Director of Materials & Processes (M&P)
Blue Origin LLC, California, MO, United States
The Director of Materials & Processes (M&P) will manage a specialized engineering team comprising 10-20 subject matter experts. This leader will serve as a foundational leader in humanity’s return to the Moon. You will lead a high-caliber team of 10–20 subject matter experts dedicated to ensuring that every alloy, composite, and coating used in our lunar hardware is safe, reliable, and capable of withstanding the harshest environments known to man. This is a role for a technical visionary who balances rigorous human-rated standards with the agility required for cutting-edge space exploration.* Lead M&P team responsible for selecting, controlling, qualifying, and standardizing materials used in aerospace vehicles.* **Human-Rated System Integrity:** Deep technical knowledge of Human Rating Materials, ensuring all selections meet stringent safety standards for flammability, toxicity, and off gassing for crewed lunar modules.* **Extreme Environment Survivability:** Specialized experience in Space Environment Compatibility, including the mitigation of UV & Space Radiation effects and the degradation caused by Atomic Oxygen.* **Cryogenic & High-Pressure Fluid Compatibility:** Deep knowledge of material behavior in contact with Liquid Oxygen (LOX), Liquid Hydrogen (LH2), and Gaseous Helium (He). Advanced proficiency in Fluid Compatibility Analysis, tanks and pump designs, specifically performing Hydrogen Embrittlement Assessments and Oxygen Compatibility Analysis (OCA) for high-pressure propulsion and life-support systems.* **Electromagnetic & Structural Integration**: Expert-level understanding of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) compliance. Demonstrated success in selecting and testing materials that provide optimal shielding and grounding without compromising structural integrity while bridging the gap between design and manufacturing.* **Advanced Testing & Qualification:** Experience designing "test-as-you-fly" campaigns for materials that must maintain performance across extreme thermal swings, from cryogenic storage to solar-exposed lunar surfaces.**Design Support:**
Ensure systems designed for space applications exhibit quality and reliability through deep knowledge of materials like metals, composites, and nanomaterials.
Influence part and material selection, compatibility, and drawing verification support.**Requirements & Compliance Governance:** Proven expertise in M&P requirements development and verification throughout the product lifecycle. Mastery of managing the Material Identification and Usage List (MIUL) and navigating complex Deferrals and Noncompliance management workflows.* **Bridge the Gap:** Act as the primary liaison between Design, Manufacturing, and Test engineering to ensure material selections are optimized for both performance and manufacturability.* **Design Influence:** Drive part and material selection at the earliest stages of the design cycle, ensuring compatibility with the lunar environment and mission longevity.* **Drawing Verification:**Lead the M&P support for drawing verification, ensuring that every engineering release is backed by sound material science and controlled fabrication procedures.* **Cross-Functional Advocacy:** Negotiate and reconcile project needs with staff capabilities, serving as a high-level advocate for M&P requirements in program-level decision-making.* M.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Materials, Systems Engineering, or a related field.* Minimum of 4 years in managing technical teams with responsibility for technical quality and career management.* At least 6 years of industry experience in space flight systems and operations.* Proficiency in engineering software (e.g., MS Office, Creo, Windchill, ANSYS).* Excellent written and verbal communication skills.* Capable of influencing stakeholders across the organization, reconciling technical rigor with programmatic demands.* 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 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.* 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.Blue Origin was founded with a vision to enable a future where millions of people are living and working in space to benefit Earth. In order to preserve Earth, Blue Origin believes in the need to enable humanity to expand, explore, find new energy and material resources, and move industries that stress Earth into space. Blue Origin believes it has an important role in building a road to space and lowering the cost of getting there. At Blue Origin, we’re working on this today by developing fully reusable launch vehicles and systems that are safe, reliable and affordable. Every launch vehicle is designed for human spaceflight from the beginning and able to ferry payloads to space. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Ensure systems designed for space applications exhibit quality and reliability through deep knowledge of materials like metals, composites, and nanomaterials.
Influence part and material selection, compatibility, and drawing verification support.**Requirements & Compliance Governance:** Proven expertise in M&P requirements development and verification throughout the product lifecycle. Mastery of managing the Material Identification and Usage List (MIUL) and navigating complex Deferrals and Noncompliance management workflows.* **Bridge the Gap:** Act as the primary liaison between Design, Manufacturing, and Test engineering to ensure material selections are optimized for both performance and manufacturability.* **Design Influence:** Drive part and material selection at the earliest stages of the design cycle, ensuring compatibility with the lunar environment and mission longevity.* **Drawing Verification:**Lead the M&P support for drawing verification, ensuring that every engineering release is backed by sound material science and controlled fabrication procedures.* **Cross-Functional Advocacy:** Negotiate and reconcile project needs with staff capabilities, serving as a high-level advocate for M&P requirements in program-level decision-making.* M.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Materials, Systems Engineering, or a related field.* Minimum of 4 years in managing technical teams with responsibility for technical quality and career management.* At least 6 years of industry experience in space flight systems and operations.* Proficiency in engineering software (e.g., MS Office, Creo, Windchill, ANSYS).* Excellent written and verbal communication skills.* Capable of influencing stakeholders across the organization, reconciling technical rigor with programmatic demands.* 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 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.* 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.Blue Origin was founded with a vision to enable a future where millions of people are living and working in space to benefit Earth. In order to preserve Earth, Blue Origin believes in the need to enable humanity to expand, explore, find new energy and material resources, and move industries that stress Earth into space. Blue Origin believes it has an important role in building a road to space and lowering the cost of getting there. At Blue Origin, we’re working on this today by developing fully reusable launch vehicles and systems that are safe, reliable and affordable. Every launch vehicle is designed for human spaceflight from the beginning and able to ferry payloads to space. #J-18808-Ljbffr