Blue Origin

Program Manager III

Blue Origin$112K — $156K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • B.S./B.A. in engineering, program management, business, or related field.
  • 4+ years in aerospace manufacturing or production environment.
  • Experience in establishing and managing programmatic frameworks.
  • Familiarity with transitioning from development to production.
  • Proven ability to lead multifunctional teams in a matrix environment.
  • Strong skills in JIRA and enterprise scheduling tools.
  • PMP certification or ability to obtain within 6 months.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and manage the Factory Automation lifecycle framework.
  • Establish the business operating rhythm for the Project Horizon program.
  • Act as the main accountability point for the Project Horizon Factory Automation portfolio.
  • Standardize tools and processes across Factory Automation projects.
  • Lead planning and resource allocation for the Factory Automation organization.
  • Identify risks and bottlenecks in the Project Horizon value stream.
  • Track capital expenditures and develop savings models.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, paid parental leave, and disability coverage.
  • 401(k) matching up to 5%.
  • Stock options for regular employees working at least 20 hours/week.
  • Paid time off: up to four weeks per year and 14 company-paid holidays.
  • Education Support Program for employee development.
Full Job Description
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.

Clearance: Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum per Blue Origin standard requirements

We are seeking a Project Manager III to drive factory automation execution for our GS2 Gen 2 production system. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration by ensuring the programmatic rigor behind the automation investments that enable high-rate vehicle production at Rocket Park.

As the Project Manager III for Factory Automation, you will be responsible for owning the integrated execution of Project Horizon - including process workflows, data synthesis, and capital/savings tracking across the production system buildout. You will be held accountable for schedule performance, capital governance, and cross-functional alignment across engineering, manufacturing, and program stakeholders. This is an individual contributor role focused on translating complex automation programs into clear plans, actionable data, and measurable outcomes.

This role offers flexible work location across all Blue Origin sites.

Responsibilities:

  • Develop, implement, and manage the programmatic framework and business operating system for the entire Factory Automation lifecycle, from requirements definition through commissioning.


  • Establish and lead the business operating rhythm for the Project Horizon program, including portfolio-level reviews of cost, schedule, risk, and technical performance.


  • Serve as the primary point of accountability for the collective health of the entire Project Horizon Factory Automation portfolio, providing strategic guidance and intervention to ensure program objectives are met.


  • Drive the standardization of tools (JIRA, scheduling software, etc.), processes, and key performance indicators (KPIs) across all Factory Automation projects to improve predictability and data-driven decision-making.


  • Lead long-range planning and resource allocation for the Factory Automation organization in partnership with engineering, manufacturing, and finance leadership.


  • Identify systemic risks and bottlenecks within the Project Horizon value stream and lead cross-functional initiatives to implement lasting solutions.


  • Capital & Savings Tracking: Own the capital expenditure tracking for automation investments. Develop and maintain savings models that quantify ROI, cost avoidance, and efficiency gains against baseline.


  • Cross-Functional Coordination: Align stakeholders across Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Controls, IT/OT, Finance, and Program Management without direct authority. Drive decisions through data, clarity, and follow-through.


  • Risk & Issue Management: Proactively identify schedule risks, budget variances, and integration issues. Escalate with recommended mitigations, not just flags.


Minimum Qualifications:

  • Minimum of a B.S./B.A. degree in engineering, program management, business or a related technical field.


  • 4+ years of experience in an aerospace manufacturing or production environment.


  • Demonstrated experience establishing and managing programmatic frameworks, including budget management, integrated master scheduling, risk management, and performance reporting across a portfolio of projects.


  • Experience managing new product introduction and the transition from development to production at a systemic level.


  • Proven ability to lead and influence multifunctional teams in a matrix environment to adopt new processes and systems.


  • Strong computer skills, including expertise in leveraging JIRA, enterprise scheduling tools, and the Microsoft Office Suite for program management.


  • Project Management certification (PMP) or ability to obtain certification within 6 months of hire.


  • 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.


Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master's Degree in an engineering discipline or an MBA.


  • Experience in aerospace, automotive, or high-rate production environments


  • Familiarity with factory automation systems (robotics, PLC/SCADA, MES)


  • PMP or equivalent project management certification


  • Experience building executive-level dashboards and capital tracking models


  • Comfort operating in ambiguity with minimal direction


  • Track record of influencing outcomes across organizations without direct authority


  • Demonstrated ability to present complex programmatic information and strategic recommendations to executive leadership.


Base Pay Range for:
WA applicants is $112,059.00 - $156,882.60

Other site ranges may differ

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.


About Blue Origin

Blue Origin is an aerospace company that develops rockets and spacecraft for commercial and government customers. The company's products include the New Shepard suborbital vehicle and the New Glenn orbital rocket. Blue Origin was founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos and is headquartered in Kent, Washington.
Learn more about Blue Origin
Size
3,000 employees
Industry
Founded
2000

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