Director, Factory Support Engineering

Company: Blue Origin
Location: Kent
Posted on: June 6, 2021

Job Description:

We are a diverse team of collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin's vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth.

As part of a hardworking, passionate and accomplished team of experts, you will be responsible for leadership of the engineering support team in for various spaceflight systems. The Factory Support Engineering Director will lead multiple engineering and support functions including Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Test Engineering, Materials & Process Engineering, Tooling, Equipment Maintenance, and Hardware/Liaison Engineering.

This position will lead multiple managers in the engineering organization at the site and will also provide technical leadership and guidance to the entire Factory Support Engineering team. The person in this role will ensure that sufficient technical resources are deployed to the various production areas in the facility. This leader will be responsible for championing efforts to identify, develop, and deploy methods to improve quality, reduce cost, and optimize build sequence and schedules. The person in this role will lead and/or participate in the development, standardization and improvement of factory support engineering processes in Kent, WA and other Blue Origin operating sites. As an integral member of the team, you will drive DFMA and PFMEA studies to strengthen the feedback loop between design, build, and test and accelerate the pace of rocket engine development.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Provide technical and personal leadership to the team
• Partner with Talent Acquisition to recruit, and grow the Kent Factory Support Engineering team
• Collaborate with peer group in Huntsville, AL and Merritt Island, FL to identify, develop and improve manufacturing process
• Manage, lead and status multiple projects at any given time
• Ensure timely release of manufacturing work instructions and related technical processes in support of engine and vehicle assembly, test, integration, and refurbishment
• Manage workflow and balance engineering and production priorities across the Kent factory
• Work closely with factory leadership and program managers to meet design, build, and test milestones for various programs
• Apply robust, consistent, and reliable engineering fundamentals and processes to ensure product integrity and process capability
• Work closely with direct reports to develop team goals and promote professional development
• Manage roles, responsibilities, and accountability across the team
• Manage resources to support new advanced rocket engine manufacturing processes
• Participate in and/or lead causal analyses related to engine production and test
• Manage department budgets, staffing levels and capital equipment needs

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial or Aerospace Engineering (other relevant fields may apply) from an accredited university
• 15+ years of relevant engineering and manufacturing support experience
• Experience managing multi-functional engineering teams in a production environment
• Experience in developing and managing to department financial targets
• In-depth understanding of manufacturing engineering and test engineering principles
• Advanced experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems/Software
• Previous experience and success in developing/starting new manufacturing processes
• Strong personnel and project management skills
• Ability to operate, make decisions, lead, and make forward progress in ambiguous environments
• Understanding of product lifecycle management and associated gate reviews
• Proficiency in business and engineering software (i.e. MSOffice, Windchill, PLM, etc)
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization
• 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

Desired:

• Master of Science in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial or Aerospace Engineering (other relevant fields may apply) from an accredited university
• Advanced experience in complex hardware manufacturing (i.e. castings, forgings, additively manufactured components, welding, machining, cleaning, non-destructive testing methods, complex assembly and acceptance testing )
• Previous engineering leadership in an aerospace environment with space hardware, aircraft or similar, mission critical high value components
• Previous experience leading an engineering team during a facility activation or product line transition.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government commercial space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawfully admitted for permanent residence into the U.S. (i.e. current green card holder), or lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1157-1158. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified, diverse, and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For more information on "EEO Is the Law," please see here and here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to view a copy of Blue Origin's Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com.

Keywords: Blue Origin, Kent , Director, Factory Support Engineering, Other , Kent, Washington