Regional Drilling Lead at Dandelion Energy in Columbia, MD

📌 About the job: The Regional Drilling Lead will lead the expansion and optimization of Dandelion’s geothermal drilling operations in Maryland. Reporting to the VP of Drilling, this role combines entrepreneurial ambition, strategic planning, technical leadership, and operational management. The RDL will oversee a regional team of drilling crews, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and drive continuous improvement to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective drilling operations while establishing Dandelion’s presence in the Maryland geothermal market.

🛠️ Responsibilities:

• Bring an entrepreneurial spirit to the Maryland geothermal market, participating in key decisions around team building, site selection, and operational launch strategies.
• Build and grow a world-class geothermal drilling team in the Colorado region.
• Lead and manage multiple drilling teams, drillers, and support personnel to ensure safe, efficient execution of drilling operations.
• Provide technical guidance in drilling techniques, equipment selection, and logistics to maximize productivity.
• Monitor operations to ensure compliance with safety standards, environmental regulations, and project specifications.
• Implement best practices and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, reduce downtime, and improve profitability.
• Develop and manage budgets, schedules, and performance metrics; provide regular reporting to senior management.
• Mentor and coach team members; foster a culture of safety, innovation, and professional development.
• Stay up to date on industry trends, technological advancements, and regulatory developments, integrating relevant innovations into operations.
• Represent Dandelion in the Maryland/Northern Virginia region as a regional leader and ambassador.

🎯 You will thrive in this role if you have:

• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to navigate new markets and build teams from the ground up.
• Comfort working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach.
• Curiosity, ownership, and a team-first mentality.

✅ Must-haves:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field preferred, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Minimum 8+ years of experience in drilling operations, ideally with geothermal, water well or oil & gas exposure.
• Strong technical knowledge of drilling techniques, geothermal reservoir characteristics, and project management.
• Understanding of safety regulations, environmental compliance, and risk management practices in energy projects.
• Proficiency with project management systems, operational software, and data analysis tools.
• Ability to travel to project sites across Maryland (company vehicle provided)

🌟 Bonus points for:

• Master or journeyman well driller’s license in Maryland

🌼 About Dandelion

Dandelion Energy is transforming how homes are heated and cooled—starting from (below) the ground up. As the nation’s leading residential geothermal company, we design, install, and maintain all-in-one heating and cooling systems that are cleaner, quieter, more affordable, and up to 4× more efficient than traditional HVAC. Our focus is on large, enterprise deployments with major homebuilders, helping bring geothermal to more homes, faster.

Backed by Google Ventures (GV) and other top tech investors, our end-to-end geothermal solution is challenging the status quo in residential heating and cooling. We’re scaling strategically and intentionally to meet growing demand. Our mission is simple and bold: to make geothermal the default choice for heating and cooling in the U.S.

🌳 Why Dandelion

Dandelion Energy is at the forefront of the transition to clean, efficient home energy. Our team has delivered thousands of high-quality geothermal installations across the country, helped elevate geothermal heat pumps nationally, and played a meaningful role in advancing electrification-friendly policy at both the local and federal levels.

We’re a multidisciplinary, mission-driven team spanning hardware engineering, HVAC, drilling, solar finance, behavioral economics, and startup operations. Together, we’re building something complex, impactful, and designed to scale … work that directly shapes how homes are powered for decades to come.

At Dandelion, you’ll find a collaborative, fast-paced, and inclusive culture where curiosity, ownership, and cross-functional teamwork are core to how we operate. Our nationwide team is united by a shared commitment to sustainability and a belief that clean, affordable heating and cooling should be the standard.

We’re driving a wholesale shift in how homes are heated and cooled. Join us.

🎁 Benefits & Perks

• Medical (including mental health), dental, vision, and pet insurance
• 401(k) plan
• Commuter benefits
• Generous paid sick leave, vacation, and parental leave
• Learning & development support, including on-the-job training and virtual courses
• Pet insurance