Blue Origin

Senior Technical Program Manager - Factory Automation

Blue Origin$145K — $203K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 6+ years management experience in complex engineering projects
  • Understanding of program/project management principles
  • Proven ability to successfully complete multiple projects on time and within budget
  • Experience in developing or adapting project management tools
  • Strong organization and self-starting capabilities
  • Effective communicator with ability to build professional relationships
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools

Responsibilities

  • Lead delivery of multiple technical projects by supporting planning and scheduling
  • Develop systems and tools for lightweight project management
  • Coordinate with engineering teams to define and control project scope and goals
  • Manage change requests and track project risks and opportunities
  • Supervise KPIs and report on program performance
  • Oversee preparation and execution of Gated Reviews
  • Manage procurement packages and subcontractors
  • Audit project management tools for continuous improvement

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Basic and supplemental life insurance
  • Paid parental leave and short/long-term disability
  • 401(k) plan with up to 5% company match
  • Education Support Program
  • Stock options available for regular employees
  • Up to four weeks paid time off annually and 14 company-paid holidays
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.

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.

The Factory Automation team designs, builds, and commissions 'from scratch' automated manufacturing and test systems across all Blue Origin sites. As the Technical Program Manager on the Factory Automation team, you will directly support Blue Origin's success by building, maintaining, and evolving the program-level infrastructure and systems to enable rapid, lightweight, and effective project management across the organization - this is not a project manager role, this is a program-wide role that enables the engineers, managers, and stakeholders working on automation development to track, measure, and understand the projects that form the overall automation program.

The ideal candidate will have professional expertise in program/project management, technical leadership, and a proven track record of successfully delivering automation projects on time and within budget. The person in this role will develop the systems to handle individual project technical scope definition, schedules, budgets, material procurement and resource allocation to complete projects, working directly with the Factory Automation development and integration engineering teams to ensure project completion on schedule and within the allocated budget. Success in this role will mean a decrease in project management effort for project leaders, and an increase in visibility into insights for the automation program - both internally and for our customers.

We are looking for a program manager 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:
  • Lead and manage the end-to-end delivery of a portfolio of multiple technical projects, supporting project leaders with planning, scheduling, procurement, resource allocation, and budget management
  • Develop and maintain systems and tools that enable lightweight project management (e.g. budget tracking, schedule compliance)
  • Coordinate with engineering teams to define, monitor and control project scope, goals, and final products
  • Proactively supervise and control project scope, manage change requests, and track risks and opportunities for multiple projects
  • Supervise key performance indicators and report out at program monthly reviews.
  • Manage the preparation, execution, and closeout of follow-up actions for Gated Reviews (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR)
  • Develop procurement packages, perform bid leveling, and manage external subcontracts (minimum Fixed-Price and Time & Materials) in support of project efforts
  • Perform audits and continual improvement of project management tools and apply structure to how a growing organization manages multiple projects


Minimum Qualifications:
  • 6+ years experience managing sophisticated engineering system development projects within the aerospace, automotive, or other manufacturing industries
  • Understands theory and practical application of the Program/Project Management field
  • Prior execution of multiple projects to successful completion, on budget and on time, and ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
  • Proven experience developing custom project management tools, or adapting COTS systems to automate as many aspects of day-to-day project manage as possible
  • Demonstrated knowledge and application of project management principles on complex, multi-disciplinary systems, including project planning, integrated master schedules, critical path, change management, and after-action reporting
  • Organized self-starter, capable of breaking down complex problems into traceable tasks and concisely presenting project status
  • Recognize and act on opportunities; maintain flexibility to adjust as requirements shift or constraints change
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook)
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills; ability to identify and tailor to a target audience. Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion

Preferred Qualifications:
  • B.S. degree or higher in engineering or equivalent
  • Prior experience working as a program manager in the following areas:
  • Manufacturing automation equipment development and integration
  • Complex electronic system design and development
  • Design, build and test of fluids and/or pressure systems
  • A demonstrated ability to interpret and review electrical and mechanical drawings
  • Experience using AI development tools (e.g. Claude Code) to build scrappy PM systems to fill the gaps where enterprise systems have deficiencies
  • Experience with some or all the following tools: MS Project, MS Project Web App or Project Online, Airtable, Tableau, Windchill, and JIRA
  • An understanding of world-class quality, attention to detail, and dedication


Base Pay Range for:
WA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20

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.

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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