Sr. Director of Manufacturing Operations Engines

BLUE ORIGIN • Huntsville, AL

3d

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. You will join a skilled team responsible for rocket engine production serving customers. Reporting directly to the Engines VP, you will oversee an Engine Production group. The Sr Director leads Senior Managers, whose teams manage daily rocket engine production at Huntsville. This hands-on, influential role calls for outstanding leadership, strong communication, careful judgment, knowledge of mid-rate production, and solid project management expertise. This job will play a vital role in space exploration history and demands your dedication and meticulous focus on safe, repeatable spaceflight.

Requirements

• Minimum of a B.S. degree or equivalent experience in Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering. M.S. is preferred and MBA or equivalent experience is a plus.
• 15+ years’ experience in aerospace or a closely related industry, such as launch vehicles, aircraft, helicopters, excavation/heavy hauling, mining, energy, or shipbuilding.
• Experience managing customer relations and expectations.
• Prior experience managing Profit and Loss at a program or project level.
• Proven ability in project coordination, budget oversight, and guiding teams.
• Experience leading and managing small- to medium-sized teams on fast-paced projects.
• Technical expertise in managing medium rate production activities.
• Experience in process definition, development, deployment, and improvement.
• Strong quality outlook with special attention to safety and critically important quality aspects as well as application of root cause analysis tools.
• Strong personnel management and mentoring skills.
• Strong safety approach and experience, including hands-on experience planning and conducting critical operations.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Lean Manufacturing or Toyota Production System.
• Six Sigma Black Belt certification preferred.
• Experience simultaneously managing activities in multiple departments or sites.
• Experience transitioning products from development to production.
• Knowledge of fabrication processes, integration processes, systems engineering practices, test, quality, and configuration management systems.
• Experience managing facility level capital improvements.
• Experience with new process development.
• Experience in staffing and launching a new production facility.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate activities related to factory design, equipment identification, equipment procurement, production readiness, production start-up, and transition into low-rate initial production.
• Collaborate with the leadership group at our current (Kent, WA) site to grasp existing production processes and convert these strengths into the new manufacturing facility.
• Collaborate with the Huntsville Site Leader and Engines Program Management for communications and support involving both internal and external customers.
• Champion and lead improvement teams for manufacturing processes, business processes, production planning, and implement lessons learned and other standards/processes as needed.
• Manage the Production capital project portfolio and ensure timely execution of projects to support corporate Annual Operating Plans.
• Participate in the preventive action process and implement plans as required.
• Communicate and enforce mission assurance and safety principles throughout the organization.
• Find opportunities for safety improvements, cost savings, and other means to accelerate progress.
• Coordinate and complete site level initiatives with other members of the Huntsville Senior Leadership Team.

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.
• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion.
• Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation.

What This Job Offers

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