Manager – Manufacturing & Tooling Development

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight! 

This role is part of Blue Origin Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. This includes Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities.

We are a diverse team of collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin’s vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth.

As part of a passionate and growing team of experts, you will lead a team of manufacturing and tooling development engineers accountable for planning and developing the tooling, processes, and production systems for an assigned portfolio of Blue Origin programs. You will act as the single-threaded M&TD leader for those programs across Manufacturing, Procurement, Test, Quality, Engineering, Finance, and Program Management, executing the strategy of the Advanced Manufacturing Organization. You will do so by building a high-performing team and ensuring cost and schedule conformance for prescribed production systems, tooling concepts, and novel build process development. Blue Origin is looking for someone to apply their expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Responsibilities:

• Own tooling and production planning for your assigned programs to deliver fully integrated and vetted solutions.

• Ensure all production requirements are being met from fabrication/assembly, procurement, and facilities planning efforts for your programs.

• Develop and maintain the operations, tooling, facilities, and equipment (capital) plan for your programs, coordinated with cross-functional stakeholders and rolled up into the M&TD plan.

• Integrate tooling and process development schedules, including in-house development and external vendor studies and designs.

• Ensure consistent application and communication of tooling requirements with production operations, including schedule, capacity planning, equipment, facilities, and infrastructure.

• Perform and lead others in the development of project/program plans, managing risks, tracking and reporting status, and resolving blocking issues.

• Translate long-range M&TD objectives into technical objectives and solution approaches for your team’s assignments.

• Contribute program-level inputs to tooling, facilities, process, and systems roadmaps.

• Manage capital and R&D budgets for your portfolio, and analyze and report on budget performance and variance.

• Work with Program, Engineering, and Operations stakeholders to identify opportunities for vertical integration, automation, new process introduction, and general cost reduction.

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team of engineers from early career through senior level, fostering a culture of ownership and technical excellence. Hire to raise the bar, set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and own performance management and development plans.

• Guide your team’s evaluation and focused development of novel manufacturing technologies, ensuring new capabilities directly support your programs and the long-range production system roadmap.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering discipline or equivalent and 6+ years of related experience in a manufacturing environment.

• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop engineering teams, either in an official management capacity or as an informal technical leader.

• Strong track record of managing the technical execution and delivery of complex, multi-disciplinary engineering projects.

• Experience creating a collaborative, high-performing environment focused on technical excellence and successful project outcomes.

• Experience supporting programs/projects through the product development lifecycle.

• Deep experience in and understanding of complex manufacturing and production systems, including tooling and process development.

• Demonstrated business acumen, while being comfortable in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

• Project and program management experience throughout the manufacturing and tooling environment.

• Highly effective and professional verbal and written communication skills with internal and external teams.

• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion.

• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Desired:

• Experience managing people and dynamic (e.g., growing, evolving) teams, including planning, budget, schedule, quality, deliverables, reporting, staff, and interfaces.

• Technical or project management expertise that has contributed to the success of Tier 1 milestones.

• Experience managing high-mix, low-volume production activities.

• Experience transitioning manufacturing capabilities from development/acquisition to production.

• Knowledge of fabrication processes, integration processes, systems engineering best practices, test, quality, and configuration management systems.

• Experience managing facility-level capital improvements and upgrades.

• Direct experience developing manufacturing processes or tooling for launch vehicles, spacecraft, or large-scale aerospace hardware.

• Familiarity with advanced manufacturing methods, including automation and robotics, additive manufacturing, composites, welding, and precision machining.

• Master’s degree in Engineering or an MBA; PMP, Six Sigma, or PE licensure.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Culture Statement

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background Check
• Required for Certain Job Profiles:  Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation
• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing, vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.
• Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

Benefits

• Benefits include:  Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
• Paid Time Off:  Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.