Manager, Factory Automation

Blue Origin LLC; Town of Texas (WI); Hybrid; USD 162,000 - 226,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid parental leave

Education Support Program

Stock options

Paid time off

Job summary

Blue Origin’s Factory Automation team within Advanced Manufacturing seeks an engineering manager with hands-on experience to design, build, and deploy automated manufacturing systems. Lead engineers, drive safety and quality, and align with program goals across multiple facilities.

The role demands strong ownership, technical credibility, and the ability to manage lifecycle delivery from concept through commissioning in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls, Mechatronics, or related engineering field.
• 2+ years of experience managing teams delivering automated manufacturing systems.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience designing automated manufacturing systems.
• Hands-on involvement in design, build, installation, or commissioning of automation systems.
• U.S. citizen or lawful status to work in the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of automation engineers and technicians in the design, build, and deployment of high-rate automated manufacturing systems.
• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing team capable of delivering automation systems.
• Partner with stakeholders to drive alignment and streamline automation development and deployment.
• Manage resources, schedules, and dependencies to deliver automation projects on scope, schedule, and budget.
• Monitor risks and implement mitigations to protect commitments.
• Communicate status, risks, and escalations to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Champion Design for Automated Manufacturing principles across product design and engineering teams.
• Define and manage the scope of automation deliverables from requirements through acceptance.

Skills

Team management

Hands-on automation design

Automation project leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical/ Electrical/ Controls/ Mechatronics

Tools

SCADA

IIoT

MES/ERP/PLM tools

Job description

About this role

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.

Manager, Factory Automation

About This Role Blue Origin's Factory Automation team is part of the Advanced Manufacturing organization within Operations - serving as the in-house automation integrator responsible for designing, building, and deploying the custom equipment and systems that enable scalable, repeatable production across Blue Origin's manufacturing business units. We build manufacturing capability from the ground up - developing automated solutions that directly drive the delivery of Blue Origin's products across current and future programs. We are looking for a technically grounded engineering manager who brings deep, hands-on experience in one or more of the core disciplines on this team - mechanical engineering, controls engineering, or automation project and program management - and has personally delivered automated manufacturing systems into production. This is not a role for someone who has managed automation from a distance: the right candidate has real experience in the work - design, build, installation, commissioning, or all of the above - and carries that credibility into every interaction with their team. You will lead a close-knit group of engineers and technicians, set technical direction, manage team and project health across the full lifecycle from concept through commissioning, and ensure your team’s work rolls up effectively into the broader program plan and business goals. You will challenge product design teams to design for automated manufacturing, remove obstacles across the organization, and build a team culture defined by ownership, craftsmanship, and urgency. A dedication to safety, quality, and our mission is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of automation engineers and technicians in the design, build, and deployment of high-rate automated manufacturing systems for the production of aerospace components
• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing team of automation engineers and technicians capable of rapidly delivering quality, cost-effective automation systems
• Partner with stakeholders across the organization to drive alignment, resolve impediments, and streamline the automation development and deployment process
• Manage resource allocation, project schedules, and cross-functional dependencies to deliver automation projects on scope, schedule, and budget; maintain visibility into individual project health - requirements, capabilities, schedule, and cost - and ensure accurate roll-up into the team’s local program plan and the broader Factory Automation program
• Monitor team and project performance; identify risks early and develop proactive mitigation plans to protect organizational commitments - including scope, schedule, cost, and quality - in alignment with team, program, and business goals
• Communicate project status, risks, and escalations clearly to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders; translate team-level execution health into program-level reporting and ensure alignment with business objectives and annual operating plan commitments
• Champion Design for Automated Manufacturing principles across product design and engineering teams; drive adoption of automation-friendly design practices that reduce system complexity and enable scalable production
• Define and manage the scope of automation system deliverables - from initial requirements through acceptance - serving as the accountable owner for what the team builds, what it costs, and when it ships

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls, Mechatronics, or related engineering field
• Minimum 2 years of experience managing teams of engineers and/or technicians delivering automated manufacturing systems
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on technical experience designing automated manufacturing systems while working for an automation systems integrator, machine tool builder, in-house automation team, or similar
• Demonstrated experience delivering automated manufacturing systems into production - including hands-on involvement in one or more phases of design, build, installation, or commissioning
• 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

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with industrial automation applications including welding, machining, drilling, surface finishing, forming, material handling, NDT, metrology, machine vision, and similar
• Experience with manufacturing and engineering systems including MES, ERP, MRP, PLM, and source and configuration management tools and practices
• Familiarity with Industrial Engineering concepts including line balancing, takt time, and factory layout optimization, to guide integration of automation systems within the broader production environment
• Experience with SCADA and IIoT systems and concepts
• Experience developing capital project cost estimates, budgets, and scopes of work for automation systems - including AOP planning, should-cost modeling, vendor quote analysis, and capital project lifecycle management
• Experience building or scaling an automation team, including defining roles, establishing technical standards, and developing team capability
• PMP certification, formal project management training, or equivalent program management experience in a capital equipment or automation environment

Base Pay Range

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $161,567.00 - $226,193.10. Other site ranges may differ.

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

Blue’s Standard Background Check Required for all positions: 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

Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week).

Paid Time Off

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. Aff…

Mission Statement

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Aff…
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.