Technical Program Director, Lunar Program Operations

BLUE ORIGIN•West Melbourne, FL

2d•$169,624 - $237,473

About The Position

The Technical Program Director is part of Blue Origin’s Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Moon lunar landers and related products. The role supports the Lunar Program Management Office (PMO) and leads cross-functional engagement with NASA and other U.S. Government stakeholders to help execute lunar programs and maintain alignment with NASA leadership. Working across program management, engineering, safety, finance, production, contracts, and other functional organizations, the role coordinates NASA customer engagement, contract execution, technical forums, control boards, program deliverables, milestones, and government support activities. It serves as a primary coordination point for NASA contracting, program reviews, proposal responses, study contracts, task orders, and other time-critical program work. The position reports to the Director of the PMO.

Requirements

B.S./B.A. degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
20+ years of experience in program or project management, contracts, systems engineering, customer engagement, or a related field involving complex technical systems.
Experience supporting or leading customer, government, or external partner engagement.
Experience supporting proposals, study contracts, task orders, and business-case development.
Experience supporting contract execution, negotiations, deliverables, or related program activities.
Experience managing customer deliverables, DRDs, milestones, payment plans, or similar program artifacts.
Experience coordinating complex technical reviews, control boards, program milestones, and cross-functional deliverables.
Experience establishing and maintaining business and program management processes.
Experience conducting or supporting process improvement initiatives.
High attention to detail and strong organizational and coordination skills.
Demonstrated ability to build trusting and effective working relationships that improve team performance and deliver results.
Experience working with and presenting to senior leadership and external customers.
Experience working collaboratively in small and large teams on fast-paced projects.
Ability to work comfortably in a rapidly changing and ambiguous environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion.
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.

Nice To Haves

Experience in program or project management on aerospace hardware development programs.
Experience working with NASA, the Department of Defense, or other U.S. Government customers.
Experience with NASA contracting, systems engineering, program reviews, control boards, or Government Furnished Property.
Experience with HLS, CLPS, or other lunar programs.
Experience with Export Control and CUI requirements, including CUI marking and handling concerns.
Experience managing and leading Statement of Work execution and participating in business negotiations.
Working knowledge of configuration management principles and practices.
Experience leading change-management activities.
Experience with risk-management processes and execution, including technical, schedule, contract, and customer risks.
Experience in organizational change management and setting up effective design and rollout of new business processes.

Responsibilities

Lead engagement with the NASA Contracting Officer’s Representative, including contract negotiations, weekly coordination, Data Requirement Description deliveries, Export Control negotiations, and Controlled Unclassified Information discussions.
Lead Blue Origin responses and engagement with NASA control boards and other large technical forums as needed.
Own and manage programmatic and contractual milestones.
Own and manage Government Furnished Property activities, including J-03.
Own Collaboration and Government Technical Assistance management, delegating execution as appropriate.
Own the Insight Implementation Plan, MLPL-87545, and support its application across the program.
Own the Milestone Payment Plan across Lunar contracts, MLPL-87548, and support its application across the program.
Coordinate proposal responses in support of the Blue Origin Sales and Marketing team.
Lead efforts and manage supporting teams involved in study contracts and task orders.
Support contract alignment and quick-response activities across the program.
Own Program Management Reviews for Human Landing System and Commercial Lunar Payload Services activities.
Support engagement with the NASA Systems Engineering and Integration Lead, coordinating major reviews, deliverables, status requests, NASA visits, technical engagements, program timelines, schedules, priorities, and mission alignment.
Support requirements alignment with NASA Safety, NASA Requirements Leads, and NASA Mission Leadership.
Improve communication alignment with NASA leadership so lower-level communications reflect the program leadership approach.
Provide general support for Lunar PMO activities as needed to support program execution.
Build and maintain effective working relationships across program management, engineering, contracts, safety, finance, production, and other functional organizations.
Identify communication, coordination, schedule, contract, and execution risks and drive timely resolution.
Support program reporting and leadership briefings as needed.

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, potential eligibility for benefits and bonuses based on individual contributions and company results