Director of Composite Manufacturing

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!  

We are a diverse team of collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin’s vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth.

As part of a diverse and hardworking team of experts, you will be responsible for operational execution of the team charged with producing composite flight hardware for various spaceflight systems (New Glenn, Lunar, etc.). The team and this role are based on Florida’s Space Coast at the Rocket Park Facility on Merritt Island, FL.  You will lead a skilled, interdisciplinary team, responsible for manufacturing all aspects related to of composite component production.  This will include, production composite flight hardware, development and implementation new processes, problem-solve, and producing large composite launch structures through layup, curing, inspection, trimming, drilling, repair, and integration, in our highly automated production line. while ensuring on-time delivery, cost, and quality, with a strong focus on safety and efficiency.  This leader will have the ground floor opportunity to transform fluid system production to adapt to the art of the possible to improve both technical adequacy, cost, quality and through put as we prepare to ramp production rates to support the mission of New Glenn.  This is a hands-on leadership position that requires the ability to communicate the vision, strategy and tactical application of cost-effective strategies and key deliverables.  

You will report directly to the Vice President of Manufacturing Operations at the Rocket Park Facility.

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

Responsibilities:

• Lead, build and manage the Composites Production team, including developing resource plans, conducting interviews, making hiring recommendations, and assisting in performance reviews.
• Champion safety always and first-time quality across all functions while growing and developing your team at all levels.
• Lead and guide a team of managers, supervisors, and technicians in composite layup, curing, inspection, trimming, drilling, repair, and integration processes.
• Oversee the operation, maintenance, and installation of large, specialized equipment, such as robotic layup, inspection, trim and drill equipment, integration tools, stands, and rolling stock
• Lead operations employing precision measuring tools and heavy machinery, such as forklifts and cranes.
• Direct initiatives and strategies that deliver cost effective, high quality, operational performance that produces the rate manufacturing of orbital launch vehicles for payload and human spaceflight.
• Though Blue’s Continuous Improvement Methodology lead the implementation of methods to increase production efficiency and productivity to include factory flow and higher throughput within existing floor space first pass yield, increased output, improved learning curve, and supplier on time delivery.
• Oversee the development and implementation of data driven systems with a lean approach with a focus on delivering results.
• Propagate key operational learnings and best practices to support improvement across the Operations Team at Rocket Park and the Blue enterprise.
• Analyze processes and operations at the micro and macro levels followed by implementing high impact improvements for safety and quality that reduces unit cost and accelerates throughput.
• Leverage Blue Origin’s Leadership Principles to cultivate a trusting, learning culture of leaders through continuous feedback, coaching and robust development opportunities. Foster a “One Team Mindset”.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in a direct supervision/leadership role, with a proven track record of working on aerospace development programs or production lines heavily focused on Composite manufactur