Active-Source Seismologist - Fault Imaging (Extensional Geothermal)

Role Overview

Hours: Full‑time; Salaried

Location: Salt Lake City, UT (hybrid)

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Manager: Head of Imaging R&D

Why we exist and why we need you

Geothermal is abundant but historically hard to find and expensive to develop. Zanskar modernizes geothermal exploration by combining field data collection, advanced imaging, and data science so developers can drill with confidence. Your mission is to detect and characterize the faults that control geothermal fluid flow—with special emphasis on extensional provinces and volcanic terranes where there are many wavefield scatterers, high wavefront attenuation, and often weak impedance contrasts —and to turn active‑source seismic data into drill‑relevant decisions. This role bridges survey design, acquisition, processing, anisotropic depth modeling and imaging, and clear uncertainty communication to internal stakeholders.

• Design seismic surveys to see reflections from offset strata and/or faults and fault zones. Align survey geometry, near‑surface strategy, and interpretation goals with exploration and reservoir teams so the design maximizes fault detectability.
• Deliver depth‑migrated fault images with stated uncertainty. Run robust land survey workflows (elevation/refraction statics, denoise/ground‑roll attenuation, decon, Q‑comp) and use time-migration for rapid QC and depth migration for final imaging.
• Build reliable velocity models. Iterate with tomography (and FWI where practical); validate with angle‑domain gathers, horizon ties, and well/checkshot control when available; demonstrate depth accuracy fit‑for‑drilling.
• Focus on permeability‑controlling structure. Emphasize fault/fracture characterization and subtle offsets typical of extensional & volcanic settings; produce fault‑focused deliverables and quantify uncertainty.
• Own vendor execution. Draft SoWs with measurable acceptance criteria (e.g., gather flatness, depth mistie budgets, formats, reproducibility); run technical evaluations; lead day‑to‑day QC; sign off on deliverables; integrate external results into Zanskar’s versioned models.

• MSc or PhD in Geophysics, Seismology, Physics, Mathematics, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years in land 2D and/or 3D active‑source design, processing, and depth imaging. With demonstrated fault modeling and/or fault imaging—bonus if completed in extensional settings or volcanic zones (your priority for the role).
• Strong statics and near‑surface model building (refraction; exposure to FWI).
• Proven anisotropic model building (VTI required; TTI strongly preferred) with gather‑based QC (flattening, residual moveout).
• Experience overseeing contractors: writing SoWs, evaluating bids, managing schedule/budget, running acceptance tests, and integrating results

• Basin & Range or analogous extensional‑terrain experience.
• FWI for near‑surface/velocity updates; RTM and other novel imaging exposure.
• Cloud/GPU workflows; Python fluency, version control (git) and CI for processing recipes.

• The position is based out of our headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is a hybrid position
• Paid Holidays
• 18 days PTO + PTO accrual increase based on tenure
• Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage
• 401k
• Stock Options
• Growth opportunities at a quickly scaling company with a direct impact in displacing carbon emissions

Equal Opportunity Employer 

Zanskar is an equal-opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practice laws.