Director of Materials & Processes (M&P)

BLUE ORIGIN • West Melbourne, WA

15d • $218,262 - $305,567

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 the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers and related products. To further Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we are building sustainable infrastructure for our transport of crew and cargo from Earth to the lunar surface. Job Overview: The Director of Materials & Processes (M&P) will manage a specialized engineering team comprising 10-20 subject matter experts. This leader will serve as a foundational leader in humanity’s return to the Moon. You will lead a high-caliber team of 10–20 subject matter experts dedicated to ensuring that every alloy, composite, and coating used in our lunar hardware is safe, reliable, and capable of withstanding the harshest environments known to man. This is a role for a technical visionary who balances rigorous human-rated standards with the agility required for cutting-edge space exploration. The role involves providing essential people, processes, and tools to achieve best-in-class performance in the material and process domain and contributing technically to vehicle and product teams to ensure delivery of safe and reliable hardware that meets standards and acceptance criteria. A passion for spaceflight and commitment to quality is essential.

Requirements

• M.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Materials, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4 years in managing technical teams with responsibility for technical quality and career management.
• At least 6 years of industry experience in space flight systems and operations.
• Proficiency in engineering software (e.g., MS Office, Creo, Windchill, ANSYS).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Capable of influencing stakeholders across the organization, reconciling technical rigor with programmatic demands.

Responsibilities

• Lead M&P team responsible for selecting, controlling, qualifying, and standardizing materials used in aerospace vehicles.
• Design Support: Ensure systems designed for space applications exhibit quality and reliability through deep knowledge of materials like metals, composites, and nanomaterials. Influence part and material selection, compatibility, and drawing verification support.
• Requirements & Compliance Governance: Proven expertise in M&P requirements development and verification throughout the product lifecycle. Mastery of managing the Material Identification and Usage List (MIUL) and navigating complex Deferrals and Noncompliance management workflows.
• Human-Rated System Integrity: Deep technical knowledge of Human Rating Materials, ensuring all selections meet stringent safety standards for flammability, toxicity, and off gassing for crewed lunar modules.
• Extreme Environment Survivability: Specialized experience in Space Environment Compatibility, including the mitigation of UV & Space Radiation effects and the degradation caused by Atomic Oxygen.
• Cryogenic & High-Pressure Fluid Compatibility: Deep knowledge of material behavior in contact with Liquid Oxygen (LOX), Liquid Hydrogen (LH2), and Gaseous Helium (He). Advanced proficiency in Fluid Compatibility Analysis, tanks and pump designs, specifically performing Hydrogen Embrittlement Assessments and Oxygen Compatibility Analysis (OCA) for high-pressure propulsion and life-support systems.
• Electromagnetic & Structural Integration: Expert-level understanding of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) compliance. Demonstrated success in selecting and testing materials that provide optimal shielding and grounding without compromising structural integrity while bridging the gap between design and manufacturing.
• Advanced Testing & Qualification: Experience designing "test-as-you-fly" campaigns for materials that must maintain performance across extreme thermal swings, from cryogenic storage to solar-exposed lunar surfaces.
• Strategic Influence & Technical Leadership Bridge the Gap: Act as the primary liaison between Design, Manufacturing, and Test engineering to ensure material selections are optimized for both performance and manufacturability.
• Design Influence: Drive part and material selection at the earliest stages of the design cycle, ensuring compatibility with the lunar environment and mission longevity.
• Drawing Verification: Lead the M&P support for drawing verification, ensuring that every engineering release is backed by sound material science and controlled fabrication procedures.
• Cross-Functional Advocacy: Negotiate and reconcile project needs with staff capabilities, serving as a high-level advocate for M&P requirements in program-level decision-making.
• Leadership & Management: Resource Management: Negotiate Statements of Work (SOWs) with product managers and reconcile project demands with staff capabilities.
• Process Standardization: Establish and maintain controlled design guidelines and fabrication procedures specifically tailored for Lunar products.
• Talent Development: Manage a specialized team of experts, fostering career growth, conducting performance reviews, and ensuring alignment with Blue Origin’s safety-first culture.
• Technical Contributions: Add senior technical value to lunar projects and exemplify technical conduct. Maintain cognizance of practical issues faced by team members and continue honing technical expertise. Collaborate with external stakeholders and coordinate access to technical resources.

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.
• 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