READ FIRST: This is a senior role for an EXPERIENCED DRILLER, someone who has personally operated a drilling rig. Water well experience is great, but experienced drillers from other kinds of drilling (oil and gas, foundation, geotechnical, directional, reverse circulation, and similar) are absolutely encouraged to apply, your experience transfers and we help you get licensed here. If you have never run a drilling rig, this is not the role for you. We also hire Drilling Apprentices (no experience required) and a CDL Driver/Mechanic, so please apply to those instead if that fits you better. Lead the rig. Own the well. Grow into the driller everyone on the crew wants to learn from. Texas Southern Drilling has completed over 1,100 water wells and built a reputation we protect like it's everything. We run modern hydraulic equipment, hold high standards, and we're based in Columbus, TX, serving roughly 15 counties around Colorado County, east toward Houston and west toward San Antonio. When rain shuts down work in one spot, we adapt and keep moving in another. We protect a 5-star reputation. We do quality work the first time and we don't cut corners. We run on honesty and humility: we'd rather work with someone who says 'show me' than someone who fakes it and puts the team in a bad spot. What this actually is: This is for an experienced driller, licensed or close to it, who wants more than a seat on a rig. If your drilling background is in another field, we'll help you cross over to water well and get your Texas license. Our main lane right now is completing water wells for our clients, and we have plenty of it. You'll run drilling operations, make the calls that keep a well on track, and grow into helping own how the drilling side runs. Drilling is your home base, but the best people here enjoy knowing more than one part of the business. Who we're looking for: You read a formation and adjust. You solve problems on the fly without losing the day. You take ownership of the hole from spud to completion, you bring the crew with you, and you do your best work when trusted to run it, not micromanaged. What you'll do: - Lead the full drilling cycle: setup, drilling, installation, and quality check - Make real-time decisions on harder wells (our tougher ground runs south of Columbus toward Fayetteville and Smithville) - Direct and develop the crew on site - Own well quality and job-site safety, no cut corners - Travel across our service area; drilling can mean multi-day or occasional week-long trips away from home Why TSD: You're a name here, not a number, on a tight team that trusts you to own your work. We pay for your licensing, apprenticeship fees, continuing education, study materials, and CDL. Based in Columbus, TX. Must be commutable to our operation or willing to relocate.
REQUIRED: Hands-on experience operating a drilling rig (any drilling discipline: water well, oil and gas, foundation, geotechnical, directional, reverse circulation, and similar). Operating experience, not just helping. Applicants who have never operated a drilling rig will not be considered for this role.
- Texas water well driller license held or close to qualifying is a plus; out-of-state and other-discipline drilling experience counts toward Texas requirements, and we help you get licensed here
- Ability to diagnose and adapt in changing ground conditions
- Honesty and humility: you ask when you're unsure instead of guessing
- Leadership instinct: you raise the people around you and drive your own growth
- Valid Texas driver's license and a clean-enough driving record
- Comfortable working outdoors in Texas conditions; able to lift up to 100 lbs
- 25 or older (insurance requirement)
- Competitive salary plus incentive bonuses
- We pay for your path: licensing, apprenticeship fees, continuing education, study materials, and CDL
- Long-term potential to earn six figures as a licensed professional
- Healthcare stipend (HSA-eligible plan options)
- Dental insurance, Health insurance, Health savings account
- Paid holidays and paid time off
- Tools provided
- On-the-job training and professional development assistance
- People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
