At TotalEnergies we have an exciting opportunity for a bright mind to join one of our innovative research project teams – FC Maelstrom.  FC Maelstrom makes it possible to simulate large-scale carbon storage operations (CCS) with unprecedented accuracy, speed, and cost-efficiency. It is a key project in our R&D Sustainability program, and aligns with our transition to a multi-energy company.  Come be a part of the energy transition!

This position can be based in California (Stanford or Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) or Houston, Texas.

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in Computational Science applied to Petroleum Engineering, Computational Petroleum Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related field, with experience in an academic or industrial research center. They must have advanced expertise in C++ software development, specifically for High Performance Computing (HPC) development, with advanced knowledge of numerical methods.  

If these qualifications match your profile, please read on to learn more about the exciting activities of the FC Maelstrom team, and we invite you to apply to the position of Senior Research Scientist.  

FC Maelstrom is a collaborative research project launched in 2018 between TotalEnergies, Stanford University and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Chevron joined this effort in 2023. The project has three objectives: (1) develop an open-source Multiphysics multiscale simulation code designed for high-performance computers (called GEOS) (2) increase the organizational capability inside TotalEnergies on advanced numerical topics (3) create a multipurpose platform used in other numerical projects (for geophysics, geochemistry, or thermal simulation). 

As part of the activity, the Research Scientist will focus on the following tasks, to help support the project’s mission:

• Development: Develop in C++ for GEOS; actively contribute to development, testing, maintenance, and support of the code. Work with developers, share architecture ideas, learn from others and share your knowledge. Ensure robustness of solutions by writing thorough testing and performance benchmarks. Follow development practices suited to a team environment (version control, documentation, encapsulation). Provide insightful comments on other developers’ contributions when performing reviews.
• Industrialization: The industrialization of GEOS consists of improving the user experience, accuracy, performance, and robustness of the code. Validate GEOS on pilot studies. Perform benchmark analyses of performance and accuracy of the results obtained with GEOS to prove its validity and assess added value.
• Research: Enrich the capabilities of GEOS by performing cutting-edge research on algorithms and solvers to model multiphysics numerical simulation and by implementing these advancements into the code. Participate in R&D collaborations with our partners. Be a collaborative researcher, exchange ideas, and challenge ideas as necessary.
• Outreach: Participate in scientific conferences on computational simulation methods, produce conference memos to share internally. Publish reports and peer-reviewed publications summarizing research findings. Promote the Company’s reputation in the professional and academic community. Disseminate your knowledge on the development of GEOS internally.

The base salary range for this position is $160,000 - $200,000. If you are hired at TotalEnergies, your base salary is determined on factors such as skills, experience, geographic location, and other market conditions. While it's not typical for offers to be made at the top of the range, please keep in mind that the base salary range is only one component of your overall compensation. Additionally, you are eligible for the benefits, bonuses, and incentives as listed above in the job description.

• Education/Experience
  • A Ph.D. in Computational Science applied to Petroleum Engineering, Computational Petroleum Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
  • Experience in an academic or industrial research center settings.
• Technical
  • Advanced expertise in C++ software development for HPC development.
  • Advanced knowledge of numerical methods including discretization schemes and linear and non-linear solver techniques. 
  • Knowledge of the simulation of complex multi-physics systems. 
  • Demonstrated research creativity (publication, patents, significant projects).
  • Experience in geological carbon storage simulation is a significant advantage.
• Soft skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication to create and present reports, publications, and provide technical information and advice to management and other stakeholders.
  • Ability to positively and effectively engage with academic partners
  • Excellent command of English, oral and written.
  • A good command of French would be a plus, but is not required.