University Partnerships Lead

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 corporate functions, providing centralized support across Blue Origin business unit teams, functions, and locations.

Blue Origin's early career strategy is evolving — from showing up on campus to being embedded in it. As the University Partnerships Lead, you will serve as the single-threaded leader responsible for building the institutional depth that makes Blue Origin indispensable to the academic communities producing our next generation of engineers, operators, and leaders.

This is not a recruiting coordination role. It is a strategic leadership position at the intersection of talent, research, and academic influence — operating with principal-level scope, driving outcomes without requiring direction, and delivering results tied to Blue Origin's long-term technical and business roadmap.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and evolve Blue Origin's university partnership strategy, including portfolio governance, school tiering, engagement frameworks, and investment evaluation
• Lead the Blue Scholars program end-to-end — a CEO-championed initiative embedding world-class faculty into Blue Origin technical teams — including faculty selection, funding model design, legal and IP coordination, and talent pipeline conversion
• Build and maintain a unified view of Blue Origin's sponsored research investments, connecting active engagements to workforce planning priorities and maintaining proactive pipelines of PhD and postdoc talent within funded research groups
• Own the hiring architecture for MBA and PhD pipelines, including institutional relationships, on-campus presence, candidate routing, and centralized intake infrastructure
• Lead a feasibility study on a Blue Origin PhD fellowship program, including funding models, IP frameworks, and conversion pathway design
• Manage advisory board strategy at target institutions and serve as Blue Origin's primary liaison to academic leadership — deans, department chairs, and research directors
• Serve as the front door for institutional partnership requests, including letters of support, grant collaborations, and novel engagement opportunities
• Partner with Campus Engagement, Early Career Programs, and senior technical leaders to ensure complementary, non-duplicative ownership across the university portfolio
• Deliver regular reporting on partnership outcomes, pipeline health, and investment ROI to executive leadership

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 10 years of equivalent experience
• 7+ years in university recruiting, academic partnerships, research program management, or early talent strategy
• Proven ability to build and sustain relationships with academic and senior internal leadership
• Deep understanding of university research structures, sponsored research mechanisms, and faculty engagement models
• Experience influencing compensation frameworks or talent integration models for specialized technical populations
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level presentations
• Ability to define strategy independently in ambiguous, high-visibility environments
• Demonstrated ability to leverage AI tools to enhance productivity, accelerate research, and improve the quality of strategic work product; comfort operating in an environment where AI fluency is an expectation, not an advantage

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience scaling a university research partnership, fellowship, or faculty engagement program at a technology or aerospace company
• Familiarity with sponsored research contracting and university IP frameworks
• Experience with highly selective graduate leadership programs such as MIT LGO or peer institutions
• Track record of translating academic investment into measurable recruiting pipeline outcomes
• Deep technical fluency in aerospace or engineering domains
• Passion for Blue Origin's mission and a genuine belief in the long-term strategic value of academic investment

 

Base Pay Range for:

WA applicants is $157,059.00 - $219,882.60

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 (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.