Director, New Shepard Test
BLUE ORIGIN
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 New Shepard program. New Shepard is a reusable suborbital rocket system designed to take astronauts and research payloads past the Kármán line – the internationally recognized boundary of space. Through operational reusability, New Shepard supports our mission of lowering the cost of access to space.As part of a small, passionate and accomplished team of experts, you will be responsible for the test and verification of New Shepard space hardware. You will provide technical, programmatic and financial leadership and resolution of issues to enable rapid progress. With your expertise in test engineering, program management and people leadership, you will facilitate on-time completion of test activities through integrated planning, process improvement and partnership with stakeholder groups. You are adept at managing a highly capable team, comfortable adjusting in response to evolving requirements or external constraints, and prioritizing efforts all the while infusing and facilitating creativity and innovation. We put a strong emphasis on hands-on technical ability, as our leaders are directly involved with projects and problem-solving and manage through active engagement with the team. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable spaceflight.
Responsibilities:
- Overall responsibility for all aspects of component and integrated test engineering of the New Shepard vehicle
- Coordination with the production team to establish aggressive but achievable production targets
- Resource and capacity planning to achieve forecasted vehicle demand
- Detailed metrics and schedule generation, including subsequent progress reporting
- Forecasting and developing recovery plans for constraints critical to vehicle delivery and/or flight schedule
- Responsible for the execution of development and qualification testing, on a compressed schedule, in support of the NS4.3 design increment
- Manage in accordance with the New Shepard Program Management Plan (PMP) and associated Management Operating System (MOS)
- Development and management of test space/equipment, budget and schedule milestones to meet goals allocated from New Shepard Program Manager
- Managing teams of engineers and technicians responsible for the testing of avionics, fluids, and mechanical systems, and the build of associated equipment
- Provide recommendations and develop process improvements in a wide-range of test engineering activities, such as:
- Developing test plans and test procedures;
- Deriving test requirements;
- Scoping, defining, and developing test equipment to support automated testing;
- Supporting engineering design activities as a technical partner;
- Planning and supporting requirements verification and validation;
- Developing job hazard analyses;
- Performing root cause analyses and implementing corrective actions;
- Partner with engineering, operations and maintenance organization leads to concurrently support design development and verification, production build, and the operational fleet
Minimum Qualifications:
- B.S. degree in aerospace, mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering; physics; or 12+ years relevant industry experience in engineering, manufacturing, operations or maintenance
- Experience with assembly and integration of launch vehicles across a range of launch vehicle subsystems including avionics, fluids, and mechanical systems
- Experience with planning, scheduling tools, Basis of Estimate, Work Breakdown Structure, Integrated Master Schedule, Critical Path Analysis, Material Resource Planning, Enterprise Resource Planning, Earned Value Management
- Experience managing Test Readiness Reviews, Job Hazard Analysis and Environmental Health and Safety
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to earn trust and build positive, professional relationships
- Able to set a high bar while hiring, developing and retaining top talent
- Passionate about space exploration and a future with millions of people living and working in space
Preferred Qualifications:
- 15+ years’ experience working on aerospace development programs or production lines, including component and integrated, system-level testing
- Demonstrated ability to manage teams on large and complex technical projects, within budgetary constraints and schedule deadlines.
- Knowledge of systems engineering practices, test and integration processes, quality and configuration management systems
- Master of Science in a related field or Masters of Business Administration
- Project Management certification (PMP/Certified Project Manager) or Program Management Office (PMO) experience
- Experience with Oracle Primavera P6, DOORS, CREO, Windchill, ITS
Compensation Range for:
WA applicants is $197,247.00-$276,144.75Other site ranges may differ
Culture Statement
Don’t 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 you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t 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 U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
Background Check
Required for all positions: Blue’s 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 10,001 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.
Discretionary bonus: Bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results.
Eligibility for benefits varies by role type, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role.
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
Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.
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