Sr Director, Launch Recovery

Blue Origin•Space Coast, FL

About The Position

The Senior Director of Launch Recovery owns the strategy, operational execution, and organizational leadership for the fleet and shore-side operations that recover New Glenn boosters at sea, return them to port, and prepare them for their next launch. Reporting to the Vice President of Launch Operations, this leader oversees recovery-vessel operations, fleet readiness and maintenance, and in-port operations as the fleet and launch cadence grow. The role is responsible for making recovery operations safe, reliable, repeatable, and scalable, while remaining willing to work directly with crews at sea or in port when needed. The leader sets standards for recovery operations and executable work orders, develops the roadmap for a larger fleet and potentially additional ports, and partners with vehicle design and engineering teams to improve recovery, lifting, and handoff. They oversee the full operational lifecycle, manage technical and schedule risk, ensure compliance with maritime requirements, and build cross-functional alignment with New Glenn vehicle, preparation, launch infrastructure, and business operations teams. The position also builds and develops a high-performing organization, strengthens internal engineering ownership, and matures processes so operations can achieve a fast, repeatable cadence without recurring emergency effort. The Senior Director uses quantitative analysis to guide decisions, communicate readiness and risk to senior executives, and deliver measurable improvements in turnaround time, fleet availability, and launch readiness.

Requirements

Senior leadership experience operating and maintaining a fleet of specialized vessels, including setting and maintaining high maintenance standards to maximize availability.
Experience leading complex, round-the-clock marine or maritime operations involving crew safety, vessel readiness, and coordination between at-sea and shore-side teams.
Senior leadership experience with budget and resource management responsibility for technical or operational organizations.
Experience managing multidisciplinary teams at scale, including through subordinate officers or managers.
Demonstrated track record of measurable improvements in operational tempo, turnaround time, or mission readiness in a complex fleet or industrial environment.
Demonstrated ability to build and sustain a high-standard safety culture in environments with significant personnel, process, or material hazards.
Deep working knowledge of Coast Guard regulations and maritime law as applied to vessel and port operations.
Ability to make high-stakes technical and operational decisions under schedule pressure.
Strong executive presence and excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels and senior executive leadership.
Strategic thinking, bias for action, and a track record of hands-on operational execution.

Nice To Haves

Retired U.S. Navy officer with rank and experience commensurate with an executive-level Senior Director role, such as a retired Captain (O-6) with major command experience or a retired flag officer (Rear Admiral, O-7).
Ability to streamline at-port and at-sea operations to maximize turnaround in a high-rate operating environment.
Exposure to or knowledge of controls, fluids, cryogenics, electronics, or robotics.
Experience establishing or scaling fleet operations from a small number of vessels to a larger, multi-vessel operation.
Experience operating from multiple ports or expanding operations into new ports.
Track record of challenging engineering requirements and driving design changes to 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 the strategy and standards for at-sea booster recovery, vessel operations, and fleet maintenance across a growing fleet.
Develop a roadmap to scale recovery operations from a primary vessel to a larger multi-vessel fleet and potentially additional ports.
Set and enforce standards for clear, sequenced, measurable, and shift-completable work orders, using objective data to establish readiness.
Partner with vehicle design and engineering teams to challenge requirements and improve the ease, speed, and safety of booster recovery, lift, and handoff.
Oversee the full recovery lifecycle, including at-sea booster capture, transit to port, in-port lift and break-over, and handoff for transport to the pad.
Own vessel readiness and maintenance standards to maximize mission availability across the fleet.
Manage technical and schedule risk across the recovery portfolio and personally drive recovery plans when schedules slip.
Maintain a high-standard safety culture across at-sea and in-port recovery work.
Work directly with crews on the water or dock when needed to solve operational problems.
Serve as the primary point of contact between recovery functions and New Glenn vehicle, vehicle preparation, and launch infrastructure leadership.
Ensure compliance with Coast Guard regulations and applicable maritime law across fleet and port operations.
Partner with business operations, including scheduling and operations analytics, to maintain an objective view of remaining work and schedule risk.
Build internal engineering ownership and judgment to reduce reliance on engineering support from other programs.
Build, mentor, and develop leaders and crews who can operate recovery functions at a higher rate.
Mature immature processes into fast, repeatable operations that do not depend on nightly heroics.
Foster a culture in which crews 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 understand team performance, drive decisions, and communicate progress.
Present recovery readiness, risk, and plans clearly to senior executive leadership, including with little or no coaching.
Drive measurable improvement in at-port and at-sea turnaround time, fleet mission availability, and launch readiness.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and 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.
Up to four weeks of paid time off per year based on weekly scheduled hours.
Up to 14 company-paid holidays.
Depending on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on individual contributions and company results; amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed.