Launch Vehicle Maintenance Senior Manager (Crew Capsules)

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 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 hardworking team of diverse specialists and engineers, you will manage the maintenance and pre-launch preparation of New Shepard’s Crew Capsule (CC) space launch vehicles. You will share in the team’s impact on all aspects of maintenance schedule, budget, training, and operational commitments. This role is responsible for the work execution needed to ensure the Crew Capsules are ready for safe launch.  As Senior Manager, you will directly manage some members of the Crew Capsule maintenance team, you will manage the tasking of a functionally assigned group of test engineers and project engineers dedicated to maintenance. This role will report to the Director of Maintenance for New Shepard Operations and Maintenance.

 Above all, you must have a passion for people.  You must deeply care about enabling the sustainable success of the members of your team.  You must have technical ambition and a passion for solving complex problems, providing operable solutions, and being adaptable as you will work on a variety of applications and systems.

 The job will be based in Kent with regular (up to 40%) travel to Launch Site One in Texas.

Additional operational responsibilities may be assigned depending on individual experience and qualifications.

 Responsibilities include:

• Oversee and monitor all aspects of Crew Capsule readiness for flight

• Ensuring proactive management of the daily maintenance schedules

• Managing the Crew Capsule Maintenance budget – achieving maintenance goals while remaining within budget constraints

• Own the health of the work management system, ensuring that:

  • work is meeting readiness gates prior to execution

  • work instructions meet required standards

  • follow up activities are completed in a timely fashion to close work

• Leadership and mentoring of launch vehicle maintenance personnel to establish, implement, and mature a launch vehicle maintenance team that prioritizes and values:

  • Safety of astronauts during flight and personnel during maintenance execution

  • Quality execution of work to maintain a known vehicle configuration

  • Meeting commitments to vehicle readiness dates and schedules

• Ensure consistent maintenance processes are used and that all Maintenance Requirements are met prior to flight

• Coaching and mentoring of the CC Vehicle Managers assigned to support Production of new CCs. Support of CC Production through the sharing of lessons learned and operationally excellent practices.

• Staffing and managing the Vehicle Maintenance Team to ensure that work is performed by individuals with the appropriate training and qualification and that workloads are appropriate

 Qualifications:

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in engineering or equivalent experience

• 10+ years’ experience in test or operations field with at least 5 years in a demanding operational environment

• Strong experience in leadership, planning, and team development, in a demanding time-accountable environment

• Strong coordination and project management skills. Must be able to track, manage and prioritize multiple simultaneous tasks and jobs.

• Excellent computer skills with the ability to use a variety of management and planning software tools, including the ability to rapidly learn apply new software tools as required, to include limited coding of operating scripts, IGS GUI, and procedures.

• A proven track record of working successfully in multiple disciplines, and the ability to evaluate technical recommendations from subject matter experts in a wide range of disciplines

• Proven communication skills and the ability to build strong working relationships within the organization.