Sr. Manager, Mission Operations Development

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 Blue National Security (BNS), where our focus is the design, development, and delivery of launch and spacecraft systems for national security missions. Through Blue Ring, our all-in-one, high-powered hybrid solar-electric and chemical-propelled spacecraft, we provide unmatched mission maneuverability, versatility, and capacity at dramatically lower-profile costs.

Blue National Security is pioneering the development, manufacturing, and operation of Blue Ring, a groundbreaking space-mobility platform that unlocks unparalleled access to any orbit and the freedom to maneuver between orbits at will. With Blue Ring, our customers are empowered to go anywhere, redefine mission flexibility, and pursue bold new concepts that were once beyond reach. If you’re energized by the idea of working with a platform capable of enabling missions without compromise, this is your moment to make history with us.  

As the Sr. Manager, Mission Operations Development, you will lead a team of Mission Operations Engineers who build, validate, and maintain operations plans and products to expand on-orbit capabilities for National Security, Civil, and Commercial customers. You will own the product baseline, including procedures, flight rules, telemetry displays, command sequences, and technical documents shared across every mission, plus mission-unique product sets layered on top. You will work closely with Systems Engineering to mature concepts of operations from early design through flight, and you will balance the staffing needs of several programs at once. The ideal candidate is a systems thinker who is passionate about spaceflight operations and adept at building and sustaining rigorous, streamlined development processes. You will also take a seat on console as a flight director during launch and early orbit operations. 

This position is based in Reston, VA (preferred) or Denver, CO. 

We are looking for someone to apply their vision, passion, technical expertise, leadership skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact safe spaceflight. Join us in enabling Blue Origin's vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth - passion for our mission is required! 

Responsibilities: 

• Directly manage a team of 5-15 Mission Operations Engineers supporting a mix of classified and unclassified missions 

• Own the development, configuration control, and maintenance of the Blue Ring operations product baseline, including procedures, flight rules, telemetry displays, command sequences, and operations documentation 

• Manage mission-unique product sets so each program gets what it needs while staying on a single common baseline. Maximize reuse and backward compatibility, and limit mission-unique content to what is truly unique to the mission. 

• Mature concepts of operations in concert with Systems Engineering, from early mission design through flight readiness 

• Resource-load Mission Operations Engineers across programs, forecast staffing against program schedules, and rebalance as priorities shift 

• Serve as an approver on ConOps, engineering, and operations review boards, including the Operations Review Board for ops products 

• Set priorities and schedules for ops product development, validation in hardware and software simulation environments, rehearsals, and flight 

• Establish standards for repeatable, cost-effective mission operations development and execution, continuously improve team performance, and build a culture of operational excellence 

• Drive efficiency in how operations products are built, validated, and released through automation, tooling, and simpler processes 

• Serve on console as a flight director for launch and early orbit operations, including shift work 

• Collaborate with flight vehicle subsystem teams, flight and ground software, Integration & Test, training, and customers 

• Cultivate an evolving, rightsized workforce. Oversee performance, merits, and promotions, and shepherd team members' careers through coaching, opportunity matching, and technical development. 

• Mentor and grow Mission Operations Engineers from early career through senior levels, including development of future flight directors and on-console leads 

• Dedication to building a cohesive team through leadership, problem-solving skills, and strong listening and communications skills 

• Provide technical expertise, ensuring that your team's deliverables meet domain quality standards 

• Benchmark the team's work standards and tools with other Blue Origin business units and industry practice 

• Provide basis-of-estimate and staffing inputs for new business pursuits 

Qualifications: 

Required: 

• B.S. in aerospace engineering, computer science, systems engineering, electrical engineering, physics, or related technical field 

• 2+ years of experience managing technical teams and/or leading functional groups, with responsibility for technical quality of work delivered, and career management of employees 

• 8+ years of experience in spacecraft operations development and execution, including real-time on-orbit support 

• Experience developing spacecraft operations products (procedures, flight rules, telemetry displays, scripts, technical documents) and managing them under configuration control 

• Experience supporting multiple missions or programs at once, with competing schedules and staffing demands 

• Experience developing or maturing spacecraft concepts of operations with Systems Engineering 

• Strong attention to detail and a record of improving processes for efficiency and reliability 

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including presenting to customers at milestone reviews 

• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion 

• Must be a U.S. citizen. 

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance 

Desired: 

• Active TS/SCI security clearance 

• M.S. in space systems, aerospace engineering, computer science, or related technical field 

• Experience as a flight director or comparable real-time operations leadership role 

• Launch and early orbit operations experience 

• Experience with National Security space programs or a government spacecraft operations organization 

• Experience working on large complex programs with multiple partners 

• Command-and-control scripting in Python, SPELL, STOL, or similar, and familiarity with OpenC3/COSMOS 

• Operational readiness tests and rehearsals using HITL / SITL simulators 

• Operational fault and anomaly management, including familiarity with system safety analysis techniques (FHA, FMECA, FTA) 

• First principles knowledge of major spacecraft subsystems 

• Experience building ops automation and tooling that reduces labor in product development or real-time operations 

• Familiarity with Jira, Confluence, and version control, preferably Git 

 

Base Pay Range for:

VA applicants is $183,807.00 - $257,328.75 CO applicants is $169,008.00 - $236,611.20

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, 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 at [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.