Operations Program Manager (OPM)

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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 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 role is an Operations Program Manager (OPM) — a senior individual contributor who serves as the single-threaded owner for a product value stream within a new advanced hardware program at Blue Origin. The OPM is the technical program manager for everything required to take a product from engineering release to shipped hardware at rate: factory planning, facility activation, equipment commissioning, process qualification, production ramp, and sustained operations. This is a TPM-style role — the OPM does not have direct reports during the early phase but is accountable for the production system design and activation plan for their product. The OPM writes the factory plan, drives equipment procurement, leads facility buildout for their production area, owns NPI and first-article execution, and becomes the production system architect as the value stream scales. The role reports to the Head of Operations and grows in scope as production rate increases — ultimately owning schedule, cost, quality, and delivery for their product line.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Developing the production system architecture — process flow from raw material through finished/tested product, work cell layout, material flow, WIP staging, and test/inspection stations
• Owning the factory plan for the assigned product — the integrated plan that defines process flow, equipment list, facility requirements, staffing model, capital budget, and production rate milestones from development through full-rate production
• Building and maintaining data-driven capacity models — machine utilization, cycle times, staffing requirements, and throughput at each rate milestone; using these models to drive equipment and hiring decisions
• Leading facility planning and activation — defining floor layout, utility requirements (power, gas, compressed air, exhaust), foundation and rigging specs, and construction phasing for the production area; coordinating with facilities engineering and construction contractors through turnover
• Driving equipment procurement and commissioning — writing equipment specifications, evaluating vendors, managing purchase orders, overseeing installation qualification (IQ), and executing operational qualification (OQ) to confirm machines meet process requirements
• Leading New Product Introduction (NPI) — structured handoff from engineering to production including producibility reviews, process development, first-article builds, and lessons-learned capture
• Defining the make/buy strategy for the product — which processes are core (build in-house) vs. commodity (outsource), with transition plans as production rate changes
• Owning production metrics for the value stream — OEE, first-pass yield, cost-per-unit, cycle time, and on-time delivery; driving root-cause analysis and corrective action when metrics deviate
• Developing the automation and mechanization roadmap — identifying which manual processes should transition to semi-automated or fully automated as rate justifies the investment
• Coordinating with supply chain on long-lead procurement, vendor qualification, and material flow into the production area

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related discipline
• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, manufacturing engineering, or industrial engineering with progressive responsibility in hardware production
• Factory planning experience — has developed production area layouts, equipment plans, or facility activation schedules (not just operated in an existing factory)
• Systems-level thinking — demonstrated ability to design a production system from process flow through equipment selection, staffing, and facility requirements
• Equipment commissioning experience — has specified, procured, installed, and qualified capital equipment in a manufacturing environment
• Data-driven decision making — builds and uses capacity models, cycle time analyses, and cost models to drive production planning decisions
• NPI experience — has led or been a key contributor in transitioning products from engineering development into production
• Strong cross-functional collaboration — effective working across engineering, quality, supply chain, and facilities organizations without positional authority
• Strong written, personal, technical, and software skills (CAD, Issue Tracking, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in greenfield or brownfield facility activation — personally leading the buildout and commissioning of new production areas or factories
• Background in aerospace, industrial gas turbines, power generation equipment, or precision industrial hardware manufacturing
• Process qualification experience — has led IQ/OQ/PQ campaigns for manufacturing processes (machining, welding, brazing, AM, assembly)
• TPM / technical program management experience — has operated as a single-threaded owner for a product or subsystem in a production environment
• Capital equipment program management — has managed $5M+ CapEx procurement programs including vendor selection, specification, and acceptance testing
• Familiarity with MES/ERP systems in a manufacturing context (SAP, Oracle, Plex, or similar)
• Lean/Six Sigma certification or equivalent operational excellence experience
• Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, or equivalent quality management systems
• Proficient with Computer Aided Design (CAD) software (Creo or CATIA V5)
• Customer focused with a proven track record to work cooperatively with teams of different skills across large geographic distances
• Strong organizational and analytical skills

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 (CDL drivers only), 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.