Lead Technician Supervisor - Solar Center Of Excellence Hardware

Lead Technician Supervisor - Solar Center Of Excellence Lead the setup and qualification of the solar array manufacturing cell for production Location: Texas, United States Job Tags: Hardware About The Role Solar Array Manufacturing Cell Lead 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 Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design. As part of a hardworking team of specialists, technicians, and engineers, you will be the central figure responsible for standing up a brand-new solar array manufacturing cell and getting it to the point where it can reliably produce flight hardware. The Solar Center of Excellence is building world-class capabilities in solar array development—from materials and processes through assembly, test, and qualification—and you will be on the floor every day making it happen. If you lead by example, take pride in workmanship, and want to build the team and processes that will power humanity's future in space, this is the role for you. Special Mentions: Relocation provided Travel expected up to 15% of the time Interviews will include a practical/technical assessment Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Lead equipment commissioning and process qualification for a new solar array manufacturing cell — working hands‑on alongside engineers to receive, install, and check out capital equipment before releasing each station for production use Own the panel build sequence from incoming material receipt through final electrical test; manage receiving inspections, shelf‑life and storage controls, and serial‑number traceability for all incoming materials Recognize and disposition material and workmanship nonconformances at each process step — holding, reworking, or rejecting hardware as appropriate — and ensure every decision is fully documented and traceable to the affected assembly Write and execute traveler work orders in the manufacturing execution system; establish and maintain the documentation infrastructure for a new product line including work instructions, checklists, and build records Train and supervise a team of technicians to execute each process step to a consistent standard; set daily priorities, manage workflow, and maintain line cadence against schedule targets Act as workflow architect for the production cell: identify cycle‑time bottlenecks, define safe parallel operations, and sequence work to protect schedule margin and minimize scrap and rework Lead technicians through wing‑level and array‑level integration — including structural assembly, harness routing, connector installations, and launch retention hardware — with awareness of how bench decisions affect both electrical performance and mechanical function Coordinate with the test team to prepare completed assemblies for deployment demonstration and development test campaigns, ensuring correct configuration, proper GSE interface torque, and gravity off‑load system setup prior to any test cycle Capture cycle times, identify steps requiring better tooling or process controls, and feed lessons learned back to engineering to build the institutional knowledge base for full‑rate production Minimum Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent; Associate's degree or technical certification in electronics, manufacturing, or a related discipline preferred 7+ years of hands‑on experience in aerospace or high‑reliability electronics manufacturing, with at least 2 years in a lead or supervisory role Experience with solar panel or photovoltaic assembly processes: cell tabbing and stringing, lamination, encapsulation, and electrical test Demonstrated ability to read and execute engineering drawings, work instructions, and traveler work orders; experience with manufacturing execution systems (MES) for traceability and build documentation Working knowledge of nonconformance identification, documentation, and disposition processes Experience enforcing ESD, cleanroom, FOD, and contamination controls in a production environment Strong communication skills and ability to work daily with engineering teams to surface process issues and close on corrective actions Desire/drive to build something from scratch and continuously improve processes in a fast‑moving R&D environment Preferred Qualifications: Experience commissioning new manufacturing equipment or standing up a new production line from scratch Familiarity with electroluminescence (EL) imaging, IV flash testing, or other in‑line solar panel inspection techniques Experience with wing‑level or system‑level aerospace hardware integration, including harness routing and connector installation Familiarity with NASA-STD-8739.x workmanship standards or equivalent high‑reliability assembly standards Experience with takt‑rate‑driven production planning and workflow optimization in a low‑volume, high‑complexity manufacturing environment IPC or NASA workmanship certifications (e.g., IPC‑A‑610, NASA‑STD‑8739.4) 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 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… #J-18808-Ljbffr