Director of Manufacturing, Operations & Assembly

About the role

This role is part of Blue Origin Operations, which includes Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. It involves Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop teams of Managers, Senior Managers, and Directors driving manufacturing and operations execution across space and propulsion programs
• Champion a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement across all functional teams
• Own departmental KPIs, budgets, staffing plans, and capital project portfolios
• Partner with Program Management, Site Leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders to meet production schedules and customer expectations
• Drive process definition, development, deployment, and improvement initiatives including Lean Manufacturing and root cause analysis
• Implement and mature production frameworks that support world-class manufacturing capabilities
• Communicate and enforce mission assurance and safety principles throughout the organization
• Recruit, develop, coach, and mentor talent at all levels of the organization

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering, or equivalent experience
• 15 or more years of progressive experience in aerospace manufacturing or a closely related industry
• 5 or more years in a senior leadership role managing managers and large, cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated experience leading manufacturing and operations teams in fast-paced, complex environments
• Proven ability to manage budgets, schedules, and capital projects at a department or program level
• Strong quality mindset with expertise in root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies
• Experience with process definition, development, deployment, measurement, and continuous improvement
• Effective communicator across all levels of an organization, including executive leadership

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree, MBA, or advanced degree in a relevant engineering or business field
• Prior experience in aerospace environments supporting space hardware, rocket propulsion, or other mission-critical, high-value components
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, the Toyota Production System, or Six Sigma; Black Belt certification preferred
• Experience transitioning manufacturing capabilities from development and prototyping into full-rate production
• Knowledge of fabrication processes including machining, welding, composites, additive manufacturing, cleaning, and non-destructive testing
• Experience with facility activation, new production line startup, or multi-site manufacturing operations
• Proficiency with MRP/ERP, PLM, and Manufacturing Execution Systems