Director of Continuous Improvement and Root Cause Analysis

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 diverse team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!

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 diverse team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!

In this strategic and impactful role, you will lead the enterprise-wide Continuous Improvement and Root Cause Analysis team working with the Senior Director of Safety, Quality and Mission Assurance. This team believes that all leaders have a habitual aim to correct errors at the root. In this role, you'll strive to ensure that defects do not get sent down the line and that problems are fixed, so they stay fixed.

You will instill a mentality that extraordinary process can accelerate progress. As part of a passionate and hardworking team of experts, you will lead Continuous Improvement engineers and Root Cause Analysis engineers, mentoring and conducting improvement projects on various corporate processes including engineering, manufacturing, support services and spaceflight systems. You will share in the team's impact on all aspects of improving our operations and business processes.

Travel up to 25% expected.

On site work required. Relocation provided.

• Lead a team of approximately 10 people.
• Identify areas of waste, develop and lead projects using techniques such as: Kaizens, and Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control (DMAIC). The ideal candidate will be skilled in applying these techniques across the enterprise (Manufacturing, Engineering, Project/Program Management, Human Resources, Legal, Finance, Quality, and Procurement organizations).
• Drive speed, quality, and simplification of business, engineering, and operations processes throughout the organization by eliminating rework, reducing manual work/ hand-offs, identifying and implementing standard methodologies across the business, and minimizing process variance through standardization and automation.
• Develop performance-driven analysis to identify continuous improvement opportunities that will advance our internal and external processes.
• Lead large initiatives, coordinating the work of internal teams. Responsibilities include program scoping, design, data collection, site visits, data analysis, and proposal of new standards.
• Work across the company to deliver results, and then communicate the results to executive management.
• Engage fully and deep dive into processes, highlight variation and identify corresponding root causes to define "best in class" for standard process adoption and standardization.

• Bachelors degree in engineering, science, or other relevant technical or business field
• 15+ years of experience with an emphasis in leading continuous improvement initiatives across various business functions
• Demonstrated success coaching and leading a team
• Deep understanding and technical expertise in Kaizens, DMAIC, Lean, and other industry standard methodologies
• Experience in Development and Production environments, preferably in aerospace, automotive, medical devices, or other engineered products or with another regulated industry.
• Experience in project planning and successful execution of projects to cost and schedule targets.
• 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.

• Master Black Belt Certification
• Agile/Scrum certification
• Experience with root cause and failure investigations
• MBA or other advanced education/certification

Inclusivity 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 a diverse, inclusive, and 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.

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.

Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

Discretionary bonus: Bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results.

Eligibility for benefits varies by role type, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role.

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, diverse, 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, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members. 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, gender, 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 "EEO Is the Law," 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 .

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