Thrusters Value Stream Leader

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. It includes Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities and will be based in Huntsville, Alabama. You will build and lead a skilled, interdisciplinary team responsible for thruster systems manufacturing, communicating vision, strategy, and tactical application of cost‑effective strategies and key deliverables, and collaborating through the design life cycle to improve manufacturability, assembly, reduce cost and lead time.

• Champion Safety & Quality: Instill a culture where safety is paramount and first‑time quality is the standard across all functions, from engineering to the production floor.
• Build & Develop the Organization: Build the value stream’s team and create the organizational architecture to scale operations rapidly, applying Blue Origin’s Leadership Principles to develop a trusting, learning culture.
• Foster a "One Team Attitude": Lead a diverse, integrated organization including manufacturing engineering, quality, tooling, supply chain, and production, uniting them toward a common goal of operational excellence.
• End‑to‑End Accountability: Own the complete thruster system manufacturing flow from raw materials through final acceptance testing, ensuring seamless integration and accountability for safety, quality, cost, and schedule performance.
• Drive Production Velocity: Radically improve production efficiency by optimizing factory flow, increasing throughput, and enhancing first‑pass yield. Drive design‑build‑test cycle times from months to days through value stream mapping, constraint identification, and rapid problem resolution.
• Achieve Rate Production: Lead initiatives and strategies that deliver cost‑effective, high‑quality operational performance to meet high‑volume rate targets.
• Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFx): Collaborate with Program and Design Engineering partners to influence product design through DFx initiatives, delivering step‑change reductions in cost, cycle time, and lead time.
• Implement Data‑Driven Systems: Oversee the development and implementation of data‑driven systems with a lean approach, evaluating processes at micro and macro levels, then executing impactful improvements.
• Standardize Best Practices: Disseminate key operational takeaways and standardize processes within the value stream and across Blue Operations to drive enterprise‑wide improvement and learning.

• BA or BS degree in Engineering, Physics, or related technical field, or equivalent experience with demonstrated progressive responsibility increases.

• 10+ years of manufacturing leadership experience in complex production environments (aerospace, automotive, medical device, or similar high‑precision industries).
• Proven track record building or transforming successful production operations organizations and leading large‑scale change management initiatives that influence culture, define tools & processes, and improve competencies.
• Experience leading, growing, and developing large teams in a multi‑business unit integrated supply chain organization.
• Demonstrated success leading cross‑functional teams including Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Tooling, Supply Chain, and Production.

• Strong knowledge and applied experience in Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies, with demonstrated ability to implement value stream mapping, continuous improvement, and statistical process control.
• Advanced knowledge in designing and building successful delivery of manufacturing,…