Senior Manager - Launch Ops Pad

BLUE ORIGIN • West Melbourne, FL

2d

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 Blue Origin Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. This includes Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities. We are looking for a dynamic Senior Manager for Launch Ops Pad to lead teams that plan and execute safe, efficient operations for Blue Origin vehicles and payloads from hardware receipt through day‑of‑operations and post‑flight. You will own the operational execution of launch, test, and mission activities, coordinating across vehicle, payload, and ground systems while developing and mentoring a high‑performing team of technicians, controllers, and engineers. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your Key Responsibilities: Lead day‑to‑day mission and flight operations for assigned vehicles, payloads, and/or launch complexes, ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient execution. Develop, maintain, and execute integrated operations plans, procedures, and schedules for processing, test, and mission activities across facilities, teams, and shared resources. Manage a team of technicians, controllers, and/or engineers, including recruiting, onboarding, training, performance management, and career development. Act as a working manager when needed, supporting or leading hands‑on integration, checkout, and test of flight and ground systems in the field or control room. Own and maintain operations procedures, checklists, launch and test timelines, and mission rules; ensure configuration control and alignment with engineering intent and safety requirements. Collaborate with Safety, Systems Engineering, Operations, Range, and program teams to identify hazards, support system and process hazard analyses, and implement mitigations. Maintain real‑time situational awareness during on‑console and field operations; coordinate go/no‑go decisions and start/stop of hazardous operations in partnership with safety, range, and engineering authorities. Track team readiness, qualifications, and certifications; own training plans, simulations, and drills to prepare crews for nominal and off‑nominal scenarios. Oversee maintenance, calibration, and readiness of ground support equipment (GSE), tooling, and operations infrastructure, including configuration changes and planned outages. Manage operations budgets and resource allocations within the Annual Operating Plan; provide input to capital and staffing plans. Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders (e.g., vehicle and payload programs, mission management, customers, and range organizations) to align operational plans, resolve conflicts, and support mission objectives. Drive continuous improvement through data‑based problem solving, root cause analysis, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions. Ensure compliance with Blue Origin policies, procedures, and directives, as well as applicable regulatory, range, and environmental requirements. Communicate status, risks, and readiness to leadership through clear reports and participation in reviews, readiness assessments, and mission/launch boards. Team Focus & Domain Expertise: Launch Operations sits at the heart of Blue Origin’s launch and spaceflight systems, turning design intent into hard data, clean checkouts, and flight confidence. Our managers own the strategy and execution of integrated test campaigns for avionics, GSE, and flight hardware – from first power‑on and subsystem verification to full‑stack vehicle and pad‑level tests that clear the way for launch day. You won’t just ensure procedures are followed; you’ll set the vision for smarter, faster, more resilient ways to test and drive your organization to deliver them. You’ll lead leaders and multidisciplinary teams that develop and refine automated test systems, data acquisition architectures, and instrumentation strategies that push test coverage, increase speed, and boost confidence for every mission. Technical depth in areas such as digital/analog electronics, power systems, communications, sensors, DAQ, and test automation (e.g., Python, LabVIEW, or similar tools) will let you dive deep when it matters – asking the right questions, challenging assumptions, reviewing critical designs, and setting the technical bar for your portfolio of systems. Safety and mission assurance are our north star, and the stakes are real. You’ll apply rigorous test engineering and safety‑by‑design principles while building and leading a disciplined operations organization that validates systems that must work the first time, every time – supporting a high launch cadence while protecting crew, payloads, and ground personnel. Managers who thrive here combine sharp technical judgment with calm, decisive leadership under pressure, shaping culture, priorities, and readiness. They bring the energy that comes with seeing their teams’ work roll to the pad, count down, and fly to space. Mission & Flight Operations Managers provide strategic and frontline leadership at the sharp end of the mission – where hardware, people, and procedures come together to put vehicles and payloads into space. Depending on your background and scope, you may own operations such as: Launch Vehicle & Ground Operations – Being accountable for teams performing vehicle integration, pad or test stand operations, ground fluid system operations (cryogenic, pneumatic, hydraulic), avionics/electrical checkout, and hands‑on support to countdown and test events. You ensure the people, processes, and hardware come together to turn a static vehicle on the stand into a launch‑ready system. Payload & Processing Operations – Managing supervisors and teams responsible for payload or spacecraft handling, integration, encapsulation, and facility operations, often in controlled or cleanroom environments. Your organization ensures every payload is treated with the care and precision worthy of its science, mission, or customer. Transportation & Handling – Owning the planning and execution of the movement, rigging, lifting, and securing of large or critical flight hardware using specialized transport and material handling equipment. You define the standards and oversee the choreography that moves high‑value hardware safely from factory floor to launch pad. Mission & Control Room Support – Leading the organizations that staff control room operations during countdown and mission execution, including console operations, procedure execution, and coordination with range and mission teams. You shape the decision‑making framework and readiness posture behind the “voice on loop” calls that keep the timeline on track and the vehicle safe. You’re expected to bring solid hands‑on operations experience in at least one of these domains, along with a proven ability to build, develop, and lead disciplined, procedure‑driven teams in a high‑consequence environment. In this role, you’ll set direction and priorities, grow and mentor supervisors and technical leaders, and own real‑time risk and go/no‑go decisions that directly shape mission outcomes. If you’re motivated by tight timelines, complex hardware, and the adrenaline of seeing entire organizations you lead execute a successful countdown and launch, this is where you’ll feel at home.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physical sciences, operations, or a related technical field; or equivalent hands‑on experience in a complex operational environment.
• 5+ years of experience in mission/flight operations, launch operations, flight test, range operations, or complex aerospace/industrial operations (8+ years for Sr Manager).
• 2+ years of people leadership experience managing technicians, controllers, operators, or engineers in a high‑consequence operational environment (4+ years for Sr Manager).
• Direct experience planning and executing complex operations involving hazardous systems (e.g., cryogenic, pneumatic, hydraulic, high‑voltage, high‑pressure, ordnance, propellants).
• Experience creating and managing operations schedules and resource plans using tools such as Microsoft Project, Primavera, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated ability to perform in dynamic, time‑critical situations, making sound decisions under pressure and clearly communicating intent and status.
• Proficiency with standard office and operations software, with the ability to quickly learn new digital tools and operations/planning systems.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with a history of effective collaboration across cross‑functional teams.
• Willing and able to support non‑standard hours (nights, weekends, holidays, and on‑call/surge support), work in field/industrial environments (outdoors, PPE, ladders, hazardous or restricted areas), and travel occasionally to other Blue Origin sites and launch/test locations.

