Senior Technical Program Manager - Factory Automation

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!

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:

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, 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 [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.