Technical Program Director - MK2 Lunar Lander

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!  

As part of a hardworking, passionate, and accomplished team of experts, you will serve as the senior integrator connecting Lunar Operations and the Lunar Permanence Business Unit to the broader Blue Origin Operations enterprise. Working on behalf of the Vice President of Lunar Operations to scale a rapidly growing business towards meeting our ambitious National Human Space Flight achievements. You will act as the primary Lunar Operations focal for the Lunar Permanence Business Unit, MK2 Alpha Lander — driving program and operations initiatives, interfacing with NASA customers and partnering with production floor leadership to advance operational goals and ensure coherent direction and communication across all three stakeholders.

In this role, you will own the rhythm of business for MK2 Alpha Lander Operations leadership, drive financial alignment and operational execution efficiency across the MK2 Alpha Lander program portfolio, be accountable for the Operations aligned efforts for the program, operations risk and capital project processes. You will shape the annual and multi-year strategy for the MK2 Alpha program, lead cross-cutting initiatives spanning design and development, manufacturing engineering, production, supply chain, and program teams, and translate strategic intent into coordinated execution across multiple sites and disciplines.

This role is the connective tissue between program strategy and integrated operations. You will be expected to speak fluent manufacturing while partnering with production leaders, manufacturing engineering, design engineering, supply chain to remove barriers, drive common processes, and accelerate the dev-to-production transition for MK2 Alpha Lander vehicles. You will work elbow-to-elbow with the Lunar Operations Leadership Team while leveraging tools, processes, and best practices proven across Blue Origin's broader Operations enterprise.

This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and detailed attention toward safe and repeatable spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required.

Responsibilities

• Champion safety always and first-time quality, modeling Blue Origin's Leadership Principles and fostering a "One Team" mindset.
• Drive the financial and operational execution of a portfolio supporting the MK2 Alpha Lander vehicles across the Lunar Business Unit partnering with finance on budget formulation, variance management, EAC discipline, and unit-cost performance while coordinating with the program, and operations leaders in SQMA, Engines Operations, New Glenn Operations, and advanced manufacturing on
• Integrate the MK2 Alpha Lander Operations team into the broader Blue Origin Operations organization, leveraging tools, processes, and best practices proven across the enterprise.
• Serve as a primary operational focal between Lunar Operations, the Lunar Business Unit, and NASA coordinating customer engagements, milestone reviews, operational data exchange, and issue resolution, ensuring commitments stay aligned with execution capacity.
• Own the Operational Rhythm of Business for MK2 Alpha Lander Operations on behalf of the VP, Lunar Operations leadership reviews, working groups, decision logs, and the capture, tracking, and institutionalization of actions through to closure.
• Own the MK2 Alpha Lander Operations Risk Management process, identification, scoring, mitigation planning, escalation paths, and review cadence with the Lunar Operations Leadership Team.
• Own the MK2 Alpha Lander Operations Capital Expenditures Project (CapEx) Management process including portfolio prioritization, gate reviews, spend pacing, benefits tracking, and post-implementation reviews.
• Lead multi-year strategy development for the MK2 Alpha Lander supporting the Lunar Operations portfolio, aligning long-range capacity, capability, and investment plans with Lunar BU and program needs.
• Lead concurrent projects that deploy the Lunar Operational Strategy, factory flow, throughput, first-pass yield, supplier on-time delivery, and unit-cost reduction defining requirements, mapping interdependencies, and orchestrating cross-functional input.
• Identify, shape, and lead pivotal operations initiatives, deep diving into subject areas that lack a single-threaded owner and emergent organizational challenges, building solutions, then handing them off to permanent owners.
• Partner with manufacturing engineering, production, and design leadership to drive standard work, common components, capital and layout improvements, producibility, surfacing and resolving manufacturability issues early.
• Coordinate MK2 Alpha Lander Operations Quarterly Updates, all-hands presentations, and program updates while partnering with Lunar Operations and the Lunar Business Unit.
• Facilitate change management, evaluate, coordinate, and approve new requirements or process changes and propagate operational learnings and best practices across the enterprise.
• Provide leadership with data-driven reports, recommendations, and decision support, ensuring information is gathered, organized, and rendered to maximize decision speed, and influencing senior leadership to deliver on strategic business goals on time and on target.
• Analyze processes at the micro and macro levels and implement high-impact improvements that reduce unit cost, improve quality, and accelerate delivery schedules.

Minimum Qualifications

• 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
• BA or BS degree, or equivalent experience, with emphasis in Engineering, Operations Management, or Business.
• 12+ years of progressive experience spanning manufacturing operations, program management, or operations integration.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale, cross-functional change management initiatives that influenced culture, processes, and tools.
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma, including standard work definition and deviation tracking at the work-cell level.
• Experience operating in a low-volume, high-complexity manufacturing environment, with exposure to manufacturing, production, assembly, procurement, and logistics.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to balance technical, business, and organizational influences.
• Polished, executive-grade verbal, written, and data-driven communication skills, with proven ability to represent Operations in customer-facing settings, including milestone reviews, leadership briefings, and high-stakes issue resolution while landing the same message coherently with peers, internal stakeholders, suppliers, and the production floor.
• Demonstrated history of independent work foreseeing problems, delivering on commitments, and personal accountability.
• An attitude of world-class mission assurance, quality, attention to detail, and dedication.

Desired Qualifications

• 15+ years of aerospace experience across space vehicles, launch vehicles, aircraft and helicopters, or sub-systems.
• Master's degree in engineering, operations, or business.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Earned Value Management (EVM / EVMS) with Cost Account Management experience.
• Proven experience navigating the development-to-production transition of a complex aerospace program.
• Exposure to multiple manufacturing processes and technologies metal machining, composites, aero structures, turbomachinery, soft goods, welding, harness, and electronics fabrication.
• Experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.
• Experience growing and developing diverse teams across a multi-business-unit integrated operations organization.
• Experience managing capital improvements and factory layout decisions.
• Experience serving as a customer-facing operational focal preferably with NASA or another government / prime-contractor customer including milestone reviews, operational data exchange, and contract / change coordination.
• Exceptional judgment and discretion when handling sensitive or confidential information.
• Strong business acumen with an understanding of industry dynamics marketplace trends, competitive landscape, and technology requirements for operational sustainability.

Travel

Up to 25% travel will be required between the Space Coast site and other Blue Origin Operations sites (Kent, WA; Huntsville, AL) and customer sites supporting Lunar Operation.

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