Senior Manager - Spaceflight Operations, In-Space Systems

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 diverse team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!  

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 diverse team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!

This role is a part of the Test & Flight Operations team, providing centralized support to the In-Space Systems business unit on design, build and maintenance of the operations systems and products across the full Blue Ring program lifecycle. This position will work with the In-Space Systems Mission Element Director.

We are looking for someone to apply their vision, passion, technical expertise, leadership skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact safe spaceflight. Join us in enabling Blue Origin’s vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit earth - passion for our mission is required!

As a Sr. Manager of the Spacecraft Operations Team, you will be responsible for building and managing strategic technical capabilities essential to the operation of spacecraft with diverse concepts of operation. This team is comprised of experts in the following disciplines – Spacecraft Mission Operations, Flight Operations Engineering, Service & Customer Operations Management, Mission Planning and Operations Product Development (procedures, rules, limits, displays, etc.). The ideal candidate is someone who brings creative ideas, along with the persistence and passion to build a team from the ground up. Join us in enabling Blue Origin’s vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit earth - passion for our mission is required!

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Directly manage a team of 8 – 20 team members skilled in the disciplines mentioned above, including on-console 24x7 crew operations across early and long duration mission operations.

• Assist the Mission Element Director with the management of budget, schedule, and personnel for the Flight Operations team.
• Help establish standards for repeatable and cost-effective mission operations execution, working to continuously improve team performance and create a culture of operational excellence.
• Develop and manage the people, processes, and tools essential for best-in-class performance in these subject domains.
• Provide real-time leadership to the execution of complex space missions, including test and demonstration flights of new technology.
• Cultivate an evolving, rightsized workforce across on-console crew and development staff; oversee performance, merits, and promotions; shepherd team members’ careers through coaching, opportunity matching, and technical development.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including engineers representing flight vehicle systems, ground software, flight control operators and customers.
• Dedication to building a cohesive team through leadership, problem-solving skills, and strong listening and communications skills.
• Provide expertise, ensuring that your team’s deliverables meet domain quality standards.
• Benchmark the team’s work standards and tools with other Blue Origin business units and industry trends.
• Exemplify best practices, balanced technical judgment, and superior work ethic.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace, Electrical, Computer Science, Systems, or related fields
• 2+ years of experience managing technical teams and/or leading functional groups, with responsibility for technical quality of work delivered, and career management of employees.
• 10+ years of proven experience in spacecraft operations
• Experienced in configuration and product data management, including Jira / Confluence
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Real-time mission operations experience supporting both nominal and anomalous scenarios.
• M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Systems, or Aerospace Engineering
• Experience in development, implementation, and testing of mission and ground systems for aerospace vehicles.
• Experience working with Ground Software (e.g., Command & Control, Mission Planning, Flight Dynamics, Electronic Procedures, Software Simulators)
• Experience with scrum methodology and agile product development
• Experience in full development lifecycle of space systems’ ground segments
• Mission analysis, flight planning and timeline development (tool and analysis)
• Ground-based Navigation (e.g., RF, Optical, etc.)
• Spacecraft telemetry, commanding and sequencing.
• Operational fault management
• Experience designing and evaluating operational readiness tests integrated with hardware-in-the-loop, and software-in-the-loop simulators.
• Experience with performing system safety analyses including Functional Hazard Assessments (FHA), Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analyses (FMECA), and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)

Compensation range for on site CO applicants is $99,330-$139,062

Compensation range for on site WA applicants is $108,360-$151,704

Compensation range for on site CA applicants is $108,360-$151,704

Other site ranges may differ

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

Inclusivity 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 a diverse, inclusive, and 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.

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.

Paid Time Off:  Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

Discretionary bonus: Bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results.

Eligibility for benefits varies by role type, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role.

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, diverse, 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, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members. 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, gender, 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 “EEO Is the Law,” 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 EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com.

California Applicant Privacy Notice

If you are a California resident, please reference the CA Applicant Privacy Notice here.