Technical Manager-Mechanical Engineering

Technical Manager-Mechanical Engineering

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.

As Technical Manager of the Large Mechanisms team, you will lead a high-performing group of mechanical engineers designing, developing, and delivering the ground mechanical systems and GSE (Ground Support Equipment) that support Blue Origin's launch operations at LC-36 (Cape Canaveral, FL). You will balance hands-on technical leadership with people management, setting the technical direction for the team, developing your engineers, driving execution, and serving as the primary interface between your team and program leadership.

This is a technical management role and is not a purely administrative management position. You will be expected to maintain meaningful technical engagement with the work your team produces, provide engineering judgment on critical design decisions, and be a credible technical voice with stakeholders across the program.

Responsibilities:

• Technical Leadership

  • Serve as technical authority for the large mechanisms team, provide engineering guidance and judgment on complex design challenges.

  • Establish and maintain mechanical design standards, analysis methods, and best practices for the team.

  • Review and approve critical design packages, FEA analyses, tolerance stack-up analyses, and engineering drawings.

  • Drive design reviews at key project milestones; ensure all team deliverables comply with applicable codes, standards, and specifications.

• People Leadership

  • Directly manage a team of Mechanical Engineers supporting large mechanisms and GSE design.

  • Recruit, hire, and onboard engineering talent, actively build and maintain a strong team pipeline.

  • Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and career development conversations, identify skill gaps and develop targeted growth plans for all direct reports.

  • Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and safety-first team culture consistent with Blue Origin's values.

• Program Execution & Cross-Functional Leadership

  • Own team deliverables, manage scope, schedule, budget, and technical quality across multiple concurrent mechanism design programs, identify and communicate risks early and drive mitigation plans.

  • Oversee external design and fabrication partners, ensure technical compliance, quality, and schedule adherence through the full project lifecycle including fabrication, assembly, installation, and testing & activation.

  • Interface with program managers, systems engineers, operations leads to align on priorities and ensure designs are operationally supportable and launch-site safe.

  • Represent the large mechanisms team in program-level reviews, technical interchange meetings, and leadership forums, contribute to budget, headcount planning, and resource allocation in coordination with senior leadership.

Minimum Qualifications (required):

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or closely related discipline.

• 10+ years of professional mechanical engineering experience with significant focus on large-scale mechanical systems, mechanisms, or GSE.

• 4+ years of direct engineering management or team lead experience, including performance management and career development of direct reports.

• Demonstrated experience leading mechanical design programs from concept through commissioning and operations.

• Experience with ASME Y14.5 Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerance stack-up analysis.

• Experience designing and analyzing bolted connections, mechanical interfaces, and load-bearing joints in precision mechanical assemblies.

• Experience with heavy-duty mechanism types including locking mechanisms, linkage systems, quick release systems, and alignment mechanisms.

• Experience analyzing mechanical systems under dynamic loading conditions including vibration, shock, and fatigue.

• Experience managing external design and fabrication partners through complete project lifecycles.

• Proficiency in 3D parametric CAD modeling and PDM/PLM platforms (PTC Creo/Windchill or equivalent).

• Proficiency in commercial FEA software for mechanical, structural, and dynamic analysis (ANSYS or equivalent).

• Knowledge of engineering change and configuration management processes and document management and tracking tools.

• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Desired (not required):

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, or closely related field.

• PMP certification.

• 5+ years direct GSE design and analysis experience.

• Experience building or scaling engineering teams in a fast-paced aerospace or industrial environment.

• Professional Engineer (PE) license (Mechanical).

• Experience with ANSYS.

• Experience with PTC Creo/Windchill.

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