Nice To Haves

• 7+ years (Manager) / 10+ years (Sr Manager) of relevant aerospace or space launch experience with complex engineering systems (e.g., launch vehicles, spacecraft, aircraft, propulsion/test facilities).
• 3+ years (Manager) / 5+ years (Sr Manager) of people management experience, including hiring, performance management, and development of high‑performing operations teams.
• Experience leading at least one of the following: launch pad or test stand operations (including countdown and on‑console roles); payload processing and encapsulation in cleanroom environments; mission/control center or flight test control‑room operations; or launch site/complex coordination (hazard area management and access control).
• Hands‑on expertise in at least one relevant technical domain, such as launch vehicle or payload integration; ground fluid systems (cryogenic, pneumatic, hydraulic); avionics, instrumentation, or electrical checkout; ordnance/explosives; or propellant/hazardous material processing.
• Working knowledge of safety and regulatory frameworks such as range safety requirements, OSHA/NFPA standards, explosives and hazardous materials regulations, and environmental/transportation regulations (e.g., 49 CFR, 40 CFR).
• Experience with system safety and process hazard analyses (e.g., FMEA, HAZOP, fault tree analysis).
• Experience using data and metrics for operational performance management and continuous improvement, including ERP/MRP and/or maintenance management systems.
• Formal training or certifications in operations management, project management, Lean, or Six Sigma.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance if required by program (e.g., Secret or TS/SCI).

Responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day mission and flight operations for assigned vehicles, payloads, and/or launch complexes, ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient execution.
• Develop, maintain, and execute integrated operations plans, procedures, and schedules for processing, test, and mission activities across facilities, teams, and shared resources.
• Manage a team of technicians, controllers, and/or engineers, including recruiting, onboarding, training, performance management, and career development.
• Act as a working manager when needed, supporting or leading hands‑on integration, checkout, and test of flight and ground systems in the field or control room.
• Own and maintain operations procedures, checklists, launch and test timelines, and mission rules; ensure configuration control and alignment with engineering intent and safety requirements.
• Collaborate with Safety, Systems Engineering, Operations, Range, and program teams to identify hazards, support system and process hazard analyses, and implement mitigations.
• Maintain real‑time situational awareness during on‑console and field operations; coordinate go/no‑go decisions and start/stop of hazardous operations in partnership with safety, range, and engineering authorities.
• Track team readiness, qualifications, and certifications; own training plans, simulations, and drills to prepare crews for nominal and off‑nominal scenarios.
• Oversee maintenance, calibration, and readiness of ground support equipment (GSE), tooling, and operations infrastructure, including configuration changes and planned outages.
• Manage operations budgets and resource allocations within the Annual Operating Plan; provide input to capital and staffing plans.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders (e.g., vehicle and payload programs, mission management, customers, and range organizations) to align operational plans, resolve conflicts, and support mission objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement through data‑based problem solving, root cause analysis, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure compliance with Blue Origin policies, procedures, and directives, as well as applicable regulatory, range, and environmental requirements.
• Communicate status, risks, and readiness to leadership through clear reports and participation in reviews, readiness assessments, and mission/launch boards.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level