Sr Director, Launch Recovery

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.

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's Launch Operations organization, where our focus is launching and recovering New Glenn safely, reliably, and at an ever-increasing cadence. Launch Operations owns everything required to turn a rocket into a flight-ready vehicle on the pad and to recover and refly it, from vehicle preparation and integration to pad operations and booster recovery.

New Glenn is a reusable rocket, and reusability only pays off if we can recover our booster quickly, safely, and reliably after every flight. As Senior Director of Launch Recovery, you will own the strategy, operational execution, and organizational leadership for the fleet and shore-side operations that catch our booster at sea, bring it home, and hand it off for its next launch. Reporting to the Vice President of Launch Operations, you will lead the functions that operate our recovery vessels at sea, maintain the fleet to a high standard of mission readiness, and manage in-port operations as our fleet and launch cadence both grow, building on the lessons learned from today's recovery operations.

This is a mission-critical leadership role for Blue Origin. We need a leader who drives relentlessly toward results, unencumbered by the old way of doing things, and constantly inventing new ways to solve problems and perform our mission. This leader must not be afraid to get hands-on with their crews at sea or in port when the mission requires it, including in the middle of the night. At the same time, your long-term measure of success is building the people, processes, and discipline that empower the Launch Operations recovery teams to operate at a fast, repeatable, "boring" cadence. You'll make the impossible look routine through detailed, quantitative, hands-on command of the work your team executes down to the individual work order.

Own the Strategy for Fleet Operations and Recovery

- Own the strategy and standards for at-sea booster recovery, vessel operations, and fleet maintenance across a growing fleet of recovery vessels

- Architect the roadmap for scaling recovery operations from a single primary recovery vessel today to a larger, multi-vessel fleet, and potentially to operations from additional ports, as Blue Origin's launch cadence grows, building on the lessons learned from today's recovery operations

- Set and enforce the standard for high-quality, executable work orders (clear, sequenced, measurable, and completable by shift) so vessel and fleet readiness is derived from objective data

- Partner with vehicle design and engineering teams to challenge requirements and drive design changes that make booster recovery, lift, and handoff easier, faster, and safer

Lead Full Lifecycle Execution Across Recovery Operations

- Oversee the complete lifecycle of recovery operations: at-sea booster capture, transit back to port, and in-port lift, break-over, and handoff for transport back to the pad

- Own vessel readiness and maintenance standards across the fleet, maximizing mission availability for every launch

- Manage technical and schedule risk across the recovery portfolio; when schedule slips, personally own and drive the recovery plan rather than simply reporting the slip

- Perpetuate a high-standard safety culture across all at-sea and in-port recovery work, given the significant personnel, process, and material hazards involved

- Be willing to get on the water or on the dock with your crews to solve problems directly, at any hour, when the mission requires it

Drive Cross-Functional Integration

- Serve as the primary point of contact between recovery functions and New Glenn vehicle, vehicle preparation, and launch infrastructure leadership

- Ensure full compliance with Coast Guard regulations and applicable maritime law across all fleet and port operations

- Partner with the business operations function (scheduling and operations analytics) to maintain an objective, data-driven view of remaining work and schedule risk

- Build the organization's own engineering ownership and judgment over time, reducing reliance on borrowed engineering support from other Blue Origin programs

Build and Lead a High-Performing Organization

- Build, mentor, and develop a bench of leaders and crews capable of running recovery operations at a much higher rate than today, in a fast-growing organization

- Take difficult, immature processes and mature them into fast, repeatable operations that don't require nightly heroics to execute

- Foster a culture where every crew member and engineer is genuinely excited about Blue Origin's mission and understands the "why" behind the work

- Champion the use of AI to reduce engineering workload (including work-order authoring) and to accelerate the ramp of less experienced engineers

Deliver Results

- Use your own data and numerical analysis to understand team performance, drive decisions, and communicate progress

- Present recovery readiness, risk, and recovery plans with clarity and confidence to Blue Origin's most senior executive leadership, including with little to no coaching

- Drive measurable improvement in at-port and at-sea turnaround time, fleet mission availability, and launch readiness as Blue Origin ramps toward a much higher launch cadence

WHAT YOU BRING

Minimum Qualifications

- Senior leadership experience operating and maintaining a fleet of specialized vessels, including setting and maintaining high maintenance standards to maximize mission or operational availability

- Experience leading complex, round-the-clock marine or maritime operations involving crew safety, vessel readiness, and tight coordination between at-sea and shore-side teams

- Senior leadership experience with budget and resource management responsibility for technical/operational organizations

- Experience managing multidisciplinary teams at scale, including leadership through subordinate officers or managers

- A specific, demonstrated track record of driving measurable improvements in operational tempo, turnaround time, or mission readiness in a complex fleet or industrial environment

- A demonstrated track record of building and perpetuating a high-standard safety culture in environments with significant personnel, process, or material hazards

- Deep working knowledge of Coast Guard regulations and maritime law as applied to vessel and port operations

- Demonstrated ability to make high-stakes technical and operational decisions under schedule pressure

- Strong executive presence with excellent written and verbal communication skills; demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior executive leadership

- Strategic thinker with a bias for action and a track record of hands-on operational execution

Preferred Qualifications

- A retired U.S. Navy officer with rank and experience commensurate with an executive-level Senior Director role, for example, a retired Captain (O-6) with major command experience (such as command of a ship, air squadron, or similar operational unit), or a retired flag officer (Rear Admiral, O-7)

- A demonstrated ability to streamline at-port and at-sea operations to maximize turnaround in a high-rate operating environment

- Exposure to or knowledge of controls, fluids, cryogenics, electronics, or robotics — our recovery vessels carry significant equipment that interfaces directly with the rocket after it lands

- Experience standing up or scaling fleet operations from a small number of vessels to a larger, multi-vessel operation

- Experience operating from multiple ports or expanding operations into new ports

- A demonstrated track record of challenging engineering requirements and successfully driving design changes to improve operability or maintainability

- Experience building or scaling an engineering/technical organization from a nascent, dependent state to self-sufficiency

- Master's degree in a related engineering field, or an MBA

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.