MK2 Engineering Operations Lead - Lunar Permanence

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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

This role is part of the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers and related products. To further Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we are building sustainable infrastructure for our transport of crew and cargo from Earth to the lunar surface.

As a MK2 Engineering Operations Lead, you will report to the MK2 Program Operations Director and drive operational excellence and velocity for the MK2 Lunar Lander team. You will develop, processes, metrics, tools, and business rhythms needed to manage and report product delivery status from the MK2 leadership team. You will work with product team managers to drive the program through agile development cycles to design the lander and support overall execution.

This position will support all aspects of vehicle product team management to include cost, schedule, technical design, risk management and organization management.  This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and attention towards safe and reliable spaceflight.

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 include but are not limited to:

• Lead and coordinate all vehicle-level engineering operations activities for the MK2 team.
• Communicate and support the execution of the vision, strategic goals, priorities, execution requirements, and performance across the MK2 organization as delegated by the MK2 Director including through monitoring and driving execution of program goals.
• Lead Agile based execution. Including daily/weekly sprint execution with product team managers.
• Own the process and facilitate planning program increments including quarterly planning events, design reviews, and retrospectives.
• Own the products team business operations rhythm including applying agile principles and project management guidelines that lead to efficient program execution. Develop a set of simple but consistent processes and metrics for management and reporting of products status, escalations, issues, and resolutions.
• Develop, automate, and release program metrics and dashboards with the data analytics team to establish and track metrics that enable program execution and strategic decision making.
• Provide technical leadership of the highest caliber as you coordinate for the Program Operations Director and Vehicle Engineering lead across with each of the Product Teams
• Communicate progress to leadership team via; program management reviews weekly/monthly, finance reviews, long term forecasting business plan, and project deep dives.
• Maintain strong relationships with Product Teams and other Business Units in coordinating people and resources.
• Coach teams in self-organization and self-management.
• Assist in developing and maintaining technical, cost, and schedule baselines.
• Prepare for and support execution of program reviews including to Lunar Transportation Senior Management.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum BS Degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering field.
• 3+ years of demonstrated experience in relevant areas of engineering operations
• 6+ years of industry technical experience involving system formulation, research, and development, and/or operations applied to spacecraft systems and environments
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate agile ceremonies (sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering or Scientific field.
• Proven experience in leading agile teams and managing agile processes within engineering environments.
• Strong background in systems engineering, with a thorough understanding of the design cycle from concept to deployment.
• Experience with hardware procurement and supplier management
• Experience with program management