# Principal Geophysicist at TGS

> Open job at TGS in Houston, United States. Workplace: On-site.

Source: RigJobsDirect, https://rigjobsdirect.com/jobs/tgs-principal-geophysicist-a1upob4
Posted 30 October 2026. Last checked on the employer's career site: 6 November 2026.

## Facts

- Company: [TGS](https://rigjobsdirect.com/companies/tgs)
- Location: Houston, United States
- Workplace: On-site
- Employment type: Full-time
- Local language: Not required
- Skills: PMP
- Not mentioned in the job post: pay, rotation, visa sponsorship, relocation, where you can apply from

## Job description

**Job Summary**

Provide principal level technical leadership across complex seismic imaging and earth model building, while owning end-to-end delivery of large, strategic programs. The Principal Geophysicist sets the technical vision spanning depth imaging, EMB and ML/AI workflows, leads multi-disciplinary teams, and serves as a senior client-facing authority for technical strategy and program execution.

**Key Responsibilities**

**Program Leadership & Delivery**

- Own execution of large, multi-workstream programs: scope, schedule, budget, risk, and governance.
- Define KPIs, milestones, and decision gates; report progress to TGS and client leadership.
- Lead multi-disciplinary teams across imaging, processing, R&T, data engineering, and commercial.
- Serve as senior client interface, align on strategy, lead technical reviews, and translate tradeoffs into business decisions.

**Technical Direction**

- Set technical strategy for complex imaging and FWI-driven earth model building across OBN (sparse/dense) and streamer data.
- Guide model building decisions: parameterization, anisotropy strategy, multi-scale design, convergence criteria, and uncertainty framing.
- Drive integration of ML/AI methods into production workflows (denoising, interpolation, velocity estimation, imaging enhancement).

**Collaboration & Capability Building**

- Partner with R&T to mature new methods from prototype to production.
- Mentor senior and junior geophysicists; raise team capability in FWI, OBN, subsalt imaging, and ML workflows.
- Represent TGS in technical forums, client workshops, and industry venues (SEG, EAGE).

**Required Qualifications**

- M.S. or Ph.D. in Geophysics, Geology, Physics, Computer Science.
- 20+ years in seismic processing and imaging, with deep expertise in earth model building in complex geology.
- Proven delivery of FWI and depth imaging (RTM/LS-RTM, tomography) on GoA or comparable salt basins.
- Strong experience with OBN (sparse and dense) and streamer imaging.
- Demonstrated application of ML/AI to seismic or geophysical problems.
- Proven program/project management track record on large, multi-stakeholder engagements: scope, schedule, budget, and risk.
- Established client-facing leadership: trusted advisor role, executive communication, and workshop/proposal experience.
- Track record of mentoring and leading technical teams.
- Python proficiency; comfort with Linux/HPC environments and ML frameworks

**Preferred Qualifications**

- PMP or equivalent program management credential.
- Publications, patents, or recognized internal technology leadership in imaging, inversion, or ML for geophysics.
- Experience leading multi-year, multi-stakeholder programs.

## How to apply

Apply on the job page, https://rigjobsdirect.com/jobs/tgs-principal-geophysicist-a1upob4: its Apply button opens the employer's own application page.