Sr Director, Launch Infrastructure

BLUE ORIGIN•West Melbourne, FL

About The Position

The Senior Director of Launch Infrastructure owns the technical strategy, operational execution, and organizational leadership for the propellant and fluid systems and the pad and tower systems that support New Glenn launches. The role leads teams responsible for propellant and cryogenic fluid systems, environmental control systems, hydraulics, large-scale water systems, and launch pad and tower systems. It also oversees the expansion of launch infrastructure from one active pad to multiple pads as launch cadence increases. The position reports to the Vice President of Launch Operations. This is a mission-critical leadership role requiring hands-on involvement with engineers and technicians when necessary, including on the pad and outside normal hours. The leader is expected to build the people, processes, and discipline needed for fast, repeatable operations; apply detailed quantitative analysis to team execution; and develop infrastructure operations that can be performed reliably without recurring emergencies. The role works across vehicle, vehicle preparation, recovery, facility design and engineering, and business operations teams, and presents readiness, risk, and recovery plans to senior executive leadership.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Aerospace Engineering, a related field, or equivalent practical experience building and leading complex industrial or facility systems.
At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience operating or maintaining complex fluid, propellant, or industrial systems in launch pads, large-scale test facilities, oil and gas, refineries, or similar high-hazard industrial environments.
Senior leadership experience with budget and resource management responsibility for technical or operational organizations.
Experience managing multidisciplinary teams at scale, including through subordinate managers or directors.
Demonstrated record of measurable improvements in rate, throughput, or reliability in a complex industrial or operations environment.
Demonstrated record of building and sustaining a high-standard safety culture in environments with significant personnel, process, or material hazards, such as propellants, high pressure, or high voltage.
Ability to make high-stakes technical and operational decisions under schedule pressure.
Strong executive presence and excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior executives.
Strategic thinking, bias for action, and a track record of hands-on operational execution.
Must meet Blue Origin’s stated employment eligibility requirements: U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
Ability to complete the applicable background check requirements; additional checks or credentials may apply to certain job profiles.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience operating high-rate launch pads or large-scale aerospace test facilities.
Strong hands-on experience and technical knowledge of fluid systems, particularly cryogenics.
Full lifecycle experience with facility or industrial systems, from requirements through design and construction to operations.
Experience scaling facility or infrastructure capacity to support significant throughput increases.
Working knowledge of environmental control systems, hydraulics, and large-scale industrial water systems.
Demonstrated ability to challenge engineering requirements and drive design changes that improve operability or maintainability.
Experience building or scaling an engineering or technical organization from a nascent, dependent state to self-sufficiency.
Master’s degree in a related engineering field or an MBA.

Responsibilities

Own technical strategy and standards for propellant and cryogenic fluid systems, environmental control systems, hydraulics, water systems, and New Glenn pad and tower systems.
Develop the roadmap for scaling launch infrastructure from a single active pad to multiple pads, incorporating lessons from current operations.
Set and enforce standards for clear, sequenced, measurable, shift-completable work orders so pad readiness is based on objective data.
Partner with facility and vehicle design and engineering teams to challenge requirements and drive changes that improve operational ease, speed, safety, and maintainability.
Oversee the full lifecycle of launch infrastructure readiness, including operations and maintenance of fluid systems, environmental control and hydraulic systems, and pad and tower systems.
Provide technical and operational authority across fluid-system and pad/tower functions, ensuring rigor and consistency.
Manage technical and schedule risks across the launch infrastructure portfolio and personally lead recovery plans when schedules slip.
Promote a high-standard safety culture across work involving personnel, process, and material hazards.
Work directly with engineers and technicians on the pad to solve problems when required, including at any hour.
Serve as the primary point of contact between launch infrastructure functions and New Glenn vehicle, vehicle preparation, and recovery leadership.
Partner with business operations, including scheduling and operations analytics, to maintain an objective, data-driven understanding of remaining work and schedule risk.
Build internal engineering ownership and judgment, reducing reliance on engineering support borrowed from other Blue Origin programs.
Build, mentor, and develop leaders and engineers capable of operating launch infrastructure at a substantially higher rate.
Mature immature processes into fast, repeatable operations that do not depend on nightly heroics.
Foster a culture in which technicians and engineers are engaged with Blue Origin’s mission and understand the purpose of their work.
Champion AI use to reduce engineering workload, including work-order authoring, and accelerate the development of less experienced engineers.
Use data and numerical analysis to assess team performance, inform decisions, and communicate progress.
Present infrastructure readiness, risk, and recovery plans clearly and confidently to senior executive leadership, including with little or no coaching.
Drive measurable improvements in pad turnaround time, infrastructure reliability, and launch readiness as launch cadence increases.

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
Depending on role type and job level, possible benefits and bonuses based on individual contributions or company results; amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed.