Senior Manager, Test Operations

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! 

We are a diverse team of collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety and operational excellence. 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 Sr. Manager, Test Operations role is responsible for leading the XEEx engine test stand near Van Horn, Texas. The Sr. Manager is a leader of a diverse and passionate team of engineers and technicians who perform testing on our LNG and LOX engines and thruster series and their respective subcomponents. The Sr. Manager works closely with all Blue Origin business units developing tests to develop and qualify in-space fluid and engine systems. The Sr Manager integrates with Test Operations senior leaders and support organizations to plan, prepare, and conduct test operations on a multi-cell test stand safely and efficiently. The Sr. Manager is responsible for effectively planning and leading all aspects of capital, overhead and labor budgets, and managing capital improvement projects. Effective communications and long term planning are vital to a successful Sr. Manager.

We are looking for someone 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!

• Lead the team at the eXtreme Engine Experiment (XEEx) test stand to include recruiting, training, coaching, mentoring, developing, and retaining talent by following and developing performance management processes.
• Promote teamwork, employee engagement, and good employee morale.
• Be an exemplar of Blue Leadership Principles, focusing on demonstrating operational excellence.
• Maintain employee training and development records.
• Demonstrate high standards in test operations and work cooperatively with a diverse team of Responsible Engineers, Test Ops counterparts from other test stands, maintenance, Quality Specialists, and other team members to ensure requirements are met.
• Assist in the preparation of regular programmatic reports to help communicate inwards and outwards across the organization.
• Prepare quantitative strategic plans to ensure the targets are met, and leverage team skills and capabilities to implement and supervise progress against the plans.
• Lead capital, overhead, and labor budget planning and execution.

• Establish the technical direction for the XEEx test engineering team.
• Develop and implement test plans and procedures; perform subsequent data reduction and reviews.
• Lead the team in the design, planning, fabrication, installation, and operation of test facilities to the unique requirements from business unit customers
• Lead daily test operations, , direct technician work and coordinate with internal customers
• Understand and solve issues in fluid and instrumentation systems.
• Perform root cause analysis and failure investigations, lead implementation of corrective actions or continuous improvement projects
• Perform process hazard analyses (PHA).
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• Perform schedule and cost estimation and management.
• Find opportunities for safety improvements and cost savings.
• Align with and improve processes for test stand configuration management.

• BS degree in engineering or related field
• 3+ years as a manager or lead of a technical team
• 12+ years in an operations environment in large industry, petrochemical, or aerospace facilities
• Strong background in fluid dynamics and thermodynamics
• Strong project management, and team leadership
• Outstanding technical and non-technical writing and verbal skills
• Demonstrated leadership in establishing a high performing safety culture
• Demonstrated habitual drive to correct errors at their root and not pass them downstream
• Demonstrated experience in setting high standards of performance and holding teams accountable
• Demonstrated effectiveness in implementing continuous improvement to improve processes, methods and practices
• Demonstrated effectiveness in conflict-resolution and an ability to bring a group to a decision
• 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

• Demonstrated technical expertise in cryogenic test design and operations.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in liquid rocket engine test stand design, operation, and maintenance
• Previous experience operating in Process Safety Management (PSM) environment
• Knowledge of fabrication and integration processes, systems engineering and quality control practices
• MS in engineering or PMP certification

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.