Director- Manufacturing Quality Assurance

Blue Origin LLC; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid parental leave

Stock options

Paid time off

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC in Huntsville, AL is seeking a Director of Quality Assurance who will lead the quality team across manufacturing sites. You will set the vision, drive continuous improvement, and partner with cross-functional leaders to deliver operable quality solutions that enable safe, reliable spaceflight.

This role requires shaping the Blue Origin Quality Management System, mitigating risks, and ensuring compliance with AS9100/ISO9001, while mentoring staff and delivering on program quality

Qualifications

• Minimum of a B.A degree required.
• 10+ years’ experience in quality, manufacturing, test, or operations field.
• Past experience leading or working in quality management systems; familiarity with AS9100 or ISO9000 and/or related quality systems and programs.
• Quality Assurance/Manufacturing experience in development, production, and maintenance environments.
• Strong experience in leadership, planning, and project management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor Quality Assurance staff at the Huntsville, AL Blue Origin sites: Drive quality products throughout the organization by maintaining a culture that emphasizes accountability, structure, and attention to detail at all levels.
• Delivery of business/program Quality commitments across manufacturing operations.
• Work with leadership to identify, lead, and develop the quality actions vital to ensuring program success and meeting contractual promises.
• Identify and mitigate quality risks, demonstrating ownership and teamwork to develop operable solutions and maintain an elite quality system.
• Collaborate with external customers on quality related concerns and participate in customer quality investigations to resolve preventable actions.
• Evaluate customer requirements, perform initial program planning, identify approach for any niche requirements.
• Implement engineering design reviews and make recommendations to improve the quality and manufacturability of new designs.
• Lead all aspects of the Blue Origin Quality Management System compliance, integration and improvements including interface and coordination with 3rd Party certification bodies.
• Execute health assessment process methodologies and perform periodic audits of the application of our quality system, maintaining compliance with company and identified industry standards.
• Lead Quality Assurance business objectives: prepares budgets, analyzes variances, drives continuous improvement initiatives, and leads/mentors teams through robust RCCA when required.

Skills

Leadership

Planning

Project management

Education

B.A degree

Job description

Application close date: Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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.

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefits 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 the 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.

The Director, Quality Assurance is a leader who believes strong partnerships with operations and program teams is a requirement to be a world class manufacturing company. In this role, you will lead the Huntsville, AL quality team. You will set the vision, drive continuous improvement, and partner with your cross‑functional leaders in the manufacturing sites as well as the larger Blue Origin team. The Director, Quality Assurance will have a passion for solving sophisticated problems and providing operable solutions; responsibly take initiative under minimal direction; and be adaptable as you will work on a variety of applications and systems.

We are looking for an individual that can implement innovative quality management system solutions, supporting accelerated manufacturing production, innovative technology and research activities, as well as efficient, predictable production capable solutions that will support sub‑orbital & orbital manufacturing & launch. This position will fall under the Sr. Director of Quality Assurance and directly impact the history of space exploration. It will require dedication and detailed attention towards excelling safe and reusable space flight.

This role is part of the Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance team, which focuses on monitoring and assessing processes that guide Blue Origin design, manufacture, and operations, ensuring system safety engineering, environmental health and safety, product integrity, and continuous improvement processes serve the Blue Origin Mission and Vision.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor Quality Assurance staff at the Huntsville, AL Blue Origin sites: Drive quality products throughout the organization by maintaining a culture that emphasizes accountability, structure, and attention to detail at all levels.
• Delivery of business/program Quality commitments across manufacturing operations.
• Work with leadership to identify, lead, and develop the quality actions vital to ensuring program success and meeting contractual promises.
• Identify and mitigate quality risks, demonstrating ownership and teamwork to develop operable solutions and maintain an elite quality system.
• Collaborate with external customers on quality related concerns and participate in customer quality investigations to resolve preventable actions.
• Evaluate customer requirements, perform initial program planning, identify approach for any niche requirements.
• Implement engineering design reviews and make recommendations to improve the quality and manufacturability of new designs.
• Lead all aspects of the Blue Origin Quality Management System compliance, integration and improvements including interface and coordination with 3rd Party certification bodies.
• Execute health assessment process methodologies and perform periodic audits of the application of our quality system, maintaining compliance with company and identified industry standards.
• Lead Quality Assurance business objectives: prepares budgets, analyzes variances, drives continuous improvement initiatives, and leads/mentors teams through robust RCCA when required.

Additional Information

Occasional travel (<10%) between other Blue Origin sites. Relocation provided.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a B.A degree required.
• 10+ years’ experience in quality, manufacturing, test, or operations field.
• Past experience leading or working in quality management systems; familiarity with AS9100 or ISO9000 and/or related quality systems and programs.
• Quality Assurance/Manufacturing experience in development, production, and maintenance environments.
• Strong experience in leadership, planning, and project management.

Desired

• 15+ years total work experience
• MBA
• Preferred Experience in aerospace, space launch, military or commercial aviation
• Blend of small/midsized firm and large firm experience, ability to maximum success using limited resources.
• Knowledge of design for inspection or testability
• Knowledge of metrology equipment
• Experience with matrix led organizations

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 inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training. Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre‑employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

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.
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
• 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. Please check with your recruiter for more details. 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 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. 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, sex, 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, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’sAffirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [e-mail]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request. We’re committed to building the road to space so our children can build the future. We are a mission‑driven company focused on ideas and innovation, and encourage fresh perspectives from bold voices. At Blue, our team is building the future as their unique selves. Thank you for your interest in working at Blue Origin! Blue Origin was founded with a vision to enable a future where millions of people are living and working in space to benefit Earth. In order to preserve Earth, Blue Origin believes in the need to enable humanity to expand, explore, find new energy and material resources, and move industries that stress Earth into space. Blue Origin believes it has an important role in building a road to space and lowering the cost of getting there. At Blue Origin, we’re working on this today by developing fully reusable launch vehicles and systems that are safe, reliable and affordable. Every launch vehicle is designed for human spaceflight from the beginning and able to ferry payloads to space.

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