Director, Vehicle Test, MK2 Crew Lander

BLUE ORIGIN; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Stock options

Education Support Program

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Blue Origin seeks a Director of Vehicle Test to mentor and lead a team developing tests for the Lunar Lander vehicle, ensuring safety and cost-effective validation. You will develop schedules, manage risks, and collaborate with suppliers and stakeholders to ensure a rigorous test program aligned with program requirements.

The role requires extensive leadership of test campaigns, experience with aerospace testing disciplines, and a proven ability to deliver under tight schedules while maintaining

Qualifications

• Experience leading system-level testing of complex aerospace systems including fluids, structural, electrical, and environmental tests.
• Demonstrated experience effectively managing people, including fostering a culture of action, accountability, coaching, and development.
• Excellent verbal, written, and graphical communication skills.
• Ability to travel and work flexible hours to support test planning and execution.
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of integrity.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or an equivalent related field
• 12 or more years of experience

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive test campaign on a human certified spacecraft, ensuring a rigorous and disciplined approach to testing that meets a demanding schedule within difficult technical constraints while never compromising safety.
• Lead the planning and execution of all vehicle-level test activities for the MK2 Crew Lander including all system, electrical, structural, fluids, and environmental testing.
• Manage the vehicle test organization, fostering career development and raising the bar of performance through a focus on strategic planning, high quality decisions, collaboration, communication, and trust.
• Institute and foster a rigorous test culture across the MK2 organization, reviewing and coaching at all levels of the organization and at all levels of assembly.
• Drive an innovative, resourceful management culture and operating cadence that encourages taking new approaches while achieving aggressive test schedules.

Skills

System-level testing

People management

Verbal and written communication

Travel flexibility

Integrity and trust-building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering/science

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 the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers and related products. To further Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we are building sustainable infrastructure for our transport of crew and cargo from Earth to the lunar surface.

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth.We’reworking 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!

We are a team of collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directlyimpactthe 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 tobenefitEarth.

We are looking for someone to apply their technicalexpertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positivelyimpactsafe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision isrequired!

Asthe Director of Vehicle Test, you will mentor, train, and leada team that is developing thetestswe will executeonour Lunar Lander vehicle.You willensure tests are planned, prepared, and executedsafely andwithin thebudgets, schedules, andtechnical needs of the program. Your roleis accountable forthe completetestlife cycleon the Lunar Lander vehicle. You will develop schedules, manage risks, and collaborate with internal and external suppliers and stakeholderstoensurea rigorous test approachthatmeetsthe requirementsand risk posture of the program.

Responsibilities

• Develop andmaintaina comprehensive test campaign on a human certified spacecraft, ensuring a rigorous and disciplined approach to testing that meets a demanding schedule within difficult technical constraints while never compromising safety.

• Lead the planning and execution of all vehicle-level test activities for the MK2 Crew Lander including all system, electrical, structural, fluids, and environmental testing.

• Manage the vehicle test organization, fostering career development and raising the bar of performance through a focus on strategic planning, high quality decisions, collaboration, communication, and trust.

• Instituteand fostera rigorous test culture across the MK2 organization, reviewing and coaching and at all levels of the organizationand at all levels of assembly.

• Drivean innovative, resourcefulmanagementcultureand operating cadencethat encouragestakingnew approacheswhile achieving aggressive test schedules.

Qualifications

• Experienceleading system-leveltestingof complexaerospace systems includingone or more of the following test disciplines -fluids, structural, electrical, and environmental tests.

• Demonstrated experience effectively managing People, including fostering a culture of action, accountability, coaching, and development

• Excellent verbal, written, and graphical communication skills

• Ability to traveland work flexible hours tosupport test planningand execution

• Ability to earn trust,maintainpositive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of integrity.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or an equivalent relatedfield

• 12or more years of experience

Desired

• Experience leadingasystem-level testcampaignon large spacecraftincluding environmental testing.

• ExperiencewithNASA programs and human spaceflight programs

• Experience with Agile project management approaches, as well as waterfallproject scheduling including development of IMP/IMS, critical path analysis, and schedule risk analysis

• Experience with theSystems Engineeringlifecycle(requirements, interface definition, verification, validation)

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 (CDL drivers only), 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

• Benefits include: 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’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 [e-mail]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.