Fabrication Director Multi Mission Operations

Application close date:

At Blue Origin we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. Were 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.

We are seeking an experienced metals fabrication operations leader to scale our metals fabrication capabilities and plan and execute for the future. You will own end-to-end metals fabrication executionfrom new product introduction through high-rate productionsetting standards building high-performing teams and driving continuous improvement in safety reliability and efficiency across all of Blue Origins products and programs.

You will lead multidisciplinary technician and engineering teams across machining welding sheet metal forming heat treat and related fabrication disciplines. You will serve as a key interface to program leadership and executive stakeholders driving equipment qualifications material approvals and production readiness for flight hardware. This is a hands-on position that requires the ability to communicate the vision strategy and tactical application of cost-effective strategies and key deliverables.

This role directly impacts the history of space exploration and will require dedication high judgment and meticulous attention to safe repeatable human and payload spaceflight operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Champion safety always and first-time quality across all functions while growing and developing your team at all levels
• Oversee integrated planning and scheduling across multiple metals fabrication shops; resolve conflicts and drive decisions that balance safety schedule and cost
• Lead new product introduction (NPI) activities for metals fabrication including process development equipment qualification material validation and production ramp
• Establish and maintain equipment and material qualifications in accordance with aerospace standards (AS9100 Nadcap) and customer requirements; own qualification plans process validations and continuous compliance
• Define and maintain the metals fabrication team operating model including org structure staffing interfaces and standards across all fabrication disciplines
• Build lead and develop a multi-level team (managers shift leads engineers technicians) including workforce planning hiring performance management and succession planning
• Set and enforce standards for operations products (concepts of operations procedures checklists timelines work instructions) maintaining configuration control and alignment with engineering safety and regulatory requirements
• Partner with engineering on design for manufacturability (DFM) and early product development to optimize fabrication processes and ensure producibility
• Serve as senior operations authority in readiness reviews and go/no-go forums clearly communicating risks mitigations and readiness to leadership and customers
• Partner with engineering supply chain and operations to solve complex integration challenges and support cross-program fabrication needs
• Drive operational excellence and Lean improvements to increase throughput reduce turnaround time and rework and improve reliability while maintaining safety and quality
• Establish track and act on key performance indicators (KPIs) (e.g. schedule adherence first-pass yield anomaly rates safety performance asset utilization) to guide priorities and investments
• Ensure robust hazard identification and mitigation by partnering with Safety and Engineering on system and process hazard analyses driving closure of corrective and preventive actions
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholdersincluding programs functions and suppliersto align concepts of operations schedules and risk posture

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in engineering physical sciences operations or related technical field; or equivalent hands-on experience in complex aerospace or industrial operations
• 10 years of people leadership experience including leading leaders and multidisciplinary operations teams in an aerospace or other complex manufacturing environment
• Direct experience in metals fabrication operations (e.g. machining welding sheet metal forming heat treat) with proven ability to scale capacity and capability
• Experience leading new product introduction (NPI) in a metals fabrication environment including transitioning designs from development through production readiness
• Demonstrated experience establishing and maintaining equipment and material qualifications including qualification plans process validations first article inspections and ongoing compliance
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives that improved operational performance (e.g. cycle time throughput reliability cost) while maintaining or improving safety and quality
• Experience establishing and managing operations schedules and integrated resource plans using tools such as Microsoft Project Primavera or equivalent
• Proven ability to make sound time-critical decisions under pressure during real-time operations with clear communication of intent and rationale
• Experience defining and using metrics and KPIs for operations performance management and continuous improvement
• Track record of effective collaboration with engineering safety program management facilities supply chain and external partners
• Proficiency with standard office and operations software and ability to quickly learn new planning data and analytics tools
• Willing and able to support non-standard hours (nights weekends holidays on-call)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with aerospace metals and advanced fabrication processes (e.g. aluminum titanium Inconel stainless steel; precision machining TIG/MIG welding friction stir welding orbital welding electron beam welding)
• Track record of qualifying new fabrication equipment and establishing validated manufacturing processes to meet aerospace quality standards (AS9100 Nadcap or similar)
• Experience with material and process specifications test protocols destructive and nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods and approval processes for flight hardware
• Familiarity with special processes (welding heat treat NDT) and maintaining qualified personnel procedures and equipment
• Demonstrated application of Lean and continuous improvement principles in operations including tools such as value stream mapping standard work 5S and visual management
• Experience deploying strategy and objectives through structured frameworks (e.g. Hoshin OKRs Balanced Scorecard) in an operations organization
• Experience using ERP/MRP and/or maintenance management systems to drive planning asset readiness and performance management
• Experience managing capital equipment procurement installation and production validation
• Background in liquid rocket engine launch vehicle or spacecraft fabrication

Culture Statement

Dont 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 youre excited about this role but your past experience doesnt 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 a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blues 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 10001 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 (CDL drivers only) 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.

• 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 companys intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the companys results or other factors at the companys 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

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