Director, Vehicle Engineering MK2 Crew Lander

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 the Director of Vehicle Engineering for the Blue Moon MK2 Crew Lander you will manage a team of engineering leaders and managers to perform the integrated design, analysis, verification, validation, and certification for the lander . You will define and implement agile and lean System Engineering practices across the vehicle, cultivating a culture of systems thinking at all levels. You will drive technical design integration and the cadence of engineering operations to incrementally and urgently advan ce the system through delivery and operations . You will ensure system safety is prioritized at all levels of the design and in our organization. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and attention towards safe and reliable spaceflight.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to :

Manage the people of the Vehicle Engineering organization, fostering career development and raising the bar of performance through a focus on strategic planning, high quality decisions, collaboration, communication, and trust.

Define and control the technical baseline for the Crew Lander that satisfies requirements while balancing cost, schedule, and risk .

Manage the Crew Lander configuration baseline including the vehicle CAD model, BOM, and mass properties .

Manage requirement and interface definition, validation, and control

Lead integrated analysis including the identification, evaluation, and tracking of key technical performance measures .

Manage the system safety definition and analysis across the vehicle.

Manage the definition and execution of v erification, v alidation, and c ertification for the Crew Lander.

Establish tools and best practices for System Engineering and Integration, including training and mentoring, to foster a culture of system thinking at all levels of the organization.

Implement agile project management for the Vehicle Engineering team establishing iterative and incremental deliverables required to support integrated vehicle goals.

Minimum Qualifications :

Demonstrated experience effectively managing People, including fostering a culture of action, accountability, coaching, and development.

Demonstrated experience leading integrated technical teams to deliver complex systems or subsystems in dynamic environments while balancing technical performance, cost, schedule, and risk.

Deep technical knowledge of in-space vehicle systems, including key performance drivers , subsystems , and the fundamental physics of operating a vehicle in space

Demonstrated subject matter expertise in applied System Engineering and Integration, including functional analysis, requirements, analysis integration , verification and validation, and risk management.

10+ years managing technical teams and / or leading functional groups with responsibility for leading and coaching employees.

Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of integrity.

Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Minimum of a B.S. degree in engineering, computing, or another technical field.

Preferred Qualifications :

Experience with the full lifecycle of development across one or more space missions

Experience performing at least one system-level V&V campaign for a space system

Experience with space vehicle mission operations.

Experience with CAD configuration and proficiency with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and CAD tools including Windchill / Creo

Experience with Model Based Definition (MBD)

Experience with AI agents and use of Large Language Models

Experience applying Model Based System Engineering approaches and tools

Experience with human spaceflight systems , safety analysis, and certification

Experience with non-traditional approaches to System Engineering and Integration

Experience organizing and leading a system engineering team

Experience with mass properties and technical resource management

Experience implementing a gile project management approaches

Knowledge of Configuration and Data Management processes and standards including Software CM methods and tools (e.g., Gitlab).

Knowledge of project scheduling including development of IMP / IMS, critical path analysis, and schedule risk analysis

Compensation Range for :

CO applicants is $200,653.00-$280,913.85;WA applicants is $211,905.00-$296,665.95

Other 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.

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 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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