Erling Fjær has been working at SINTEF Petroleum (formerly IKU Petroleum Research) since 1985, on topics related to rock mechanics and rock acoustics, with applications including borehole stability, sand production, seismic monitoring and logging of mechanical properties. His current position is Chief Scientist. He also holds a part time position as Adjunct Professor in geoscience and petroleum at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. He has a PhD in physics from the same university.