Manager - Manufacturing Engineering & Technology

BLUE ORIGIN•Huntsville, AL

About The Position

Blue Origin is hiring a Manager of Manufacturing Engineering to lead a high-performing team responsible for translating engineering intent into flight-ready hardware. The role sets manufacturing-process strategy, advances continuous improvement, and connects engineering design, operations, and program leadership. It combines technical oversight, people leadership, and operational execution in support of safe, repeatable spaceflight. The manager develops the team and its capabilities; guides manufacturing strategy and process maturation from development through production; and oversees hardware cost, quality, build sequence, and schedule across the manufacturing lifecycle. The role also governs process controls, work instructions, drawing reviews, manufacturing equipment, material handling, root-cause investigations, improvement initiatives, and hardware recovery and schedule-recovery plans. It works closely with design engineering, program management, quality, operations, supply chain, procurement, and external suppliers, while maintaining hardware configuration and traceability.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field from an accredited university.
At least 8 years of progressive manufacturing and manufacturing engineering experience following graduation.
At least 2 years of direct people management or formal technical leadership experience, including performance management and career development responsibilities.
Demonstrated success developing and implementing new manufacturing processes from concept through production.
Broad hands-on experience with hardware manufacturing processes, including fabrication, machining, welding, assembly, inspection, and testing.
Demonstrated experience leading root-cause investigations and deploying corrective actions that produced measurable, sustained quality improvements.
Proven experience developing and executing schedule-recovery plans in a hardware development or production environment.
Experience developing non-conforming hardware disposition pathways, including rework, repair, and engineering disposition processes.
Ability to manage competing cost, quality, and schedule priorities in a fast-paced hardware development environment.
Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including adapting communication to technical and non-technical audiences.
Ability to earn trust, build positive professional relationships, and contribute to an inclusive culture.
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.
Genuine passion for Blue Origin’s mission of enabling millions of people to live and work in space.

Nice To Haves

Master of Science in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
Experience manufacturing rocket engine, propulsion system, or aerospace vehicle hardware.
Experience leading manufacturing engineering teams through a development-to-production transition.
Familiarity with AS9100 quality management systems or equivalent aerospace quality frameworks.
Experience with ERP/MES platforms such as SAP, Solumina, or equivalent.
Proficiency in statistical process control (SPC), Lean Manufacturing, or Six Sigma; Green Belt or Black Belt certification is a plus.
Formal training or certification in structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, DMAIC, or Shainin.
Experience managing supplier relationships and performing supplier development activities.
Prior exposure to New Product Introduction (NPI) processes and manufacturing readiness level (MRL) assessments.

Responsibilities

Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain manufacturing engineers; set performance expectations, provide coaching and feedback, conduct reviews, identify skills gaps, and plan training and development.
Foster a psychologically safe, inclusive, and high-accountability team culture, and manage headcount planning, capacity forecasting, and staffing in partnership with program and operations leadership.
Define manufacturing engineering strategy for the product area and align it with program goals and company objectives.
Identify, develop, and deploy advanced rocket manufacturing processes to improve quality, reduce cost, and optimize build sequences and schedules.
Champion Design for Manufacturability (DFMA) and Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA), and maintain feedback between design, build, and test.
Establish a roadmap for manufacturing process maturation from development through production; perform make-versus-buy analysis and provide manufacturing engineering input to program and supply-chain decisions.
Hold accountability for hardware cost, quality, build sequence, and schedule throughout the manufacturing lifecycle.
Oversee development and continuous improvement of work instructions for receiving inspection, fabrication, assembly, test, integration, and refurbishment.
Ensure rigorous engineering drawing reviews and appropriate technical oversight for final manufacturing approvals.
Govern process controls and drive their evaluation and improvement through statistical analysis.
Oversee design, procurement, installation, and commissioning of custom manufacturing equipment.
Direct material-handling and packaging standards to protect hardware during build and test operations.
Establish and champion a structured root-cause analysis (RCA) program, and lead investigations into high-priority non-conformances, production escapes, and systemic quality issues; ensure findings lead to lasting corrective and preventive actions.
Own a continuous-improvement program using Lean, Six Sigma, and data-driven methods; establish project pipelines, owners, metrics, milestones, and regular progress reporting.
Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities using KPI trends, PFMEA reviews, process audits, and floor observation.
Plan and execute schedule recovery when hardware programs fall behind; define critical-path actions, resource reallocations, and accelerated build sequences, communicate status and risks, and drive milestone accountability across teams.
Develop and own hardware recovery pathways for non-conforming parts and assemblies, including disposition workflows, pre-approved repair and rework procedures, engineering dispositions, traceability, and configuration pedigree.
Analyze non-conformance trends to identify root causes and prevent recurring hardware escapes.
Serve as the primary manufacturing engineering contact for design engineering, program management, quality, and operations leadership.
Partner with supply chain, procurement, external suppliers, and manufacturing partners to ensure hardware and equipment meet specifications and are delivered on time and within budget.
Represent manufacturing engineering in design, program, and gate reviews.
Provide hardware configuration oversight and maintain pedigree throughout build and test.

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 scheduled weekly hours
Up to 14 company-paid holidays
Depending on role type and job level, possible benefits and bonuses based on individual contributions, company results, or other factors; eligibility and amounts are not guaranteed.