Energy and utilities jobs
While those with a science or engineering degree background will find plenty of energy jobs to consider in oil and gas, renewable energy or nuclear power, graduate opportunities also exist in energy management and consultancy
Drilling engineer
Starting salary: £25,000 to £45,000
You'll work on land or offshore as you plan and supervise the drilling of oil and gas wells. Involved throughout the process, from initial well design to testing, completion and abandonment, you'll work closely with geologists and geoscientists to monitor progress, safety, and environmental protection.
The day-to-day tasks of a drilling engineer include tracking costs to evaluate the project's commercial viability, ensuring wells are adequately maintained, administering drilling contracts, and taking steps to return a site to its natural state if drilling is not pursued.
You'll likely start out at a large oil company by managing a single well, but you can quickly be responsible for significant budgets. With seniority, you'll oversee multiple wells before potentially moving into management or independent consultancy.
Get an insight into working as a drilling engineer.
Energy engineer
Starting salary: £25,000 to £35,000
In this role, you'll design and test machinery and improve existing processes, whether working with fossil fuels or renewable energy sources.
You could be focusing your work on:
- reducing emissions
- minimising environmental damage
- researching new ways to generate energy.
Your key responsibilities include:
- carrying out site inspections and surveys
- designing and selecting equipment
- adapting lab experiments to large-scale industrial processes
- managing costs and revenues
- keeping up to date with relevant legislation and environmental standards.
As your career progresses, you can move into a senior engineering or managerial role.
Alternative routes include:
- environmental consultancy
- self-employment
- lecturing on energy engineering in higher education.
Read the energy engineer job profile to learn more.
Energy manager
Starting salary: £22,000 to £33,000
You'll be responsible for planning, regulating and monitoring energy use, as well as introducing new policies and changes where they will improve efficiency. Waste management and sustainable development also come under your remit.
To achieve these goals, you'll:
- develop, coordinate and implement energy consumption strategies
- promote sustainability and the use of renewable resources
- negotiate contracts with suppliers
- keep accurate records
- carry out inspections.
Discover more about what it takes to become an energy manager. You can also consider the 7 things you need to know about being an energy consultant.
Engineering geologist
Starting salary: £25,000 to £30,000
It's your job to analyse natural conditions, such as soil, rock and groundwater, to identify and address how these geological factors might affect engineering works. This could be in preparation for a major construction project.
You'll be tasked with:
- collating data and producing reports
- using specialised computer software to assist with the design of built structures
- supervising site and ground investigations
- advising on potential problems
- planning field investigations.
The two main career paths are to continue in a technical role and become a senior engineering geologist or to move into engineering management.
Explore the role of an engineering geologist.
Geochemist
Starting salary: £25,000 to £30,000
You'll study chemical elements in rocks and minerals, and your research will inform oil exploration, toxic waste clean-up or improving water quality.
Jobs are available with:
- environmental consultancies
- oil and gas companies
- research organisations.
You'll spend time:
- analysing the age, nature and components of rocks, minerals, soil and other samples
- conducting tests using specialist equipment
- generating computer models
- writing technical reports
- possibly giving presentations or lectures.
Once you've gained some experience, you may decide to specialise in an area such as oil and gas or mining.
Learn more about what a geochemist does.
Geophysicist
Starting salary: £28,000 to £35,000
You'll study the physical aspects of the earth using various methods, including gravity, magnetic, electrical and seismic. Creating a picture of what lies beneath the earth's surface is vital in the oil and gas industry.
A geophysicist's tasks include:
- deciding on suitable seismic measurement and data processing techniques
- observing the recording equipment
- interpreting and mapping 2D and 3D seismic data
- measuring reservoir volumes
- thinking quickly and independently to solve problems in remote locations.
In this role, Masters or PhD study will help with your career development.
Read more about the role of a geophysicist.
