Manager - Advanced Manufacturing and Process Development
About The Position
Blue Origin Operations is seeking a manager to lead a Manufacturing and Tooling Development team responsible for designing, developing, prototyping, qualifying, and transitioning automated manufacturing processes, tooling, and ground infrastructure to production for launch vehicle hardware. The team works across welding, inspection, machining, and additive processes and develops the automated cells and tooling used to perform them. The manager owns team hiring, performance, technical direction, and delivery, and represents the function with peer managers, engineering leadership, and program customers. The manager sets priorities and allocates engineers across program needs; leads career development, mentorship, performance management, and recruiting; and builds an in-house, hands-on culture in which engineers design, program, wire, commission, and debug their cells. The role owns process and tooling development from concept through production transition, including workflow modeling, facility layout, capacity and resource planning, capital expenditure justifications, budget and schedule tracking, design reviews, continuous improvement, and coordination with suppliers and external tooling partners. It also provides data-driven recommendations on automation and infrastructure investment and enforces safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Welding Engineering, Materials Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or a related field.
- At least 8 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, process development, tooling design, or automation cell integration, with demonstrated progression into technical leadership.
- At least 2 years of direct management or formal technical lead experience, including performance management, hiring, mentoring, or budget ownership.
- Demonstrated delivery of process development or tooling programs from concept through production validation.
- Strong working knowledge of welding, non-destructive inspection, CNC machining, additive manufacturing, and assembly.
- Experience with automated manufacturing cells, including industrial robots, cobots, machine vision, and PLC controls, and supporting tooling and fixturing.
- Experience developing cost estimates, defending capital expenditure justifications, and tracking project budgets.
- Proficiency in 3D CAD such as CATIA, NX, SolidWorks, or equivalent, and comfort with digital manufacturing tools.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and industry standards.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills in a fast-paced, evolving production environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication across engineering, program management, and executive audiences.
- Must meet U.S. export control eligibility: U.S. citizen or national, permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.
Nice To Haves
- Direct experience managing engineers across early-career and senior levels in a hands-on technical environment.
- Track record of building teams through hiring, onboarding, and retention.
- Experience leading cross-functional programs across design, manufacturing, supply chain, and quality.
- Experience partnering with Factory Automation, controls/software, or systems engineering counterparts.
- Master's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, or Materials Engineering.
- Domain depth in one or more of aluminum welding metallurgy, laser welding, friction stir welding, non-destructive inspection method qualification (AWS D17.1, AS9100, PAUT, eddy current), precision machining, CNC machining operations, or additive processes (LFAM, WAAM, cold spray).
- Experience with large-scale structures, cryogenic tank manufacturing, or propulsion system assembly.
- Experience developing or deploying automation, robotics, modular tooling, or reconfigurable fixtures.
- Familiarity with PLM/MRP systems and model-based definition workflows.
- Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
Responsibilities
- Build, grow, and retain a team of Manufacturing and Process Development Engineers and Manufacturing and Tooling Development Engineers across early-career and senior levels.
- Set technical direction, prioritize competing program demands, and allocate engineers to appropriate work.
- Manage performance, career development, mentorship, and succession planning.
- Partner with recruiting to source, interview, and hire candidates.
- Foster an in-house build culture in which engineers design, program, wire, commission, and debug their cells, using external integrators where appropriate.
- Own development and qualification of manufacturing processes—including welding, inspection, machining, and additive processes—and the automated cells and tooling that run them, from concept through production transition.
- Own development of moderately to highly complex tooling, fixtures, and ground support infrastructure.
- Lead workflow modeling, facility layout, capacity analysis, and resource planning for scalable operations.
- Identify and drive vertical integration, automation, and new-process-introduction opportunities to improve cost, schedule, and quality.
- Own capital expenditure justifications for cells, tooling, and equipment; track project budgets and report cost and schedule performance.
- Represent the team at Design Gated Reviews and apply DFM and DFT principles early in design.
- Lead root cause analysis and continuous improvement for the team's processes, cells, and tooling.
- Coordinate with suppliers and external tooling partners on design studies, fabrication, and acceptance.
- Provide data-driven recommendations to leadership on automation investment, workforce allocation, and infrastructure upgrades.
- Enforce safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Basic and supplemental life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Short- and long-term disability
- 401(k) with company match of up to 5%
- Education Support Program
- Stock options for regular employees working at least 20 hours per week
- Paid time off of up to four weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours
- Up to 14 company-paid holidays
- Employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses depending on role type and job level; amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
