Senior Commodity Manager, Avionics

Blue Origin; Merritt Island (FL); On-site; USD 134,000 - 188,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

401(k) with company match

Education support

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking a seasoned Commodity Manager to own avionics procurement across spaceflight programs. You will define sourcing strategies, lead RFx activities, negotiate long-term agreements, and ensure a resilient, cost-effective supply base.

This role requires 8+ years in aerospace supply chain, a relevant degree, travel up to 50%, and strong cross-functional collaboration to align programs with supplier performance and business goals.

Qualifications

• 8+ years minimum experience managing commodities in aerospace R&D and manufacturing environments.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field
• Extensive technical knowledge of assigned commodity’s manufacturing processes
• Travel 25% - 50% of time to remote sites
• Experience in sourcing for both development and production
• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams, and independently
• Strong communication skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and projects
• Exceptional organizational and analytical skills, and a proven ability to drive complex projects with minimal oversight

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership in the evaluation, sourcing, and development of the supply base to support the development and production of space vehicles specifically in the avionics commodity (PCBA, CM Management, EEE)
• Ensures supply base can deliver to commercial scope of component procurements and fulfill on time at the lowest lifecycle cost to support program requirements
• Responsible for conducting capability and capacity assessments
• Responsible for conducting RFx activities for strategic procurements
• Responsible for Negotiating Long-Term Agreements
• Develop and manage commodity metrics / reporting including but not limited to updates on the state of the industry, supplier rating, supplier segmentation (grow, maintain, exit) to support periodic supplier business reviews to internal stakeholders
• Participates in the use and improvement of databases that guide sourcing activity and capture supplier status, history, criticality, operational performance, and known issues
• Works with program stakeholders to identify long lead procurement requirements and gaps in supply base capabilities
• Evaluates suitability and stability of current and potential suppliers with regard to financial health, staffing, quality, throughput, technical capability, and reputation.
• Leads suppliers through structural business changes required to fulfill Blue’s lifelong program demand
• Identifies opportunities to leverage existing supplier relationships, segment/ rationalize/consolidate the supply base, maintain alternate supplier options, and support long term supplier relationships
• Supports development, deployment and maturation of supplier recognition program
• Identifies candidate suppliers for M&A activity and supports process with M&A team
• Relentlessly gathers intelligence on the health of strategic suppliers’ business and informs Sr. Leadership of long-term risk and proposed countermeasures
• Team with supply chain engineering, procurement and supplier quality engineering to conduct site surveys and business evaluations of existing and potential suppliers, serves as a point of escalation and resolution of corrective actions with suppliers

Skills

Supplier management

Cross-functional collaboration

Negotiation

RFx processes

Strategic sourcing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

Job description

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.

As part of a passionate and accomplished team, you will be the leading commercial market expert for a critical commodity, or commodities, defining supply base strategies, managing global supplier performance, and developing relationships with critical aerospace suppliers for various spaceflight programs. You will use your in-depth knowledge or markets, suppliers and company requirements to develop commodity strategies that mitigate short and long-term business risks guaranteeing continuity of supply for all of Blue's programs.

You will be responsible for execution of these strategies, which can include but is not limited to conducting RFx activities, negotiating price agreements and establishing long-term strategic procurement contracts; identification and vetting of potential new sources of supply; developing and executing your grow/exit/maintain supplier strategies. Success in this role will require close collaboration across functions, including Program, Finance, Engineering, and other teams, with an integrative approach to analyze tradeoffs and manage priorities.

Commodity Managers study trends to identify and solve potential supply chain problems, and they continually seek new opportunities for innovation. They drive effective category strategies enabling the acquisition of quality, cost-effective components for Blue’s programs, for the benefit of Earth! This position will directly impact the history of space exploration by driving effective category strategies enabling the acquisition of cost-effective components for Blue’s programs.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership in the evaluation, sourcing, and development of the supply base to support the development and production of space vehicles specifically in the avionics commodity (PCBA, CM Management, EEE)
• Ensures supply base can deliver to commercial scope of component procurements and fulfill on time at the lowest lifecycle cost to support program requirements
• Responsible for conducting capability and capacity assessments
• Responsible for conducting RFx activities for strategic procurements
• Responsible for Negotiating Long-Term Agreements
• Develop and manage commodity metrics / reporting including but not limited to updates on the state of the industry, supplier rating, supplier segmentation (grow, maintain, exit) to support periodic supplier business reviews to internal stakeholders
• Participates in the use and improvement of databases that guide sourcing activity and capture supplier status, history, criticality, operational performance, and known issues
• Works with program stakeholders to identify long lead procurement requirements and gaps in supply base capabilities
• Evaluates suitability and stability of current and potential suppliers with regard to financial health, staffing, quality, throughput, technical capability, and reputation.
• Leads suppliers through structural business changes required to fulfill Blue’s lifelong program demand
• Identifies opportunities to leverage existing supplier relationships, segment/ rationalize/consolidate the supply base, maintain alternate supplier options, and support long term supplier relationships
• Supports development, deployment and maturation of supplier recognition program
• Identifies candidate suppliers for M&A activity and supports process with M&A team
• Relentlessly gathers intelligence on the health of strategic suppliers’ business and informs Sr. Leadership of long-term risk and proposed countermeasures
• Team with supply chain engineering, procurement and supplier quality engineering to conduct site surveys and business evaluations of existing and potential suppliers, serves as a point of escalation and resolution of corrective actions with suppliers

Qualifications

• 8+ years minimum experience managing commodities in aerospace R&D and manufacturing environments, along with supply chain management experience in aerospace or other regulatory controlled environments, specific to the Avionics commodity.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field
• Extensive technical knowledge of assigned commodity’s manufacturing processes
• Track record of performance in driving supplier improvements in cost, quality, schedule, or other performance criteria.
• Must be able to travel 25% - 50% of time and to remote sites
• Experience in sourcing for both development and production
• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams, and independently
• Strong communication skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and projects
• Exceptional organizational and analytical skills, and a proven ability to drive complex projects with minimal oversight

Desired

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Manufacturing or a related field
• Engineering background or strong technical experience in assigned commodity
• CPM, CSCP certification or equivalent
• ASQ quality engineer certification
• 2 years or more of supplier quality experience
• Six sigma/lean process improvement experience
• Experience with AS9100, ISO9001 supply base requirements
• Experience with FAR/DFAR requirements
• Experience with commercial programs and contracts

Base Pay Range For

WA applicants is $134,434.00 - $188,207.25

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 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…