Senior Manager - Valves Product Team Lead, Engines

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 the Blue Origin Engines business unit, where our focus is the design, development, manufacturing, and testing of engines and propulsion systems. Built for multiple uses, our family of engines is powering the next generation of rockets for commercial, civil, national security, and human spaceflight.

As the leader of a small, passionate, and hardworking team of engineers on BE-3U, you will work at the intersection of program management, engineering, supply chain, test, manufacturing, and quality to own the engine’s valves through development, production, test, and flight. You’ll manage both the people and the product as the BE-3U Valves Product Team Lead, where the team’s focus is on maintaining the current production cadence while quickly implementing upgrades that improve cost, performance, reliability, and lead time. In this role, you and the team will partner with the operations organization, and other product and technical leaders within the program, to define, refine, and realize opportunities to not only improve the valves, but also the speed we deliver them. You must enjoy identifying and solving communication and process challenges, earning trust, and attacking roadblocks that impede execution. We are seeking a highly organized leader with strong technical acumen who can provide the programmatic structure to control schedule and budget, while also bringing the communication and transparency that empowers team performance. This position will have a measurable effect on Blue’s upper stage engine performance and directly impact the history of space exploration.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Own and execute plans to reach valve development and production milestones on BE-3U. Identify, elevate, and act on key cost and performance input metrics that drive project direction.

• Hire, develop, and lead a talented team of engineers.

• Identify schedule-critical hardware, equipment, people, and facilities – resolve constraints and fix defects at the root.

• Define, manage, and action key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure product team success. Leverage data to make informed decisions and iterate on manufacturing and design changes across the valve life cycle.

• Own the valves team budget and schedule.

• Analyze non-conformance metrics and partner with the quality organization to apply opportunities for process improvements that improve rate manufacturing performance.

• Coordinate and partner with the operations and supply chain organizations to execute manufacturing upgrade initiatives.

• Identify, mitigate, and own valve risks – remove blockers, investigate/escalate issues, and close on solutions.

• Manage interdisciplinary engineering and execution tasks to improve overall program success.

• Drive clear and consistent communication across all levels to ensure goal alignment.

• Champion a collaborative culture to attack challenges to engine cost, performance, and manufacturing rate.

Minimum Qualifications:

• B.S. degree in engineering.

• 7+ years of experience in rocket engine development or aerospace fluid/mechanical systems.

• 3+ years of project and people management experience.

• Proven ability to establish and execute complex plans with multiple functional interfaces while maintaining clear communication across stakeholders at all levels.

• Desire to lead and manage small teams on fast-paced development and production projects.

• High attention to detail and strong organizational/coordination skills.

• Strong aptitude for troubleshooting and quick thinking to keep projects moving forward.

• Demonstrated ability to build trusting and effective working relationships that improve team performance and deliver results.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• 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:

• 10+ years in rocket engine development.

• 5+ years of project/people management experience.

• Experience with electromechanical actuators (EMAs) and/or valve systems for rocket engine or aerospace applications.

• Experience with valve development, qualification, and production.

• Experience with cradle to grave product development, including leading design reviews, production readiness reviews, and technical readiness reviews.

• Experience creating tools to improve documentation, visibility, and tracking of scope and forecasted work.

• Experience with vertical integration and/or scaling production of complex assemblies.

• Experience with manufacturing process automation.

• Experience leveraging Artificial Intelligence as a multiplier.

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $183,807.00 - $257,328.75

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 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 EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.