Tilden studied his undergraduate degree at the University of Edinburgh. Initially convinced that a career as a mud engineer was the best route for him. He wanted to enter the oil industry for as long "as I can remember." Upon realizing that his initial thoughts on his career had been skewed by a subconscious aversion to geology caused by two geologist parents, he admits realizing "that I was generally mediocre at Chemistry" sp Tilden switched to a Geology BSc. On finishing, he moved back down to the south of England to read for an MSc in Petroleum Geoscience at Imperial College, London. He finished his studies in 2012, completing a thesis in dolomite geochemistry, proving that time spent learning is never wasted.

Upon graduating Tilden accepted a job on the Statoil Graduate Program, and is currently working as an operations geologist. Specifically he is working in development wells on the Snorre Field, a Statoil-operated field on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. There he is concerning himself with pore pressure, rock mechanics and general day-to-day geo-operational work, as well as stints working wellsite getting his hands on some actual rocks from time to time. In his spare time Tilden enjoys cycling, hill walking and skiing.