Manager, Manufacturing Engineering - Engine Test

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!  

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 diverse and hardworking team, you will be responsible for managing and leading a team of Manufacturing Engineers dedicated to preparing rocket engine test hardware for various spaceflight systems. You and your team will share in the responsibility of all aspects of engine testing, from designing manufacturing equipment to supporting engine install and test. Your team will work with suppliers and manufacturing partners to translate engineering intent, testing requirements, drawings, and configurations into fully functional hardware on time and on budget. You will provide technical leadership so that your team will successfully create work instructions and plans that define the build, install, and maintenance of engine hardware, and will also develop material handling and storage processes. Throughout the manufacturing process, your team will also identify, develop, and deploy methods to improve quality, reduce cost, and optimize build sequence and schedules. In collaboration with others, your team will conduct DFMA and PFMEA studies to strengthen the feedback loop between design, build, and test and accelerate the pace of rocket engine development.

As a leader of small and agile engine test team, your successful contributions in this role will directly support the development, qualification, and flight of Blue Origin’s world-class rocket engines. You will be responsible for working closely with direct reports to develop goals and career paths, and manage roles, responsibilities, and accountability for each team member. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable human spaceflight. We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages. Additionally, we provide an opportunity to work a 9/90 schedule – every other Friday off.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and work closely with management to meet design, build, and test milestones for all engine programs
• Champion tooling, ergonomics, safety, and quality improvements affiliated with the build and test process
• Evaluate staffing requirements, and hire strong candidates to build a team consistent with our leadership principles
• Lead a team to successfully:
• Apply robust, consistent, and reliable engineering fundamentals and processes to ensure the highest quality of manufacturing engineering
• Review and understand companywide processes and command media to ensure proper compliance
• Establish and improve upon rocket engine manufacturing processes for Dev, qualification, and flight
• Identify, develop, and deploy new manufacturing methods (or refine existing) to improve quality, reduce cost, and optimize build schedule
• Develop manufacturing work instructions to clearly define the following manufacturing process: receiving inspection, fabrication, assembly, test, integration, and refurbishment
• Manage cost, quality, build and test sequence, maintenance, and schedule throughout the entire manufacturing process
• Perform engineering drawing review and drive test manufacturability into designs
• Develop process control measures and evaluation through statistical analysis
• Define and support repair and rework activities
• Design, procure, install, and integrate custom manufacturing equipment
• Interface with external and internal suppliers and manufacturing partners to ensure that hardware and equipment is manufactured, processed, packaged, and delivered properly, on time, and on budget
• Perform root cause analyses when non-conformances and escapes are identified and deploy corrective actions
• Design proper material handling and packaging to protect hardware throughout the build and test process
• Manage hardware configuration and maintain pedigree throughout the entire build and test process
• Troubleshoot issues along with other technical and non-technical teammates
• Streamline testing data collection and evaluation

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, or Aerospace Engineering (other relevant fields may apply) from an accredited university (Master of Science preferred)
• 3+ years of direct manufacturing and manufacturing engineering experience supporting large assemblies, pressurized systems, and acceptance testing
• Mastery of engineering fundamentals for mechanical design, manufacturing, systems, and test
• Extensive experience in hardware manufacturing and maintenance (i.e. welding, cleaning, non-destructive testing methods, tight tolerance assembly, leak testing, final acceptance testing of integrated hardware, controls, and Manufacturing Execution Systems/Software)
• Experience managing direct reports, projects, or programs
• Strong coordination, personnel, and project management skills
• Ability to operate, make decisions, lead, and make forward progress in ambiguous environments
• Understanding of product lifecycle management
• Strong written, personal, technical, and software skills (CAD, Scheduling, Issue Tracking, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
• Ability to communicate clearly and appropriately at all levels of the organization, included technical and non-technical parties
• 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:

• 5+ Years of management experience with direct reports
• Master’s degree in business or engineering
• Understanding of how to use data mining to pull metrics and track progress.
• Managed teams > 15 individual contributors
• Experience with rocket engine hardware
• Prior work with teams at different sites in different locations

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.

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