Lead Geothermal Exploration Geologist

Quaise Energy is unlocking Earth’s deep heat to deliver clean, reliable, baseload energy at scale – almost anywhere in the world. As both a technology innovator and project developer, Quaise builds and operates solutions that harness superhot geothermal energy far below the surface, enabling power generation that can rival the output of today’s most efficient fossil fuel and nuclear plants. Leveraging millimeter wave drilling, developed after more than a decade of research at MIT, Quaise’s mission is to make superhot geothermal a backbone of the modern energy system, offering affordable, zero-carbon power and true energy independence for communities and nations everywhere.

The Lead Geothermal Exploration Geologist will lead geothermal exploration, geological evaluation, and subsurface characterization activities across selected lease areas and geothermal development opportunities, with a focus on identifying and advancing resources suitable for Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) development. This role is responsible for translating regional geothermal concepts, lease-position data, and subsurface evidence into actionable exploration, acquisition, and resource development programs that support long-term project execution and portfolio growth.

This role serves as a technical lead for geothermal exploration efforts, integrating geologic, geophysical, thermal, structural, geomechanical, well, and drilling datasets to develop conceptual three-dimensional geothermal resource models. This individual will guide prospect ranking, exploration strategy, drilling recommendations, wellsite geology, and resource assessment in close collaboration with a team that includes reservoir engineering, geophysics, drilling, completions, land, permitting, and development.

Additional responsibilities include maintaining a positive corporate culture, promoting a safe and creative work environment, identifying and supporting opportunities for external collaborations, and other activities designed to improve Quaise.

Essential functions (Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.)

Geothermal Exploration Strategy for EGS Applications

• Lead geothermal exploration strategy across selected lease areas, and portfolio growth opportunities supporting Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) development.
• Develop geothermal play concepts and prospect-ranking frameworks integrating resource potential, thermal regime, permeability, structural setting, stress state, infrastructure, permitting, and development risk.
• Identify and evaluate geothermal growth opportunities through lease-area screening, prospect generation, land acquisition support, and technical diligence activities.
• Design and execute stage-gated geothermal exploration programs, including desktop studies, geologic mapping, geophysical acquisition, geochemical sampling, temperature-gradient assessment, exploration drilling, and appraisal planning.
• Develop exploration scopes, schedules, budgets, data-acquisition plans, and decision criteria for advancing, pausing, or exiting exploration programs.

Lease-Area Exploration Campaign Design

• Lead technical evaluation of geothermal leases from initial screening through drilling readiness.
• Define lease-specific exploration objectives, technical risks, subsurface uncertainties, resource potential, and success criteria for EGS development.
• Design integrated exploration campaigns that may include geologic mapping, structural analysis, geophysical surveys, geochemical sampling, temperature-gradient drilling, slim-hole programs, exploration wells, and appraisal wells.
• Incorporate risk assessment, uncertainty analysis, contingency planning, and stage-gate decision logic into exploration program design.
• Coordinate exploration campaign execution with drilling, completions, reservoir engineering, land, permitting, environmental, development, and HSE teams.

Drilling, Wellsite Geology, and EGS Development Support

• Lead geological support activities for geothermal exploration, appraisal, and drilling operations.
• Oversee wellsite geology activities including mudlogging, cuttings and core description, wireline and image-log interpretation, geo-steering support, drilling data capture, and real-time geologic interpretation.
• Perform offset well analysis to support geologic prognoses, well planning, drilling hazard identification, and wellbore stability evaluations.
• Evaluate subsurface stress state using image logs, structural data, seismicity data, drilling observations, and geomechanical inputs.
• Characterize fracture systems, structural controls, and permeability indicators relevant to geothermal reservoir performance and EGS stimulation design.
• Provide technical recommendations related to logging programs, casing points, coring, well trajectories, and other geologic decisions during drilling operations.

Cross-Functional Reservoir Development Support

• Partner with reservoir engineers, geophysicists, and data scientists to support geothermal reservoir conceptual models and pre-development reservoir evaluations.
• Support resource assessment, reserve estimation, asset management, investment analysis, and technical diligence activities for geothermal opportunities.
• Ensure geological interpretations support EGS development planning, reservoir stimulation strategy, well placement, and long-term resource development decisions.
• Communicate geothermal exploration results, technical risks, subsurface uncertainties, and development recommendations to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

Technical Leadership and Team Development

• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and quality oversight for geologists, consultants, contractors, and field personnel.
• Establish exploration workflows, data standards, reporting practices, prospect review processes, and technical assurance procedures supporting geothermal exploration activities.
• Manage external consultants and service providers supporting geologic mapping, geophysics, geochemistry, logging, modeling, and drilling operations.
• Serve as a visible field safety leader by supporting HSE initiatives, participating in site safety reviews, and reinforcing safe operational practices.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, scientific rigor, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Strong technical understanding of geothermal systems, structural geology, reservoir geology, fracture systems, heat flow, and subsurface uncertainty analysis.
• Working knowledge of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) concepts and geothermal reservoir development workflows.
• Ability to integrate geologic, geophysical, thermal, well, and drilling datasets into conceptual and three-dimensional resource models.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to operate independently while maintaining effective collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical findings to both technical and non-technical audiences, and brief senior leadership on geothermal exploration risks, recommendations, and investment decisions.
• Comfortable operating within a startup or high-growth environment with evolving priorities.
• Proficiency with GIS and geomodeling software such as ArcGIS, QGIS, Leapfrog, Petrel, EarthVision, GOCAD, or similar platforms.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.

Supervisory responsibilities

• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to geologists, contractors, consultants, and field personnel.
• May assist with recruiting, onboarding, and training technical staff.
• May oversee the work of external consultants and service providers supporting exploration and drilling activities.
• This role does not currently include formal direct people-management responsibilities but may evolve over time with organizational growth.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in geology, geological engineering, geophysics, earth sciences, or a related discipline required.
• Master’s or Ph.D. in geology, geophysics, geothermal engineering, or related field preferred.
• 10+ years of relevant geoscience experience in geothermal, oil and gas, mining, or other subsurface resource industries preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading exploration or subsurface evaluation programs from concept through drilling or appraisal.
• Experience supporting drilling operations, well planning, wellsite geology, or subsurface operational activities preferred.
• Experience interpreting thermal datasets, well logs, structural geology, and fracture characterization data preferred.

Physical requirements

• Ability to travel periodically to field locations, lease areas, drilling sites, and contractor or partner offices.
• Ability to work outdoors in remote environments, including hiking over rough or uneven terrain while wearing required PPE.
• Ability to safely work around drilling operations, field equipment, and industrial environments while adhering to established safety procedures.
• Ability to operate or ride in 4WD vehicles in variable terrain and weather conditions.
• The employee is regularly required to stand, sit, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, as well as use hands to feel, reach, grasp, handle, or operate objects, tools and/or controls.
• The employee may occasionally lift, move, push, pull, or carry items up to 20 pounds for operational or field support needs.
• Ability to adjust work hours and travel schedules as needed to support field operations and project activities.
• The vision requirement includes reviewing written and electronic materials in digital and physical format.