Director, NDT & Design-Integrated Inspection

Blue Origin; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Origin seeks a Director of Non-Destructive Testing to lead enterprise NDT across manufacturing and launch sites. You will drive automation, integrate NDT with design engineering, and scale capabilities while maintaining product integrity and safety.

Responsibilities include embedding NDT early in design reviews, developing standards, and delivering measurable improvements in throughput and cost. The role requires 10+ years NDT and 5+ years leadership, with US citizenship or eligible status.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, materials science, physics, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in non-destructive testing, inspection engineering, or related discipline within a manufacturing or production environment.
• 5+ years of people management experience, including leading multi-site or multi-disciplinary teams.
• Deep working knowledge of NAS410 personnel qualification and certification requirements and the ability to map those to Blue Origin's internal career progression framework.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing Written Practices, NDT procedures, and technique sheets.
• Demonstrated track record of implementing NDT automation, advanced inspection technologies, or process improvements that measurably reduced manual inspection labor, cycle time, or cost.
• Proven experience partnering with Design Engineering to influence product designs for inspectability and/or rationalize inspection requirements.
• Experience with NADCAP accreditation processes and audit readiness.
• Strong knowledge of NDT applications for metallic and composite aerospace structures, including welded, bonded, cast, forged, and additively manufactured components.
• Proficiency with quality and problem-solving tools such as root cause analysis, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and statistical methods.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute standardized NDT processes, procedures, and specifications across all Blue Origin manufacturing and launch sites.
• Lead a team of Senior Managers, NDT Level 3 examiners, NDT Engineers (Level 1 through Prin.), and NDT Technicians (Level 1 through Sr.) responsible for all inspection methods including RT, UT, PT, ET, VT, and emerging methods.
• Serve as the corporate NDT authority, ensuring all NDT processes and procedures comply with applicable customer and regulatory requirements.
• Drive the selection, qualification, and standardization of NDT equipment, techniques, and acceptance criteria across programs.
• Develop inspection processes and acceptance standards in coordination with engineering.
• Manage NDT-related nonconformance investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions; provide disposition recommendations and technical rationale.
• Establish and monitor KPIs for NDT operations including turnaround time, throughput, technician utilization, escape rate, and first-pass yield.

Skills

NDT methods

Leadership

Design collaboration

Regulatory compliance

Root cause analysis

Automation

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, materials science, physics, or related field

Tools

NDT equipment

Automation tools

Job description

Blue Origin seeks a Director of Non-Destructive Testing to lead enterprise NDT across manufacturing and launch sites. You will drive automation, integrate NDT with design engineering, and scale capabilities while maintaining product integrity and safety.

Responsibilities include embedding NDT early in design reviews, developing standards, and delivering measurable improvements in throughput and cost. The role requires 10+ years NDT and 5+ years leadership, with US citizenship or eligible status.