Sr. Manager, Manufacturing Technology & Vendor Management DFX Engineer
Blue Origin · Bay Area, CA ·
- Seniority
- Senior
- Employment
- Full time
- Category
- Management
- Experience
- 10+ years
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.Blue Origin's Emerging Systems business unit is building TeraWave, a satellite communications constellation powered by the most advanced optical communications architecture ever attempted: thousands of optically interconnected satellites delivering symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth, providing enterprise and hyperscale customers with resilient, scalable connectivity for critical operations where terrestrial infrastructure cannot reach.
As a Senior Manufacturing Technology & Vendor Management DFX Engineer, you will own the end-to-end manufacturing technology evaluation and supplier/vendor integration for TeraWave production — bridging emerging manufacturing technologies, external supplier capabilities, and volume production readiness. As a foundational element of TeraWave operations, hardware must leverage manufacturing technologies and supplier partnerships architected not only for capability but for manufacturability, testability, reliability, and serviceability at constellation scale. This is a hands-on role for an engineer who has evaluated, qualified, and scaled manufacturing technologies and managed supplier relationships in fast-moving, high-volume manufacturing environments and wants to apply that experience to hardware operating at orbital scale.
Special Mentions:
Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.
Travel: Up to 50%.
Responsibilities:
Lead evaluation and adoption of manufacturing technologies for satellite modules and subsystems: advanced processes, tooling, automation, and new equipment capabilities that enable constellation-scale production.
Own vendor and supplier management for manufacturing — including capability assessment, qualification, process transfer, and integration workflows — to ensure robust, repeatable external production.
Manage supplier BOM and capacity coordination, technology roadmap alignment, vendor performance oversight, and production line integration.
Drive supplier first-article inspection, process validation, technology qualification, and manufacturing readiness reviews to support production ramp.
Design for Excellence (DFX)
Drive Design for Excellence (DFX) principles — DFM, DFT, DFA, DFR, and DFS — across the full manufacturing technology and vendor management lifecycle to ensure hardware scales from prototype through volume production for TeraWave operations.
Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Evaluate and align manufacturing technologies and supplier capabilities with product design to maximize yield and minimize cost at constellation-scale production volumes.
Design for Test (DFT): Ensure supplier and technology processes integrate test, inspection, and data capture to enable efficient factory acceptance and in-field diagnostics.
Design for Assembly (DFA): Leverage manufacturing technologies and supplier processes to simplify assembly, reduce part count, and reduce cycle time, rework, and error rates on the line.
Design for Reliability (DFR): Apply technology and supplier process FMEA, qualification testing, and reliability prediction to ensure consistent, defect-free production supporting long-duration operation in the orbital environment.
Design for Serviceability/Supply Chain (DFS): Drive supplier standardization, second-sourcing strategies, technology roadmap alignment, and obsolescence mitigation across the production lifecycle.
Partner with manufacturing, quality, engineering, and supply chain teams define acceptance criteria, drive yield optimization, and support production ramp for sustained TeraWave operations.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
10+ years of experience in manufacturing technology, process engineering, or supplier/vendor management in a product development and volume production environment.
Experience evaluating, qualifying, and adopting manufacturing technologies and managing external supplier capabilities for complex hardware.
Hands-on experience with supplier qualification, process transfer, technology assessment, and production line integration.
Demonstrated application of DFX principles (DFM/DFT/DFA/DFR) in bringing manufacturing technologies and supplier processes from evaluation into volume production.
Excellent technical documentation and communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s degree in manufacturing, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering.
15+ years of relevant experience.
Experience with advanced manufacturing technologies (automation, additive manufacturing, robotics, precision machining) and emerging technology evaluation.
Experience managing supplier relationships and technology partnerships in high-volume production environments.
Experience with technology and supplier qualification for space, aviation, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments.
Experience with supply chain strategy, sourcing, and capacity planning.
Background in production hardware including comprehensive DFX practices (DFM/DFT/DFA/DFR), process optimization, supply chain coordination, and yield optimization at scale.
Hands-on experience with production ramp and factory scale-up.
Why Blue Origin
At Blue Origin, we are driven by Gradatim Ferociter — "Step by Step, Ferociously." As a Senior Manufacturing Technology & Vendor Management DFX Engineer, you will identify and industrialize the manufacturing technologies and supplier partnerships building an orbital constellation at unprecedented scale, alongside world-class engineers solving problems at the intersection of advanced manufacturing, supplier integration, and spaceflight.
Base Pay Range for:
CA applicants is $183,807.00 - $257,328.75Other 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.