Senior Geochemical Modeler

About Fervo Energy

Fervo Energy (NASDAQ: FRVO) is a modern power company developing next-generation geothermal resources to meet the growing demand for affordable, reliable, 24/7 carbon-free energy. Our mission is to transform geothermal into America’s most dependable and affordable source of clean, around-the-clock power. By combining innovations in horizontal drilling, fiber-optic sensing, and advanced reservoir engineering, Fervo has developed a repeatable approach to building utility-scale enhanced geothermal systems. Our flagship Cape Station development in Utah is planned to deliver 500 MW of firm, carbon-free power, and we are advancing a development pipeline of more than 50 GW. Join us and work alongside world-class engineers, geoscientists, operators, project builders, and business leaders working to make geothermal a cornerstone of a more reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy future.

Position Description

We are seeking a Senior Geochemical Modeler to develop and apply advanced geochemical and reactive transport models to support the design, development, and long-term operation of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). This scientist will predict fluid chemistry evolution during geothermal reservoir circulation, integrate laboratory and field data with numerical models, and assess geochemical risks associated with mineral scaling, corrosion, and non-condensable gas (NCG) generation and release.

The successful candidate will have expertise in reactive transport modeling, thermodynamic equilibrium, aqueous speciation, and kinetic modeling of high-temperature, high-pressure aqueous systems. Experience in geothermal energy, oil and gas, or other subsurface energy applications is strongly preferred. A demonstrated understanding of water–rock interaction and the ability to calibrate models against actual mineralogical data and produced-water chemistry are essential.

Responsibilities

Geochemical and Reactive Transport Modeling

• Develop and execute reactive transport models to predict fluid chemistry evolution during reservoir circulation, injection, production, and thermal recovery.

• Apply thermodynamic equilibrium, aqueous speciation, mineral dissolution and precipitation kinetics, and temperature-dependent reaction rates to evaluate water–rock interactions.

• Use professional geochemical modeling tools, particularly TOUGHREACT and Geochemist’s Workbench (GWB), to evaluate mineral saturation, secondary mineral formation, and potential changes in reservoir porosity and permeability.

• Evaluate the effects of temperature, pressure, fluid composition, and residence time on mineral reactions and fluid chemistry.

Water–Rock Interaction and Model Calibration

• Interpret core, cuttings, XRD, XRF, petrographic, and other mineralogical analyses to characterize reservoir lithology and define representative mineral assemblages.

• Incorporate actual rock composition, injection-fluid chemistry, and produced-water analyses into numerical models.

• Calibrate model predictions against observed fluid chemistry, including major ions, alkalinity, silica, trace elements, and pH.

• Refine reaction networks, kinetic parameters, reactive surface areas, and mineral assemblages to improve agreement between modeled and observed chemistry.

• Perform sensitivity analyses and quantify uncertainty in key geochemical predictions.

Integration with Reservoir Simulation

• Integrate geochemical models with three-dimensional reservoir simulation workflows used by Fervo, including ResFrac and other applicable numerical modeling platforms.

• Incorporate reservoir flow, mass transport, temperature, pressure, residence time, and thermal evolution assumptions into reactive transport simulations.

• Collaborate with reservoir engineers and geologists to evaluate coupled thermal, hydraulic, and geochemical processes and their implications for long-term reservoir performance.

Scaling, Corrosion, and Non-Condensable Gas Risk

• Assess mineral scaling risks associated with carbonate, sulfate, silica, and silicate minerals during production, heat extraction, pressure changes, and reinjection.

• Evaluate fluid chemistry conditions that contribute to corrosion, including pH, dissolved oxygen, H₂S, CO₂, chloride concentration, and relevant aqueous species.

• Predict dissolved gas behavior and potential NCG release, including CO₂, H₂S, and N2 where relevant, during production, flashing, pressure reduction, and surface processing.

• Translate modeling results into actionable recommendations for chemical treatment, materials selection, fluid handling, reinjection strategy, and geochemical monitoring.

Qualifications

Required

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Geochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Hydrogeology, Earth Sciences, or a related field.

• Demonstrated 5-10 years experience developing reactive transport models from scratch using TOUGHREACT, Geochemist’s Workbench, or comparable professional-grade software.

• Strong understanding of aqueous thermodynamics, chemical speciation, mineral saturation, equilibrium reactions, and kinetic mineral dissolution and precipitation.

• Demonstrated expertise in modeling water–rock interactions in geological formations.

• Experience incorporating real-world mineralogical and aqueous geochemical data into models and calibrating predictions against observed fluid chemistry.

• Strong analytical skills in numerical modeling, model validation, sensitivity analysis, and uncertainty assessment.

Preferred

• Experience in geothermal energy, EGS, oil and gas, or other high-temperature subsurface environments.

• Familiarity with ResFrac or other three-dimensional reservoir simulators and integration of mass and heat transport outputs with geochemical models.

• Experience evaluating scaling, corrosion-related geochemistry, and dissolved gas partitioning.

• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or similar scientific computing tools for data processing, model automation, and sensitivity analysis.

• Familiarity with field sampling, produced-water chemistry, and mineralogical characterization.

Location

Fervo Energy has offices in Houston, TX, Golden, CO, Reno, NV, Oakland, CA, and Salt Lake City, UT. This position will be eligible for some hybrid work flexibility, but regular in-office presence at any of the above locations will be required.

Compensation

Fervo provides a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, short-term and long-term disability, flexible paid time off, and paid parental leave. Additionally, Fervo offers an incentive stock options program, a bonus incentive program, and a 401(k) plan with an employer match.

Fervo Energy is providing the compensation range and general description of other compensation and benefits that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and geographic location. Expected Salary: $138,000 – $210,000 based on location and experience.

Fervo Energy reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, or federal law. Benefits & Perks

• Fervo offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and life outside of work. Benefits for eligible employees include:
• Medical, dental, and vision plan options
• Employer-paid basic life insurance and short-term and long-term disability coverage
• A 401(k) plan with up to 6% match
• Flexible paid time off and paid parental leave
• Family-building, fertility, hormonal health, pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting support through Carrot
• A dependent care FSA for eligible child and elder care expenses
• An annual Lifestyle Spending Account for eligible wellness expenses, including fitness, financial planning, pet insurance, and pet care
• Employee ownership opportunities through Fervo’s Employee Stock Purchase Program, as well as LTI and bonus opportunities for eligible roles

Benefits and programs are subject to eligibility requirements and may change.

Our Workplace

Fervo Energy highly values having employees work in the office to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. This role follows a hybrid schedule, with team members expected to work in the office three days per week. Fervo considers this in-office schedule an essential function of the role. Your recruiter can share more information about the schedule.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Fervo Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, genetic information, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local law. Fervo also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that an individual has any of these characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of these characteristics.