Test Program Manager - MK1 Lander I&T

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.

Working directly in support of the Director of MK1 Lander Integration and Test (I&T), you will act as the Test Program Focal across the full MK1 test program scope - managing resource-loaded schedules, labor and non-labor EAC support, budgets, risk, and program reporting. You will maintain schedule fidelity against the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) for test, coordinate resources across Blue Origin, NASA, and commercial partners, and deliver decision-quality information across all levels of the program from daily operations through executive reviews. Bias for action and passion for our mission are required.

Special Mentions:

• Relocation provided
• Travel: Nominally 20-30% during peak testing phases.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Program Management Responsibilities:

• Support the Director of MK1 I&T in planning, executing, and monitoring all MK1 test campaigns and program milestones from initial assembly through launch vehicle integration.
• Serve as Test Program Focal - develop and manage resource-loaded schedules, test budgets, staffing plans, program risk, and variances to plan across all test phases.
• Integrate with the MK1 PPO on the IMS; maintain schedule baseline, perform critical path and variance analyses, and provide early indication of predecessor dependencies and schedule risks to responsible organizations.
• Track and manage cost, schedule, and technical risk across the test program; support CAM functions including CapEx, labor, overhead, EAC, and performance-to-plan metrics with data-driven visibility into execution gaps.
• Manage CapEx, such as test equipment, and test article budgets; develop change assessments and deliver financial insights.
• Own strategic supplier relationships - accountable for contract performance, on-time delivery, and budget impacts for test article hardware, instrumentation, and GSE.
• Prepare Weekly Business Review packages and serve as the program escalation point for operational issues - triaging severity, coordinating mitigations with functional leads, and routing issues with solutions to the appropriate level of leadership.

Engineering & Test Coordination Responsibilities:

• Partner with the Director and MK1 Test Engineering team to ensure test plans, procedures, and objectives are aligned and progressing per schedule; coordinate with Systems Engineering to ensure vehicle-level requirements are properly scoped and delivered to test teams prior to campaign execution.
• Supports MK1 I&T in milestone reviews and decision level meetings; serve as cross-functional liaison between I&T and Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Engineering, Safety/Quality, and Configuration Management to ensure operational readiness aligns with schedule commitments.
• Serve as escalation point for issues beyond day-to-day readiness; identify and escalate programmatic risks related to facilities, test article availability, equipment readiness, and supplier deliverables that could impact test execution.

Minimum Qualifications:

• B.S. in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering Management, or similar discipline; 6+ years of experience in program, project, or technical management in an aerospace development or test environment
• Strong understanding of aerospace vehicle-level integration and test processes, including test lifecycle management (build checks, functional tests, environmental screening, acceptance testing)
• Experience maintaining complex integrated master schedules including critical path management; demonstrated ability to manage requirements, scope, schedule, and cost across development programs
• Strong analytic skills with proficiency in data mining and business intelligence tools (e.g., Baserow, Tableau); exceptional with Excel and manual data analysis
• Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation communication skills with the ability to convey technical and programmatic information to senior leadership
• Self-starter with bias for action, high ownership, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced, matrixed environment; U.S. citizenship or permanent residency required

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering, or MBA; PMP certification and EVMS experience preferred
• Experience supporting or managing test programs for large spacecraft or launch vehicles, including environmental campaigns (thermal vacuum, acoustic, vibration, EMI/EMC) and verification/integration of orbital or human-rated vehicles
• Previous test campaign planning and execution experience; demonstrated success coordinating multi-partner programs involving NASA, commercial partners, and government test sites
• Familiarity with Primavera (P6), CREO, Windchill, Confluence, Jira, Tableau, SQL, or MySQL; demonstrated ability to build a high-performing safety culture in a test operations environment
• Experience with critical path scheduling, IMP/IMS, risk management, RCCA processes, and Cost Account Management

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 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 View email address on click.appcast.io. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.