Director of Technology, VAST

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! 

Blue Origin is building a road to space so our children can build the future. We are seeking a Director of Technology to lead technology development of the VAST organization (responsible for the design, development, qualification, and production support of high-performance valves, actuators, quick disconnects, and umbilical panels). This team also owns our Materials & Processes (M&P) function, technology development engineers, and manufacturing specialists. In partnership with the New Glenn program team, this leader will drive both rapid response to critical issues and long-range technology roadmaps that continuously improve performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost. This role will require 10-20% travel to supplier, test, and launch facilities.
 

• Set the technical vision and multi‑year roadmap for valves, actuators, QDs, umbilical panels, and enabling materials/manufacturing technologies aligned to New Glenn program needs and enterprise strategy.
• Serve as the technical authority for the product family: define standards, architectures, design practices, qualification strategies, and acceptance criteria for safety critical flight and ground hardware.
• Lead and develop a high-performing organization spanning M&P, technology development, and manufacturing specialists; attract, grow, and retain top talent; build succession plans.
• Own end-to-end lifecycle accountability from concept and requirements through detailed design, analysis, test, certification, production ramp, field support, and continuous improvement.
• Drive short term, high urgency problem solving (e.g., test escapes, build stoppages, launch site issues) using disciplined engineering methods: RCAs, DFMEA/PFMEA, FRACAS, corrective/preventive actions.
• Build long term capability through technology maturation (TRL), prototyping, qualification campaigns, and insertion plans; derisk future architectures with early test and analysis.
• Interface with the New Glenn program team and customers: manage requirements and ICDs, changes, technical baseline, risk, and deliverables; represent the organization in design/production readiness reviews.
• Partner cross-functionally with Systems, Avionics, GSE, Test, Quality, Supply Chain, and Operations to ensure robust system integration, manufacturability, and launch/mission readiness.
• Oversee materials and processes stewardship: selection and qualification, coatings, seals, contamination control, NDE, failure analysis, and special processes compliance.
• Advance manufacturing excellence: process development, machining and assembly standards, cleanliness, torque/seal practices, pneumatics/hydraulics test methods, design for manufacturability and reliability.
• Establish engineering and production metrics; use data to drive reliability growth, cycle-time reduction, and cost improvements while meeting safety and compliance requirements.
• Ensure configuration management, PLM rigor, and change control; chair or contribute to CCB/MRB as needed.
• Champion Blue’s culture of safety, quality, inclusion, and mission focus.
   

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Materials, or related engineering field; advanced degree preferred.
• 12+ years of experience delivering complex, safety critical hardware for launch vehicles, spacecraft, or analogous high reliability industries.
• 5+ years of technical leadership managing multi‑disciplinary engineering teams and organizations.
• Demonstrated expertise in fluid system components and mechanisms (e.g., cryogenic/HP valves, electromechanical/hydraulic actuators, QDs, umbilical panels) from design through qualification and production.
• Strong systems engineering background: requirements flow down, interface control, verification/validation, hazards analysis, and reliability engineering.
• Proven track record managing urgent issue resolution and driving sustained continuous improvement.
• Familiarity with cryogenic propellants, high pressure gases, contamination control, leak/flow testing, and environmental qualification (vibe, thermal, EMC).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills; able to influence across program, supply chain, test, and operations.

Base Pay Range for:

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.