Shift Leader - Launch Ops (A Shift)

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 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.

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 a Mission & Flight Ops Supervisor, you will lead a frontline team of technicians and operators executing safe, efficient operations for Blue Origin vehicles, payloads, and launch/test facilities. You will plan and direct day to day work, ensure your team is trained and equipped, and translate procedures and engineering intent into reliable, high quality execution. 

Position Specific Details: 

• Shifts: A | Mon-Fri (5am-5:30pm)

• Location: Space Coast, FL

• Relocation: Available  

​Key Responsibilities:

• Lead technicians/operators in day to day mission, test, and/or launch operations with a strong focus on safety, quality, and schedule. 

• Plan, assign, and monitor work (shift coverage, work center assignments, overtime, and backup coverage). 

• Ensure work is performed per approved procedures, work instructions, drawings, and safety/quality requirements. 

• Provide hands on technical support for integration, checkout, test, and operations of flight and ground systems as needed. 

• Conduct regular performance check ins and reviews; coach, develop, and mentor team members. 

• Support hiring, onboarding, training, and recognition for your team. 

• Communicate work status, issues, and risks clearly to leadership and partner teams (engineering, planning, logistics, safety, quality). 

• Drive a strong safety culture; identify hazards, support incident investigations, and implement corrective actions. 

• Identify and implement continuous improvements to increase safety, quality, efficiency, and repeatability. 

• Maintain clean, organized, compliant work areas (e.g., 5S, “clean as you go,” tool/FOD control). 

Team Focus & Domain Expertise:
 

• Launch Operations sits at the heart of Blue Origin’s launch and spaceflight systems, turning design intent into hard data, clean checkouts, and flight confidence. Our leaders architect and direct integrated test campaigns for avionics, GSE, and flight hardware - from first power on and subsystem verification to full stack vehicle and pad level tests that clear the way for launch day.

• You won’t just ensure procedures are followed; you’ll drive smarter, faster, more resilient ways to test. You’ll lead teams that develop and refine automated test systems, data acquisition architectures, and instrumentation strategies that push test coverage, increase speed, and boost confidence for every mission. Technical depth in areas such as digital/analog electronics, power systems, communications, sensors, DAQ, and test automation (e.g., Python, LabVIEW, or similar tools) will let you dive deep when it matters - guiding designs, challenging assumptions, and setting the technical bar for your systems.

• Safety and mission assurance are our north star, and the stakes are real. You’ll apply rigorous test engineering and safety by design principles while leading a disciplined operations team to validate systems that must work the first time, every time - supporting a high launch cadence while protecting crew, payloads, and ground personnel. Leaders who thrive here combine sharp technical judgment with calm, decisive leadership under pressure, and they bring the energy that comes with seeing their teams’ work roll to the pad, count down, and fly to space.

• Mission & Flight Operations Supervisors provide frontline leadership at the sharp end of the mission - where hardware, people, and procedures come together to put vehicles and payloads into space. Depending on your background, you may lead operations such as:

• ​•    Launch Vehicle & Ground Operations – Leading teams performing vehicle integration, pad or test stand operations, ground fluid system operations (cryogenic, pneumatic, hydraulic), avionics/electrical checkout, and hands on support to countdown and test events. You’re the person turning a static vehicle on the stand into a launch ready system.

• •    Payload & Processing Operations – Supervising payload or spacecraft handling, integration, encapsulation, and facility operations, often in controlled or cleanroom environments. Your team ensures every payload is treated with the care and precision worthy of its science, mission, or customer.

• •    Transportation & Handling – Coordinating teams responsible for the movement, rigging, lifting, and securing of large or critical flight hardware using specialized transport and material handling equipment. You own the choreography that moves high value hardware safely from factory floor to launch pad.

• •    Mission & Control Room Support – Leading control room operations during countdown and mission execution, including console operations, procedure execution, and coordination with range and mission teams. You’ll help manage the “voice on loop” decisions that keep the timeline on track and the vehicle safe.

• You’re expected to bring solid hands on operations experience in at least one of these domains and the ability to lead a disciplined, procedure driven team in a high consequence environment. In this role, you’ll set the tone on shift, coach and mentor operators and engineers, and make real time risk and go/no go decisions that directly shape mission outcomes. If you’re motivated by tight timelines, complex hardware, and the adrenaline of seeing your team’s work counted down and launched, this is where you’ll feel at home.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent. 

• 3+ years of hands on experience in mission/flight operations, launch/test operations, aerospace/industrial systems, or a closely related operational environment. 

• 1+ year of frontline leadership (supervisor, lead, crew chief, or equivalent) directing technicians or operators. 

• Experience performing work on complex or hazardous systems (e.g., cryogenic, pneumatic, hydraulic, high pressure, high voltage, propellants, or similar). 

• Ability to read and follow technical documentation (procedures, work instructions, drawings, schematics, manuals). 

• Proven ability to plan and prioritize daily work for a team while meeting safety, quality, and schedule commitments. 

• Basic proficiency with digital tools (email, spreadsheets, maintenance/operations systems) and ability to learn new tools quickly. 

• Willing and able to support non standard hours (nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime), work in field/industrial environments (outdoors, PPE, heights/ladders, hazardous or restricted areas as required), and travel occasionally to other Blue Origin sites or test/launch locations. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Additional experience: 5+ years of relevant operations experience (e.g., aerospace, launch vehicles, test facilities, industrial automation/controls, oil & gas, or similar), including 2+ years as a frontline supervisor/lead, preferably in domains such as launch pad/test stand or mission/control room operations; vehicle or payload integration and processing; ground fluid/propellant systems; instrumentation and controls; rigging/transport of large hardware; SCAPE/hazardous operations; or ordnance handling. 

• Proficiency interpreting engineering drawings, models, specifications, and test procedures. 

• Experience with Lean/continuous improvement (e.g., 5S, Kaizen) and implementing process and safety improvements. 

• Experience with assembly, integration, and handling of large or complex products (e.g., stages, modules, large structures). 

• Formal technical training or an associate degree in a relevant field (e.g., electronics, mechanics, industrial technology, instrumentation, mechatronics). 

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 at EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.