Title: Director of Materials & Processes (M&P)

Location: Greater Seattle Area | Space Coast, FL

Position Type: Full time

Requisition ID: R59975

Description:

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 the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers and related products. To further Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we are building sustainable infrastructure for our transport of crew and cargo from Earth to the lunar surface.

Job Overview:

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.

The role involves providing essential people, processes, and tools to achieve best-in-class performance in the material and process domain and contributing technically to vehicle and product teams to ensure delivery of safe and reliable hardware that meets standards and acceptance criteria. A passion for spaceflight and commitment to quality is essential.

Responsibilities:

• Lead M&P team responsible for selecting, controlling, qualifying, and standardizing materials used in aerospace vehicles.
• 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.
• 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.

Strategic Influence & Technical Leadership

• 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.

Leadership & Management:

• Resource Management: Negotiate Statements of Work (SOWs) with product managers and reconcile project demands with staff capabilities.
• Process Standardization: Establish and maintain controlled design guidelines and fabrication procedures specifically tailored for Lunar products.
• Talent Development: Manage a specialized team of experts, fostering career growth, conducting performance reviews, and ensuring alignment with Blue Origin’s safety-first culture.

Technical Contributions:

• Add senior technical value to lunar projects and exemplify technical conduct.
• Maintain cognizance of practical issues faced by team members and continue honing technical expertise.
• Collaborate with external stakeholders and coordinate access to technical resources.

Qualifications:

• 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.

Compensation Range for:

WA applicants is $218,262.00 - $305,566.80

Other site ranges may differ

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.

• 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 EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

California Applicant Privacy Notice

If you are a California resident, please reference the CA Applicant Privacy Notice here.