Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

This role is part of Blue Origin Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. This includes Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities.

Team Overview

The System Prototyping team is a hands-on fabrication and development group responsible for building mechanical prototypes, composite structures, and soft goods in support of early-stage design and program development. The team partners closely with internal engineering customers to translate concepts into physical hardware quickly and with high quality.

Role Summary

We are seeking an experienced people manager to lead a small team of technicians in day-to-day prototyping operations. This role is both operational and relational — the right candidate will be equally comfortable managing workflow on the shop floor, communicating with internal customers, and handling the administrative responsibilities of running a skilled fabrication team.

Key Responsibilities

Team Management

• Assign and prioritize daily/weekly work across 9 technicians based on customer demand and team capacity
• Conduct yearly performance reviews and ongoing feedback/coaching
• Support team development, training, and skill-building in prototyping disciplines
• Foster a safe, collaborative, and high-performing shop culture

Customer Communication

• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal engineering customers
• Translating customer requirements into actionable work assignments
• Provide status updates, manage expectations, and escalate schedule or technical conflicts as needed
• Collaborate with customers to scope new prototyping requests and define deliverables

Operations & Logistics

• Manage material and tooling procurement to support active and upcoming builds
• Maintain shop readiness including inventory, equipment availability, and consumables
• Track and manage budget associated with materials and tooling purchases
• Identify and resolve day-to-day operational blockers

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a hands-on fabrication, manufacturing, or prototyping environment
• 2+ years of direct people management or team lead experience
• Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following: mechanical prototyping, composite fabrication, soft goods manufacturing
• Strong organizational and workload management skills
• Excellent communication skills — ability to interface effectively with both shop floor technicians and engineering stakeholders
• Experience with material/tooling procurement and vendor coordination

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing in an aerospace, defense, or R&D prototyping environment
• Familiarity with composites processing (layup, cure, finishing) and/or soft goods techniques (pattern making, sewing, assembly)
• Experience using shop management or work order tracking tools
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in a related technical field (or equivalent experience)

Work Environment

• This is a fully on-site role requiring regular presence on the shop floor
• May require occasional support outside of standard hours to meet program milestones

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.