A Shift Lead- Advance Metal Forming

Blue Origin; Merritt Island (FL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Origin in Merritt Island, FL is seeking a seasoned leader to supervise welding and forming manufacturing operations, directing a team of technicians and welders to deliver high-quality aluminum and specialty alloy fabrications on complex hardware.

You will drive safety, schedule adherence, and continuous improvement, partnering with engineering and quality teams to meet production goals while maintaining crane safety, equipment maintenance, and strict compliance with aerospace standards.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in manufacturing with welding or metal forming focus.
• 5+ years in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong welding process knowledge (TIG, seam welding, aluminum, alloys).
• Crane safety background and safe operation practices.
• Familiarity with ISO, AS9100, or D17.1 quality standards.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings/specifications.
• Problem-solving and decisive decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Supervise daily welding and forming operations.
• Mentor and develop technicians and welders.
• Ensure quality standards, specs, and production schedules.
• Oversee equipment maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting.
• Enforce safety protocols and procedures.
• Coordinate with engineering, quality, and planning teams for schedule adherence.
• Drive continuous improvement to boost productivity and reduce costs.
• Manage materials inventory and consumables.
• Support new product development and process qualification.

Skills

Welding

Metal Forming

Production Scheduling

Quality Systems

Reading Engineering Drawings

Crane Safety

Problem Solving

Aerospace Experience

Six Sigma / Lean (Preferred)

Job description

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 seeking an experienced leader to manage the throughput and personnel of specialized welding and forming manufacturing operations. This role will be responsible for leading a team of technicians and welders overseeing highly specialized aluminum and special alloy welding while ensuring quality, crane safety of large/complex hardware, efficiency across welding processes, and precision forming activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise daily operations of welding and forming operation
• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of skilled technicians and operators
• Ensure compliance with quality standards, specifications, and production schedules
• Oversee equipment maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting
• Implement and enforce safety protocols and procedures
• Coordinate with engineering, quality, and production planning teams to ensure schedule compliance
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and reduce costs
• Manage inventory of materials and consumables
• Participate in new product development and process qualification activities

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing with focus on welding, and/or metal forming
• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment
• Strong understanding of welding processes (TIG, Seam welding,/ special alloy, aluminum)
• Strong crane safety background
• Knowledge of production scheduling and/or program managing
• Familiarity with quality systems and standards (ISO, AS9100, D17.1)
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace or defense manufacturing
• Knowledge of metallurgy and material properties
• Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing certification
• Experience with production scheduling systems
• Background in precision manufacturing for critical applications

Working Conditions

• Manufacturing floor environment with exposure to typical production conditions
• May require occasional overtime to support production needs
• Must be able to wear appropriate PPE as required

Culture Statement

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background Check
• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation
• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing, vehicle