Manager, Factory Automation

Manager, Factory Automation 

About This Role 

Blue Origin's Factory Automation team is part of the Advanced Manufacturing organization within Operations — serving as the in-house automation integrator responsible for designing, building, and deploying the custom equipment and systems that enable scalable, repeatable production across Blue Origin's manufacturing business units. We build manufacturing capability from the ground up — developing automated solutions that directly drive the delivery of Blue Origin's products across current and future programs. 

We are looking for a technically grounded engineering manager who brings deep, hands-on experience in one or more of the core disciplines on this team — mechanical engineering, controls engineering, or automation project and program management — and has personally delivered automated manufacturing systems into production. This is not a role for someone who has managed automation from a distance: the right candidate has real experience in the work — design, build, installation, commissioning, or all of the above — and carries that credibility into every interaction with their team. You will lead a close-knit group of engineers and technicians, set technical direction, manage team and project health across the full lifecycle from concept through commissioning, and ensure your team's work rolls up effectively into the broader program plan and business goals. You will challenge product design teams to design for automated manufacturing, remove obstacles across the organization, and build a team culture defined by ownership, craftsmanship, and urgency. A dedication to safety, quality, and our mission is essential. 

Responsibilities: 

• Lead and manage a team of automation engineers and technicians in the design, build, and deployment of high-rate automated manufacturing systems for the production of aerospace components 

• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing team of automation engineers and technicians capable of rapidly delivering quality, cost-effective automation systems 

• Partner with stakeholders across the organization to drive alignment, resolve impediments, and streamline the automation development and deployment process 

• Manage resource allocation, project schedules, and cross-functional dependencies to deliver automation projects on scope, schedule, and budget; maintain visibility into individual project health — requirements, capabilities, schedule, and cost — and ensure accurate roll-up into the team's local program plan and the broader Factory Automation program 

• Monitor team and project performance; identify risks early and develop proactive mitigation plans to protect organizational commitments — including scope, schedule, cost, and quality — in alignment with team, program, and business goals 

• Communicate project status, risks, and escalations clearly to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders; translate team-level execution health into program-level reporting and ensure alignment with business objectives and annual operating plan commitments 

• Champion Design for Automated Manufacturing principles across product design and engineering teams; drive adoption of automation-friendly design practices that reduce system complexity and enable scalable production 

• Define and manage the scope of automation system deliverables — from initial requirements through acceptance — serving as the accountable owner for what the team builds, what it costs, and when it ships 

Basic Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls, Mechatronics, or related engineering field 

• Minimum 2 years of experience managing teams of engineers and/or technicians delivering automated manufacturing systems 

• Minimum 5 years of hands-on technical experience designing automated manufacturing systems while working for an automation systems integrator, machine tool builder, in-house automation team, or similar 

• Demonstrated experience delivering automated manufacturing systems into production — including hands-on involvement in one or more phases of design, build, installation, or commissioning 

• 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 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience with industrial automation applications including welding, machining, drilling, surface finishing, forming, material handling, NDT, metrology, machine vision, and similar 

• Experience with manufacturing and engineering systems including MES, ERP, MRP, PLM, and source and configuration management tools and practices 

• Familiarity with Industrial Engineering concepts including line balancing, takt time, and factory layout optimization, to guide integration of automation systems within the broader production environment 

• Experience with SCADA and IIoT systems and concepts 

• Experience developing capital project cost estimates, budgets, and scopes of work for automation systems — including AOP planning, should-cost modeling, vendor quote analysis, and capital project lifecycle management 

• Experience building or scaling an automation team, including defining roles, establishing technical standards, and developing team capability 

• PMP certification, formal project management training, or equivalent program management experience in a capital equipment or automation environment