Director Manufacturing Engineering - Sustained Lunar Development

Application close date:

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!

The Manufacturing Engineering Director will lead managers in technical leadership and provide professional guidance to manufacturing engineers supporting all Manufacturing Engineering Teams in Lunar Permanence Manufacturing Operations. This will include MK2 Crewed Lander, Transporter, and Core Components as part of Blue's Sustained Lunar Development architecture. The successful candidate will ensure sufficient resources are developed and deployed to various hardware fabrication and assembly product teams. This leader will champion efforts to identify, deploy, and advance methods to improve safety, improve quality, reduce cost, and optimize build sequence and schedules. The person in this role will lead and/or participate in the development, standardization and improvement of manufacturing processes. As an integral member of the team, you will drive studies to strengthen the feedback loop between design, build, and test and accelerate the pace of manufacturing program development and production.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight through rapid development lifecycles. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

This role will report to the Vice President of Operations for Lunar Permanence and will be based at Blue's Rocket Park Manufacturing Complex at Merritt Island, FL.

Special Mentions:

• Relocation provided

Responsibilities include:

• Provide technical and personal leadership to the management and engineering teams including implementation of Design for X (DFX) / Design for Manufacturing and Assembly, Design for Test, etc.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition to recruit, and grow the Manufacturing Engineering team
• Collaborate with peer groups to identify, develop and improve manufacturing process while capturing impact of improvements to safety, quality, and process efficiency
• Manage, lead and status multiple projects concurrently
• Ensure timely release of manufacturing work instructions and related technical processes in support of fabrication, assembly, test, integration, and refurbishment
• Balance engineering and production priorities across various programs
• Work closely with site leadership and program managers to meet design, build, and test targets while aligning budget and schedule commitments
• Ensure teams apply robust, consistent, and reliable engineering fundamentals and processes to ensure product integrity and process capability
• Work closely with direct reports to develop specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound goals and promote professional development
• Ownership of department budgets, staffing levels,capital equipment planning, and implementation
• Participate in and/or lead causal analyses related to engine production and test
• Collaborate proactively with the business unit in the early stages of product development to lead and support design for manufacturability (DFM) initiatives.
• Ensure safety remains a primary focus across all of the functional teams

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial or Aerospace Engineering (other relevant fields may apply) from an accredited university
• 15+ years of relevant engineering and manufacturing support experience
• Experience leading manufacturing engineering teams in a research, development, and production environments with rapid development cycles
• Ability to effectively work across multiple teams, earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion
• Advanced experience in complex hardware design and manufacturing (e.g., friction-stir welding, machining, cleaning, non-destructive testing methods, complex assembly, and acceptance testing
• Engineering leadership experience in an aerospace environment with space hardware, aircraft or similar, mission critical high value components
• In-depth understanding of manufacturing engineering and test engineering principles
• Previous experience and success in developing/starting new manufacturing processes
• Strong personnel and project management skills
• Ability to operate, make decisions, lead, and make forward progress in ambiguous environments
• Understanding of product lifecycle management and associated gate reviews
• Proficiency in business and engineering software (i.e. MSOffice, Windchill, PLM, etc)
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master of Science in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial or Aerospace Engineering (other relevant fields may apply) from an accredited university
• Ability to effectively work across multiple teams, earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion
• Advanced experience with complex manufacturing hardware manufacturing (i.e. castings, forgings, additively manufactured components, welding, machining, cleaning, non-destructive testing methods, complex assembly and acceptance testing)
• Previous engineering leadership in an aerospace environment with space hardware, aircraft or similar, mission critical high value components (motors, solar products, tight tolerance assemblies)
• Previous experience leading an engineering team during a facility activation or product line transition.
• Experience in manufacturing execution system implementation and interactions with material resource planning tools.
• Ability to provide guidance and mentoring to GD&T, interferences, and improvements to models for simple to medium complexity tooling

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 (CDL drivers only), 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.

• 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 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.

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