Principal Valves Engineer – Design Standardization & Commodity Strategy

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.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own enterprise-wide strategies for all varieties of valves that reduce cost, part count and complexity while improving manufacturability and reliability.
• Seek, produce, and utilize data-driven insights (e.g., spend analysis, part family mapping, supplier capability assessments, should-cost models) to identify standardization and consolidation opportunities.
• Define design standardization proposals, assess risks and dependencies, and clearly document recommendations and trade-offs in executive-ready memos and presentations.
• Present strategies and business cases (cost, schedule, risk, quality, supply assurance) to senior leadership and secure alignment from engineering, supply chain, and program stakeholders.
• Cook up and lead cross-functional implementation of valve commodity strategies across programs and product lines; act as the primary interface between engineering, supply chain, suppliers, and executive leadership.
• Track and report progress against key performance indicators (e.g., part-count reduction, cost savings, lead-time reduction, supplier rationalization), and adjust strategy as needed.
• Deliver clear, high-quality documentation, analyses, and briefings tailored to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Cultivate a culture of innovation, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer obsession within the supply chain and engineering communities.

Requirements

• Accredited B.S. degree in an engineering discipline (mechanical, aerospace, industrial, electrical, or related).
• 12+ years of experience in project/program management, supply chain management, manufacturing, or a similar discipline, including managing priorities, scope, schedule, integration, and cost.
• 8+ years of focused technical experience in the design or manufacturing of space-grade valves.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while providing imaginative and detailed solutions to complex, ambiguous problems.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in supply chain management in a highly regulated environment, including aerospace and/or defense acquisition processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; demonstrated ability to clarify, structure, and communicate complex technical and business content, including authorship of formal plans, analyses, or specifications.
• Demonstrated ability to earn trust, influence without direct authority, manage stakeholders at all levels, and maintain positive, professional relationships.
• Demonstrated negotiation skills developed through contracts, proposal management, supplier management, or similar negotiating activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or Master’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Research, or a related field.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and experience with Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS).
• Proficiency with advanced Excel capabilities (e.g., Macros, Power Query, Power Pivot) and familiarity with data visualization tools.
• Basic programming or scripting skills (e.g., Python, SQL, VBA) for data analysis and automation of reporting.
• Experience leading design standardization or platforming efforts for complex, highly integrated products in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability industries.
• Experience working with or within suppliers, including assessing capability, driving standardization, and implementing long-term commodity strategies.

Pay

For WA applicants is $169,624.00 - $237,473.25

Schedule

Not specified