Manufacturing Director – Lunar Tanks

Blue Origin; United States; In loco; USD 180.000 - 240.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

Blue Origin LLC seeks an experienced Manufacturing Director - Lunar Tanks to lead development, manufacturing, and delivery of pressure vessels for Lunar Cargo and Human Rated Landers. This hands-on leader oversees tank fabrication, testing, and readiness, driving safety, quality, and efficiency across facilities.

The role reports to the Vice President of Operations for Lunar Cargo Landers and is based at the Merritt Island, FL Rocket Park Manufacturing Complex.

Competenze

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Aerospace Engineering from an accredited university.
• 15+ years of relevant engineering and manufacturing support experience.
• Experience leading cross-functional manufacturing teams in R&D and production environments through rapid development cycles.

Mansioni

• Own end-to-end responsibility for propellant tank manufacturing process development, from build and flow to inspection, cleaning, and test.
• Lead a multi-disciplinary team of Technicians, Welders, and Manufacturing Engineers.
• Drive collaborative manufacturing decision-making to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable processes.
• Champion DFMA/DFT, DFM initiatives, and design for manufacturability with Engineering.

Conoscenze

Leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic thinking

Safety culture

Formazione

B.S. in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Aerospace Engineering

Strumenti

Stir Friction Welding

VPPA Welding

Orbital Tube Welding

Manual Welding

Descrizione del lavoro

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 benefit of Earth and are creating the future that will bring that vision to life. We are developing reusable, safe, and low-cost launch vehicles to take our space systems to the Moon and beyond while focusing on a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we take humanity back to the Moon and beyond. This role is part of Blue Origin Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance, encompassing operational execution support across all Blue Origin facilities.

Position Summary

Blue Origin is seeking an experienced and strategic Manufacturing Director - Lunar Tanks to lead the development, manufacturing, and delivery of pressure vessels (tanks) to support both Lunar Cargo and Human Rated Landers. This is a hands on leadership role responsible for overseeing all aspects of tank fabrication, testing, and operational readiness. The ideal candidate is a technically credible, results-driven leader who thrives in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment. You will own aligning manufacturing efficiency, driving continuous improvement, and cultivating a team culture rooted in Blue Origin's core value of safety first. This role will report to the Vice President of Operations for Lunar Cargo Landers and will be based at Blue's Rocket Park Manufacturing Complex at Merritt Island, FL.

Key Responsibilities

Program Ownership & Technical Leadership

• Own end-to-end responsibility for propellant tank manufacturing process development, from build and flow and work instruction development through inspection, cleaning, and test
• Lead a multi-disciplinary team of Technicians, Welders, and Manufacturing Engineers
• Drive collaborative manufacturing technical decision-making to drive efficient manufacturing processes and safe and effective testing strategies, ensuring robust, consistent, and reliable process capability
• Understanding of Welding manufacturing processes, including Stir Friction Welding, Variable Polarity Plasma Arc (VPPA) Welding, Orbital Tube Welding, and Manual Welding.
• Champion Design for X (DFX) principles — including Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) and Design for Test (DFT) — to reduce cost and cycle time without compromising safety or quality
• Collaborate proactively with Engineering in the early stages of product development to lead and support design for manufacturability (DFM) initiatives

Team Leadership & People Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of managers, manufacturing engineers, technicians, and support personnel
• Set clear performance expectations and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and inclusion
• Identify and develop future leaders within the tank organization
• Communicate vision, priorities, and progress effectively at all levels of the organization — from shop floor technicians to executive leadership

Program Execution & Delivery

• Develop and manage production schedules, budgets, resource plans, and capital equipment planning to meet delivery milestones
• Own department budgets, staffing levels, and capital equipment planning and implementation
• Lead production readiness reviews and participate in test readiness reviews as applicable
• Track and communicate key performance indicators including cost, schedule, quality, and safety metrics
• Anticipate production risks and develop robust mitigation strategies to protect delivery commitments
• Represent the Lunar Manufacturing Operations organization in vehicle-level integration reviews, program milestones, and gated reviews as required
• Engage with customers, regulators (FAA, NASA), and external stakeholders as required
• Present production status, risks, and opportunities to senior leadership and executive staff

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Identify and implement process improvement opportunities across tank manufacturing and test operations, capturing the impact of improvements to safety, quality, and process efficiency
• Leverage the use of automation where appropriate to improve consistency and improve product quality
• Leverage and drive the use of manufacturing execution system (MES) and the implementation
• Material Resource Planning (MRP) Benchmark industry best practices and drive innovation across the tank product line

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Aerospace Engineering (or other relevant fields) from an accredited university
• 15+ years of relevant engineering and manufacturing support experience
• Experience leading cross functional manufacturing teams including Welders, Technicians, Inspectors, and Manufacturing Engineering teams in research, development, and production environments thru rapid development cycles
• Advanced experience in complex hardware manufacturing (e.g., friction-stir welding, machining, cleaning, non-destructive testing methods, complex assembly, and acceptance testing)
• Engineering leadership experience