Sr. Manager of Operational Excellence

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 the management operating system driving sustainable improvement in the production of components and assembly for Blue Origin launch and space vehicle programs. This is a hands-on position that requires effective communication, high judgment, leadership of the manufacturing production system. This Leader will have the responsibility of maturing the reporting system and visual factory within the Blue Production System to drive continuous improvement. This Leader will collaborate directly with the senior leadership team and decision makers to identify, recommend, develop, and implement process improvements. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable 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:

• Define and implement Digital Factory, and smart data analytics resulting in increased productivity and output
• Support the deployment and execution of the Blue Production System and standardized work for leaders
• Collaborate on the definition and execution of cycle time reduction projects to drive productivity and speed
• Provide leadership to the team through coaching, and inspiring a high performing team while fostering a work culture that encourages collaboration, people development and empowers decision making
• Effectively collaborate with the supporting functions to maintain Production and Launch
• Mature the management operating system to effectively anticipate performance risks, and generate ideas, insight, and solutions to resolve or mitigate potential issues, followed by decisive action to implement solutions
• Support and act on behalf of the Kent site leadership as necessary
• Oversee and drive the measurement, analysis, reporting, and improvement of the Kent manufacturing team performance
• Take ownership of interfaces with other sites and other business functions to drive improvements to increase the overall effectiveness of the manufacturing system across Blue Origin
• Collaborate with Enterprise Technology to evolve Kent manufacturing KPIs, continually raising the bar on performance expectations
• Manage budgeting and goal planning processes across the team to drive effective planning for goal attainment
• Participate in company-wide process definition and improvement for manufacturing processes, business processes, production planning, lessons learned, and other standards/processes as needed
• Implement the Blue Production System to build a production framework that supports World-Class capabilities and fosters One Blue culture

Qualifications:

• Previous experience in a manufacturing leadership role with a strong track record of delivering results and creating a positive, high performing culture
• BS degree with emphasis in supply chain management and/or engineering
• 10+ years of experience with progressive responsibilities in manufacturing in an area such as launch vehicles, spacecraft, aircraft, automotive, medical devices, power generation systems, semiconductors, or electronics
• Experience in implementing visual factory and production operating system
• Lean manufacturing experience with expertise in statistical process control; adept in process definition, development, deployment, measurement, and improvement
• Highly effective and professional verbal and written communication skills that includes a strong focus on teamwork and customer satisfaction
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and strengthen our culture of inclusion
• Experience leading and managing teams on fast-paced, complex projects
• Experience utilizing production scheduling MRP/ERP systems
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum

Desired:

• Master’s degree or MBA is a plus
• Experience transitioning manufacturing capabilities from development/acquisition to production
• Knowledge of fabrication processes, integration processes, systems engineering best practices, test, quality, and configuration management systems
• Experience managing facility level capital improvements and upgrades

Don’t meet every single requirement? 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 a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every 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.

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, diverse, 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, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members. 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, gender, 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. For more information on “EEO Is the Law,” please see here and here.

Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Washington Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws.

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.

Benefits

Employee Benefits include: Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, short and long-term disability and 401(k) with up to 5% company match.

Paid Time Off:  Provides up to 4 weeks per year, in addition to 14 holidays

Discretionary bonus programs