Early-career engineer looking for guidance on the offshore path

Hi everyone,
I’m an early-career engineer trying to make informed decisions about where to aim next, and I’m hoping to learn from people who’ve already walked this path.

To give some context: I’m a final-year BSc Oil & Gas Engineering student, on track to graduate next year, with an expected 4.0/4.0 GPA. Academically I’ve done very well across the core petroleum subjects (drilling, production, reservoir, formation evaluation, etc.), and alongside my studies I’ve been working in a flow assurance consulting company. In my current role, I carry out well and pipeline modelling, transient and steady-state analyses, and studies related to wax, hydrates, pigging, and thermal-hydraulic behaviour. I initially joined the company as an intern, and after that period they brought me on part-time, so I’ve been able to stay involved in real projects rather than just short-term student work.

The work itself has been genuinely interesting and I’m very grateful for the opportunity and trust the company has given me early on. That said, I’ve always believed that early immersion in demanding, technically intensive environments is unmatched for the development of young engineers. For me, that’s why offshore work has always stood out as the place where I’d like to end up relatively early in my career, specifically in or close to drilling engineering.

I’m realistic enough to understand that offshore roles, especially drilling, are usually reserved for people with experience. So my question is really about pathways. For those of you who’ve made it offshore (or work closely with offshore teams):

• How does a graduate realistically position themselves for that transition?

• Are there onshore or office-based roles that put you in very close proximity to offshore operations and make that move more feasible later?

• Are graduate programs, rotations, or certain types of roles better “stepping stones” than others?

For reference, I’ve been applying to structured graduate programs that are drilling / well-operations focused (for example, North Development Program 2026 – Engineer Drilling & Well Operations), as those seem like a natural bridge between being new and eventually earning offshore trust.

In terms of mindset: I’m completely flexible on location, rotations, and type of project. I don’t mind starting somewhere tough, remote, or unglamorous if it actually builds the right experience. I’m keen to put the work in and learn properly, rather than chase titles.

I’d really appreciate any advice, reality checks, or personal experiences you’re willing to share. And who knows, maybe I’ll end up working with some of you down the line. One more name in the connection book, right? 😄