Sr Manager of Test Components, Lunar Core Components & Vehicle Subassemblies

Blue Origin; Washington; On-site; USD 171,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Educational support

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking a Senior Manager of Lunar Core Components & Vehicle Subassemblies Test Operations to build and lead a team of Lunar Operations Test Engineers. You will own transitioning development and qualification tests into flight hardware test execution and collaborate with Design Responsible Engineers, Quality, and Operations to deliver production-ready solutions.

You are a systems thinker who thrives on solving challenging problems, delivering value in near- and long-term

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or closely related discipline.
• 6+ years in development, qualification, or acceptance testing of aerospace hardware.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot test faults and drive corrective actions.
• Proven ability to build and retain a high-performing test engineering team.
• Fosters safety, open communication, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for handover of acceptance testing to production for Lunar Core Components & Vehicle Subassemblies.
• Guide test plans, procedures, and requirements to meet production objectives.
• Partner with internal customers to plan, schedule, and allocate resources for test campaigns.
• Establish and maintain team metrics and data-driven decision frameworks.

Skills

Test leadership

Root cause analysis

Safety culture

Team building

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

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.

This role is part of Lunar Manufacturing and Assembly Operations, the organization that builds Blue Origin's Lunar landers and related products. Blue Origin's mission is millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, and we are building sustainable infrastructure to transport crew and cargo from Earth to the lunar surface.
As Senior Manager of Lunar Core Components & Vehicle Subassemblies Test Operations, you will build and lead a team of Lunar Operations Test Engineers. Your team will own the transition of development, qualification, and acceptance test plans into flight hardware test execution for Lunar lander components and subassemblies. You will partner closely with Design Responsible Engineers, Quality, Operations/Production, and other functional teams to deliver integrated, production-ready test solutions.
You are a production test engineering leader, systems thinker, and proven problem solver who knows that rigorous, well-executed component testing is foundational to mission success. Every program and test campaign brings new challenges, and you thrive on solving them.
A passion for our mission is required. If you are energized by delivering near-term and long-term value, solving novel problems, learning new topics, and completing challenging projects, we encourage you to apply.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership and hands-on support for the handover of acceptance testing from the Lunar development test team to production test organizations for Lunar Core Components & Vehicle Subassemblies.
• Guide the team in implementing test plans, procedures, and requirements that meet production objectives.
• Support Lunar development test organizations in reviewing and approving critical technical products, including test plans, procedures, and verification reports.

Program Execution

• Partner with internal customers to plan, schedule, and allocate resources for component test campaigns.
• Scope, assign, and track technical work so every team member has a full, prioritized workload and critical test delivery dates are met.
• Identify, document, and mitigate technical and programmatic risks, escalating to program and business leadership with recommended mitigations when needed.
• Establish and maintain team metrics and project tracking frameworks that monitor execution health and support data-driven decisions.

Organizational Leadership

• Manage the full employee lifecycle for a team of Lunar Operations Core Components & Vehicle Subassemblies Test Engineers, including recruiting, onboarding, development planning, coaching, and performance management.
• Coach direct reports on professional development and maximizing performance.
• Champion a culture of safety in production test environments, ensuring personnel and visitors are properly trained and equipped to work safely.
• Ensure team members are fully trained and actively participate in Blue Origin's safety culture.
• Collaborate and integrate with peer functional teams across the company, including Design Responsible Engineers, Operations/Production, Quality, and contract manufacturers.
• Build relationships with external stakeholders for benchmarking, recruiting pipelines, and collaboration.
• Model high standards of professional conduct.

Minimum Qualifications

• Passion for our mission: millions of people living and working in space.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• 6+ years of hands-on experience in development, qualification, or acceptance testing of aerospace-grade hardware, including thermal and thermal-fluid components, mechanical systems, and avionics, electrical, or electromechanical systems.
• Demonstrated ability to personally troubleshoot and perform root cause analysis on component- and system-level test faults, and to drive corrective actions back into both manufacturing workmanship and engineering design.
• Proven ability to build, motivate, and retain a high-performing test engineering team with a collaborative, results-oriented culture.
• Proven ability to foster safety, open communication, accountability, and continuous improvement in a technical or laboratory setting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, communicate across organizational boundaries, and represent the team to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• 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

• 3+ years of people management experience leading a team of 5 or more direct reports, with responsibility for the full employee lifecycle (hiring, onboarding, daily management, career development, performance management, and terminations).
• Experience in a flight hardware, aerospace test withing a manufacturing production environment.
• Hands-on experience with pressure systems, cryogenics, vacuum systems, environmental testing, or integrated vehicle systems.
• Familiarity with component-level qualification and acceptance testing standards and environmental test methods (e.g., vibration, thermal vacuum, EMI/EMC).
• Demonstrated experience with, or strong interest in, using AI tools and automation to improve team productivity and streamline lab operations

Base Pay Range for:

WA applicants is $171,093.00 - $239,529.15
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 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.