GEEx (Giant Engine Experiment) Senior Manager

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 diverse team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!  

This role is a part of Test & Flight Operations team, providing centralized support to Business Units with the focus on design, build and maintenance of the ground systems, test and launch facilities across multiple locations.

The Sr. Manager, Test Operations role is responsible for leading a diverse and passionate team of engineers and technicians that operates a rocket engine test stand near Van Horn, Texas. The Sr. Manager collaborates closely with all Blue Origin business units in planning and delivering these rocket engine tests. The Sr Manager integrates with Test Operations senior leaders and support organizations to plan, prepare, and conduct test operations with a focus on safety at high rate and low cost. Team size is approximately 35 personnel including a Test Engineering Manager and Technician Supervisors. Being at the heart of Blue Origin operations, the West Texas Site offers eligible employees additional attractive financial incentives to supplement their competitive base earnings, including a living allowance and relocation assistance, etc. 

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to excellence to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Van Horn Specific information

Being at the heart of Blue Origin operations, the West Texas Site in Van Horn, TX offers eligible employee’s additional attractive financial incentives to supplement their competitive base earnings, including a living allowance and relocation assistance.  Eligibility for these additional benefits is based on the employee’s ability to permanently relocate to Van Horn, TX, or travel to Van Horn from another Blue location a minimum of 50% of the time.

Management responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Manage personnel at the Giant Engine Experiment (GEEx) test stand to include recruiting, training, coaching, mentoring, developing, and retaining talent.
• Promote teamwork, employee engagement, and good employee morale.
• Be an exemplar of all Blue Leadership Principles, especially operational excellence.
• Be the focal point for all GEEx stakeholder teams and coordinate daily and weekly test plans.
• Maintain the GEEx Integrated Master Schedule and assign engineering and technician resources as required for work planned at the test stand.
• Maintain employee training and development records.
• Collaborate with a diverse team of technicians and engineers spanning product, design, test, quality and all other relevant teams..
• Assist in the preparation and presentation of Program Monthly Reviews across multiple business units, as well as Daily Status Updates to help communicate inwards and outwards across the organization.
• Prepare quantitative strategic plans to ensure the targets are met, and leverage team skills and capabilities to implement and track progress against the plans.
• Lead overhead and labor budget planning and execution.

Technical Responsibilities:

• Establish the overall technical direction for the GEEx team and test stand, including identifying potential modifications for improved safety, rate, and cost.
• Develop and execute test plans and procedures; perform subsequent data reduction and reviews.
• Understand and provide guidance to the team on the operation and troubleshooting of fluid and instrumentation systems.
• Lead root cause analyses and failure investigations, implement corrective actions, and lead continuous improvement projects.
• Provide technical insight and authority on system hazard analyses performed by the engineering team.
• Perform schedule and cost estimation and management.
• Comply with and improve processes for test stand configuration management.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS degree in engineering or related field
• 2+ years as a manager or lead of a technical team
• 5+ years in a high consequence, high hazard operations environment in large industry, petrochemical, or aerospace facilities
• Strong background in fluid dynamics and thermodynamics
• Strong project management, and team leadership
• Outstanding technical and non-technical writing and verbal skills
• Demonstrated leadership in establishing a high performing safety culture
• Demonstrated habitual drive to correct errors at their root and not