Manager - Engines Integrated Hardware in the Loop and Research/Development Labs

BLUE ORIGIN•Seattle, WA

6d•$150,743 - $211,040•Onsite

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 Blue Origin Engines business unit, where our focus is the design, development, manufacturing, and testing of engines and propulsion systems. Built for multiple uses, our family of engines is powering the next generation of rockets for commercial, civil, national security, and human spaceflight. This role is part of the Blue Origin Engines business unit, where our focus is the design, development, manufacturing, and testing of engines and propulsion systems. Built for multiple uses, our family of engines is powering the next generation of rockets for commercial, civil, national security, and human spaceflight. As the functional manager of the Engine Specialty Engineering and Infrastructure (ESEI) – Infrastructure team, you will oversee the Blue Engines Integrated Hardware in the Loop (BE-IHIL) Lab, the Valves and Mechanisms (V&M) Development Lab, the Combustion Devices (CD) Lab and any future development spaces to support Blue Engines. You will lead a multidisciplinary group of electrical and mechanical engineers in designing, developing, and operating world class engine component test and integration facilities. You will balance hands-on technical leadership with people management, setting the technical direction for the team, developing your engineers, driving execution, and serving as the primary interface between your team and program leadership. This is a technical management role and is not a purely administrative management position. You will be expected to maintain meaningful technical engagement with the work your team produces, provide engineering judgment on critical design decisions, and be a credible technical voice with stakeholders across the program.

Requirements

B.S. degree, or higher, in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent
4+ years relevant experience.
Knowledge and strong fundamentals in project management approaches and techniques
Previous experience with aerospace control systems
Experience leading and running small teams on fast-paced projects with little direction and under minimal supervision
Risk management, configuration management, requirements development, and verification planning
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.

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree (M.S.) or higher in aerospace, systems engineering, business, or a related field
Direct management or team/technical leadership experience
Technical expertise within one of the following areas: Hydraulic Actuators, Lab Instrumentation and Data Acquisition Systems, Avionics, Electric Actuator Control, Engine/Assembly Test
Experience developing aerospace products from the concept phase through new product introduction
First principles design knowledge of Hydraulic and Electrical actuation systems
Experience building or scaling engineering teams in a fast-paced aerospace or industrial environment.

Responsibilities

Set and maintain the scope and definition of the BE-IHIL, Valves & Mechanisms (V&M), and Turbomachinery (TM)/Combustion Devices (CD) Development Labs, aligning their goals and capabilities with the needs of Engines customers.
Serve as technical authority for the BE-IHIL, V&M and CD Labs, providing guidance and judgment on complex design challenges.
Establish and maintain mechanical and electrical design standards, analysis methods, and best practices for the team.
Review and approve critical design packages, engineering drawings, lab policies, and test plans.
Drive design reviews at key project milestones; ensure all team deliverables comply with applicable codes, standards, and specifications.
Directly manage a team of engineers and technicians supporting the BE-IHIL, V&M, and CD Labs.
Recruit, hire, and onboard engineering talent, actively build and maintain a strong team pipeline.
Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and career development conversations, identify skill gaps and develop targeted growth plans for all direct reports.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and safety-first team culture consistent with Blue Origin's values.
Own team deliverables, manage scope, schedule, budget, and technical quality across multiple concurrent test stations, identify and communicate risks early and drive mitigation plans.
Oversee external design and fabrication partners, ensure technical compliance, quality, and schedule adherence through the full project lifecycle including fabrication, assembly, installation, and testing & activation.
Interface with program managers, systems engineers, operations leads to align on priorities and ensure test station capability is aligned with program goals.
Represent the large mechanisms team in program-level reviews, technical interchange meetings, and leadership forums, contribute to budget, headcount planning, and resource allocation in coordination with senior leadership.