Manager, System Prototyping Rapid Development

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.

The System Prototyping team is a hands-on fabrication and development group responsible for building mechanical prototypes, composite structures, and soft goods in support of early-stage design and program development. The team partners closely with internal engineering customers to translate concepts into physical hardware quickly and with high quality.

We are seeking an experienced people manager to lead a small team of technicians in day-to-day prototyping operations. This role is both operational and relational — the right candidate will be equally comfortable managing workflow on the shop floor, communicating with internal customers, and handling the administrative responsibilities of running a skilled fabrication team.

Team Management

• Assign and prioritize daily/weekly work across 9 technicians based on customer demand and team capacity
• Conduct yearly performance reviews and ongoing feedback/coaching
• Support team development, training, and skill-building in prototyping disciplines
• Foster a safe, collaborative, and high-performing shop culture

Customer Communication

• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal engineering customers
• Translating customer requirements into actionable work assignments
• Provide status updates, manage expectations, and elevate schedule or technical conflicts as needed
• Collaborate with customers to scope new prototyping requests and define deliverables

Operations & Logistics

• Manage material and tooling procurement to support active and upcoming builds
• Maintain shop readiness including inventory, equipment availability, and consumables
• Track and manage budget associated with materials and tooling purchases
• Identify and resolve day-to-day operational blockers

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a hands-on fabrication, manufacturing, or prototyping environment
• 2+ years of direct people management or team lead experience
• Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following: mechanical prototyping, composite fabrication, soft goods manufacturing
• Strong organizational and workload management skills
• Excellent communication skills — ability to interface effectively with both shop floor technicians and engineering stakeholders
• Experience with material/tooling procurement and vendor coordination

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing in an aerospace, defense, or R&D prototyping environment
• Familiarity with composites processing (layup, cure, finishing) and/or soft goods techniques (pattern making, sewing, assembly)
• Experience using shop management or work order tracking tools
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in a related technical field (or equivalent experience)

Work Environment

• This is a fully on-site role requiring regular presence on the shop floor
• May require occasional support outside of standard hours to meet program milestones

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…