Geoscientist
Starting salary: £28,000 to £35,000
This encompasses a variety of roles that involve working on the earth's system, including:
- geochemist
- geologist
- geophysicist
- hydrogeologist
- sedimentologist.
You'll use data to develop models of the earth's subsurface.
Tasks include:
- collecting data in the field
- using sophisticated software to analyse the subsurface geology
- assessing the potential quality of mineral and hydrocarbon resources
- collaborating with drilling engineers
- planning the location and trajectory of new wells.
View the geoscientist job profile.
Hydrogeologist
Starting salary: £25,000
Your job is to study water distribution, flow and quality underground. You'll need to interpret technical data and information from maps and historical documents to build conceptual groundwater flow and quality models.
The role requires knowledge of fundamental geology and involves:
- field work and site visits
- designing and commissioning boreholes
- analysing information to assess the impact activities may have on water quality
- compliance with regulations.
You'll benefit from achieving chartered status with the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) or The Geological Society of London.
Discover more about becoming a hydrogeologist.
Hydrographic surveyor
Starting salary: £28,000
Also known as hydrographers, hydrographic surveyors spend time aboard survey ships and drilling platforms to measure and map underwater surfaces. This is essential when planning navigation charts, dredging, locating offshore resources, positioning wind farms and subsea cables, and monitoring erosion.
You'll need to:
- use technical software and equipment to gather data
- operate autonomous underwater vehicles
- produce reports
- manage onshore and offshore projects
- respond to technical queries from colleagues
- deal with clients to provide survey results.
Find out more about a career as a hydrographic surveyor.
Mining engineer
Starting salary: £21,000 to £27,000
You'll need to understand the impact mining operations have on their surrounding environment to assess the project's viability, help plan the mine's structure, oversee production, and help with final closure.
Responsibilities include:
- undertaking feasibility studies
- modelling or designing potential mine sites
- monitoring construction projects
- ensuring the safety of the site and equipment
- managing monthly budgets.
Gaining chartered engineer (CEng) status through the Engineering Council can help progress your career. Discover how to become an engineer.
View the mining engineer job profile.
Mudlogger
Starting salary: £25,000 to £30,000
During oil and gas extraction, mudloggers monitor and record drilling activity to provide information about the well's status. This information influences decisions about the efficiency and placement of well sites.
Most mudloggers hold a geology degree, but other relevant subjects include applied science and engineering.
A job as a mudlogger is seen as an entry point into the oil industry, from which you can gain knowledge and experience to move into other roles.
After two to three years, you could become a senior mudlogger or progress to a data engineer or crew chief.
Explore what it's like to be a mudlogger.
Petroleum engineer
Starting salary: £25,000 to £45,000
You'll be involved in nearly all stages of oil and gas field evaluation, development and production - finding the most efficient way to drill for hydrocarbons, using new tools and techniques, and reducing the environmental impact.
Depending on your role, tasks include:
- selecting suitable equipment for the well
- designing systems to help the well flow
- managing problems of fluid behaviour
- understanding and managing the interactions of a set of wells
- keeping clients informed of your progress.
Read more about the role of a petroleum engineer.
Wellsite geologist
Starting salary: £350 to £450 per day
You'll use specialised tests, samples and data to develop knowledge of structures being drilled for oil and gas.
As an experienced geologist, you'll decide on the tests to be carried out and when drilling should start, proceed and stop, considering health and safety implications.
Tasks include:
- evaluating data before drilling starts
- analysing formations during drilling
- advising on hazards and optimisation
- making decisions on the suspension or continuation of drilling
- keeping detailed records.
Wellsite geologist isn't an entry-level role. Before taking the position, you'll probably need two to five years of experience as a mudlogger or measurement while drilling (MWD) engineer.
Discover how to become a wellsite geologist.
Other energy sector jobs
Find out more
- Explore jobs in the oil and gas industry.
- Consider renewable energy careers.
- Get an overview of the UK's energy sector.