Trim & Drill Shift Lead (B Shift)

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! 

The Shift Lead for Composite Manufacturing is responsible for overseeing trim and drill operations for composite Payload Fairings (PLF) supporting the New Glenn program. This role leads a team of technicians to ensure safe, high-quality, and on-schedule execution of manufacturing activities while driving continuous improvement in cost, quality, delivery, and team performance.

• Lead and supervise daily trim and drill operations for composite Payload Fairing structures (PLF).
• Assign and coordinate technician work activities to meet production schedules and milestones.
• Ensure adherence to engineering specifications, work instructions, and quality standards.
• Monitor and drive performance across cost, quality, and schedule (CQS) metrics.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for shift-level production issues, including escalation and resolution.
• Promote and enforce a strong safety culture and compliance with all safety procedures.
• Support first article builds, process validation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams (Engineering, Quality, Planning, Supply Chain) to resolve issues and maintain workflow.
• Track labor hours, material usage, and productivity to ensure cost efficiency.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to technicians.
• Maintain accurate production records, logs, and shift reports.

• Conduct shift start-up meetings and communicate priorities, risks, and goals.
• Assign daily technician work scopes and adjust as needed based on production status.
• Oversee trim and drill operations, ensuring precision, tool control, and process compliance.
• Monitor part quality and support inspections to ensure conformance.
• Address non-conformances, troubleshoot issues, and implement corrective actions.
• Track progress against schedule and update leadership on status.
• Ensure proper staffing levels and support team development.
• Drive housekeeping and 5S standards on the production floor.

• High school diploma or GED (Associate’s or technical degree preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in composite manufacturing, aerospace structures, or similar field.
• 2+ years of leadership or team lead experience in a production environment.
• Experience with trim and drill operations on composite structures.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and work instructions.

• Experience with large aerospace composite structures or payload fairings.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methods.
• Knowledge of nonconformance systems and root cause corrective action (RCCA).
• Experience working in a fast-paced, production-driven environment.

• Leadership and team development
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Attention to detail and quality focus
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under schedule pressure
• Strong communication and coordination

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.