurance is also available for extras such as dentistry or physical therapy. The system is accessible and guarantees quality care for everyone.
How long does the relocation process take?
After you sign your contract with Employ IR, the process usually takes about 6-8 weeks before you are in the Netherlands. However, this depends on factors beyond our control, such as the workload at the IND (Immigration and Naturalization Service).
What documents do I need to move to the Netherlands?
Everyone participating in the relocation process needs a passport and an unabridged birth certificate (with apostille). If you are married and want to bring your partner to the Netherlands, you also need a marriage certificate (with apostille). If you are in a long-term relationship but not married, you and your partner must both provide a declaration of marital impediment (with apostille). The unabridged birth certificates, marriage certificates and declarations of impediment to marriage can be obtained from the Department of Home Affairs. Apostilles can be obtained from DIRCO.
Can I use my South African driver's license in the Netherlands?
Yes, if you have applied for the 30% ruling, you can use your South African driver's license for the first six months. It is important that you convert your South African driver's license to a Dutch driver's license at your municipality after your 30% ruling has been approved. If you do not convert your driving license within the first six months, it will become invalid and you will have to take a driving test again in the Netherlands.
How much does it cost to move to the Netherlands through Employ IR?
In short, very little.
More comprehensive: Employ IR covers all costs related to your move, except for expenses incurred in South Africa, such as for your personal documents and other personal items.
What Employ IR arranges
We arrange your entire move to the Netherlands and take care of the process for you. With our years of experience in visa procedures, we handle your visa application quickly and carefully, including applications for your partner and children. We arrange your housing, transport with a company car, Dutch lessons and the application for the 30% ruling. We also take care of the details from start to finish: from personally welcoming you at the airport to helping you register with a GP and sports clubs, apply for child benefit and much more. Your relocation manager guides you personally throughout the process.
What you arrange and pay for yourself
Employ IR pays the estate agent and covers the costs of finding your home; you pay the monthly rent yourself. You also arrange your own personal documents in South Africa and private insurance, including health insurance, which is compulsory in the Netherlands.