Machine Shop Shift Leader - Weekend Night Shift D

InvestedintheMission; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 113,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Stock options

Paid time off

401(k) match

Education support

Job summary

Blue Origin in Washington state is seeking a senior machine shop leader to drive day-to-day operations, staffing, and production readiness for spaceflight components. You will oversee scheduling, training, and performance reviews while advancing continuous improvement and KPI-driven results.

Join a safety‑focused, collaborative team responsible for high‑precision parts, tight tolerances, and on‑time delivery across manufacturing and spaceflight programs.

Qualifications

• 4 years minimum of leadership experience.
• 7 years minimum experience in machining aerospace components.
• Root cause and corrective action analysis experience.
• Familiarity with KPI metrics.
• Excellent blueprint reading skills including GD&T per ASME Y14.5M-1994 standard.
• Strong communication skills with a heavy customer focus.
• Must have a continuous improvement mindset.
• Clear understanding of production versus development environments.
• Fluent in use of precision hand tools.
• Familiar with use of personal computers.
• Self-motivation and ability to prioritize projects to meet completion dates.

Responsibilities

• Ownership of machine shop personnel and day-to-day operations and execution.
• Conduct performance reviews.
• Responsible for establishing work station assignments, employee training, overtime assignments and back-up for absent employees.
• Maintain and communicate machine shop schedule status to ensure meeting customer expectations.
• Provide first level escalation support to employees regarding HR issues (employee relations, worker’s compensation, disciplinary actions, time cards, PTO requests).
• Identifying Continuous Improvement opportunities and implementing change to improve process, reduce cycle and setup times.
• Maintain shop measuring equipment calibration program ensuring all relative equipment is calibrated according to schedule.
• Maintain all shop programs. These programs include 5S, Lean, Cleaning and Safety.
• Ensure all team members follow work instructions, quality requirements and processes.
• Ensure accurate machine shop staff data recording. Namely clock-in/clock-out activities.
• Provide continued training and skills development for team members, and mentor early career team member.
• Ensure start-up readiness for production.
• Maintain machine shop organization, safety and cleanliness.
• Support design for manufacturing and provide job planning estimates.
• Ability to perform interviews, evaluate talent and provide hiring recommendations.
• Safely work within an industrial environment.

Skills

Leadership

Aerospace machining

Root cause analysis

KPI metrics

GD&T (ASME Y14.5M-1994)

Communication with customers

Continuous improvement

Production vs development

Precision hand tools

PC skills

Self-motivation

Interviewing talent

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.

Description:

We are a mission-driven team of collaborators, action-takers and problem solvers relentlessly committed to a culture of safety and success. Working as an integral part of a passionate and accomplished team of experts, you will directly impact the future of space flight and ensure the progression of building the road to space through reusable rockets. Through dedication and leadership, your influence will help guide your team to define the future of space flight production. In coordinating all aspects of machining flight vehicle components, you will support various spaceflight systems in the production of parts with high-value, tight tolerance and impeccable quality: driving towards on time delivery and first article success. This position will directly influence the history of space exploration and will require your unwavering commitment and unfaltering focus towards safe and repeatable spaceflight.

Responsibilities:

• Ownership of machine shop personnel and day-to-day operations and execution


• Conduct performance reviews


• Responsible for establishing work station assignments, employee training, overtime assignments and back-up for absent employees


• Maintain and communicate machine shop schedule status to ensure meeting customer expectations


• Provide first level escalation support to employees regarding HR issues (employee relations, worker’s compensation, disciplinary actions, time cards, PTO requests)


• Identifying Continuous Improvement opportunities and implementing change to improve process, reduce cycle and setup times


• Maintain shop measuring equipment calibration program ensuring all relative equipment is calibrated according to schedule


• Maintain all shop programs. These programs include 5S, Lean, Cleaning and Safety


• Ensure all team members follow work instructions, quality requirements and processes


• Ensure accurate machine shop staff data recording. Namely clock-in/clock-out activities


• Provide continued training and skills development for team members, and mentor early career team member


• Ensure start-up readiness for production


• Maintain machine shop organization, safety and cleanliness


• Support design for manufacturing and provide job planning estimates


• Ability to perform interviews, evaluate talent and provide hiring recommendations


• Safely work within an industrial environment

Qualifications:

• 4 years minimum of leadership experience


• 7 years minimum experience in machining aerospace components


• Root cause and corrective action analysis experience


• Familiarity with KPI metrics


• Excellent blueprint reading skills including GD&T per ASME Y14.5M-1994 standard


• Strong communication skills with a heavy customer focus


• Must have a continuous improvement mindset


• Clear understanding of production versus development environments


• Fluent in use of precision hand tools


• Familiar with use of personal computers


• Self-motivation and ability to prioritize projects to meet completion dates


• 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:

• Experience machining nickel-based stainless steel alloys, copper, titanium


• Tooling and fixture design


• 5S, Lean Manufacturing or Kaizen experience


• Knowledge of CAD/CAM tools


• Experience operating heavy lifting equipment such as cranes and forklifts around flight critical hardware


• Knowledge and understanding of CMM programming/operation


• Outside processing knowledge (heat treat, plating, coating, EDM, grinding, etc.)


• Experience machining tight tolerance, high value components

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:

• 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 Affi... 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.

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $113,158.00 - $158,420.85

Other site ranges may differ