Director of Cost Accounting

BLUE ORIGIN • Seattle, WA

5d • $187,923 - $263,092

About The Position

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 corporate functions, providing centralized support across Blue Origin business unit teams, functions, and locations. Blue Origin is seeking a Director of Cost Accounting to lead and scale the company's cost accounting function during a period of significant growth and operational complexity. This leader will be responsible for establishing and maintaining best-in-class cost accounting practices across Blue Origin's manufacturing, engineering, launch operations, and program environments. The role will provide critical financial visibility into product costs, inventory, work-in-process, overhead allocation, and program profitability—enabling leadership to make informed decisions with speed and confidence. The ideal candidate brings deep cost accounting expertise in a complex manufacturing or aerospace environment, a strong command of GAAP and government contract accounting standards (CAS/FAR/DFAR), and the leadership ability to build a high-performing team and scalable infrastructure from the ground up. This individual will partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Program Management, and FP&A to embed cost discipline and financial transparency across the enterprise.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 12+ years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 5 years focused on cost accounting in a manufacturing, aerospace, or defense environment.
• Minimum 4 years in a leadership role (Senior Manager level or above) managing cost accounting teams.
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. GAAP as it pertains to inventory, manufacturing costs, and revenue recognition in a production environment.

Nice To Haves

• CPA or CMA designation (CPA strongly preferred).
• MBA or Master's degree in Accounting or Finance.
• Experience with Microsoft D365.
• Direct experience in the aerospace or defense industry, particularly in rocket propulsion, launch vehicle, or satellite manufacturing environments.
• Experience standing up or significantly transforming a cost accounting function in a high-growth organization.
• Track record of driving ERP implementation or optimization projects related to cost accounting modules.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead all aspects of cost accounting, including actual costing, job costing, inventory accounting, work-in-process (WIP) management, and cost of goods sold (COGS) reporting.
• Develop, implement, and maintain a robust cost system across Blue Origin's manufacturing and production operations, including engines, vehicles, and related subsystems.
• Manage the monthly and quarterly cost accounting close process, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of all cost-related journal entries, reconciliations, and reporting.
• Oversee inventory accounting, including raw materials, WIP, finished goods, spare parts, and long-lived assets under construction—ensuring proper valuation and controls.
• Perform and manage variance analysis
• Ensure accurate and timely capitalization of internal labor, materials, and overhead to capital projects and programs.
• Design and maintain the company's overhead rate structure, including the development of indirect cost pools, allocation bases, and burden rate methodologies.
• Provide program and product-level cost reporting and analysis, enabling clear visibility into unit economics, cost-per-unit trends, and program profitability.
• Partner with Program Finance and FP&A to integrate cost accounting data into forecasting models, estimates at completion (EACs), and long-range plans.
• Support make-vs.-buy analyses, design-to-cost initiatives, and total cost of ownership assessments by providing accurate underlying cost data and analytical support.
• Develop cost reporting dashboards and tools that provide real-time or near-real-time visibility to operational and financial stakeholders.
• Drive learning curve and production cost trend analysis to support program planning and pricing decisions.
• Evaluate, enhance, and optimize cost accounting systems and ERP configurations to support scalable, accurate, and efficient cost capture.
• Partner with IT and Finance Systems teams on ERP implementations, upgrades, and integrations that impact cost accounting workflows.
• Establish and maintain cost accounting policies, procedures, and desktop reference documentation.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director