GS2 Quattro Manager, Sub-Assembly Production

Application close date:

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!

At Blue Origin, we believe that access to space changes everything - and we're not waiting around for it to happen. We're building it. Right now. In Space Coast, Florida

Project Horizon is our purpose-built upper stage manufacturing facility for New Glenn's GS2 Gen 2.1 - one of the most ambitious aerospace manufacturing programs in the world. We're standing up a brand-new production system from the ground up, hiring the team that will build it, and delivering our first article unit on a schedule that doesn't have room for hesitation.

We're looking for a Manager of Sub-Assembly Production who wakes up energized by a challenge, leads with optimism, and knows how to bring out the best in the people around them. Someone who thrives when the stakes are high, keeps their team focused and motivated when the pressure is on, and genuinely loves the work of building something extraordinary.

Special Mentions

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected up to 10% of the time
• Shifts available:
  • A Shift
• Interviews will include a technical assessment

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Production Execution- Own Your Production Area - All of It

You will be the single accountable production leader for three of the most structurally and mechanically complex sub-assemblies on the vehicle:

• Lead all Engine Structure, Interstage Assembly (ISA), and Forward and Aft Skirt production operations across Horizon's Mid Bay and High Bay
• Develop and manage the production schedule to meet first-article build objectives and subsequent rate ramp targets
• Own the production schedule from kitting and work order release through final inspection and delivery to the next production area
• Execute rate ramp from Rate 12 (1/month) toward full rate production in 2029
• Interstage Assembly (ISA) - the structural interface between the upper stage and the first stage, integrating separation systems, structural load paths, and mechanical interfaces
• Forward and Aft Skirt - precision structural assemblies that close out the vehicle's upper and lower ends, integrating with propellant systems, avionics, and engine interfaces
• Engine Structure Production - the thrust structure that carries four BE-3U engines and transfers their combined load into the vehicle stack

These aren't commodity parts. They are high-consequence, tight-tolerance assemblies that have to be right - and you'll build the team and the process that makes sure they are, every time.

Build and Lead Your Team

• Plan and execute staffing ramp-up to support increasing production rates and facility activations
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team of supervisors and production technicians - invest in their growth, recognize their wins, and support. There success should be your priority.
• Establish and maintain standard work, operating procedures, quality gates, and shift structures for all assigned work centers
• Set the tone: optimistic, driven, accountable, and genuinely excited about the mission

Execute the Build Plan-Bottleneck Ownership

• Own the production schedule for ISA, skirt, and engine structure assemblies - from kitting and work order release through final inspection and delivery to the next production area
• Drive daily production rhythm: stand-ups, constraint resolution, shift handoffs, and floor presence
• Identify and eliminate obstacles before they become delays - you don't wait for problems to find you
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Test, Facilities, and Advanced Manufacturing teams to introduce new equipment, processes, and production systems into operations
• Ensure production readiness of new work centers and systems, including planning, validation, and operational handoff - you understand that quality and speed are not mutually exclusive

Stand Up a Greenfield Production System

• You will help design the work center layout, define the operating procedures, accept tooling and equipment into production, and build the processes your team will use for years
• Participate in design reviews and production readiness reviews to ensure your work centers are set up for success before the first unit enters the flow
• Contribute to rate ramp planning - help define what it takes to scale from first article through full rate production

Be a Culture Carrier

• Model the attitude you want to see: positive under pressure, solutions-oriented, energized by the mission
• Celebrate wins loudly and learn from setbacks quickly - no dwelling, just improving
• Make your area a place where talented people want to work and grow
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical discipline
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing operations experience, with at least 3 years in a people management role
• Demonstrated experience leading production of complex structural assemblies - precision mechanical assembly, structural integration, or equivalent processes in a high-consequence manufacturing environment
• Experience standing up or activating a new production work center or manufacturing line
• Proven ability to manage a production schedule and drive daily execution against it in a high-complexity, low-volume environment
• Experience working cross-functionally alongside Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in launch vehicle, spacecraft, or large-scale aerospace structural assembly - interstage structures, thrust structures, or equivalent load-bearing assemblies strongly preferred
• Experience managing production operations through a first article build in an aerospace or defense program
• Familiarity with structural bonding, sealant application, precision fastener installation, or equivalent assembly processes in a flight hardware environment
• Experience with composite or hybrid metallic-composite structural assemblies
• Background in lean manufacturing, flow-based production, or takt-time-driven assembly operations
• Familiarity with MRP/ERP systems in a production planning context
• PMP or equivalent program management certification

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.

• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)

• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

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 atEEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.