Director, Design Quality

Application close date:

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!  

Director of Design Quality is a hands-on hardware quality leader who believes that quality must be designed in, not inspected out. You will build and lead the Design Quality function from the ground up, embedding quality rigor into every phase of the product development lifecycle from concept through mass production. At the heart of this role is ownership of the maturity gate framework, the mechanism that defines what "ready" looks like at every phase transition and serves as the independent check that ensures our hardware programs meet the standards required before moving forward. You will set cross-program quality standards, own the supplier quality function, and serve as the enterprise authority on design quality governance across all connectivity and communications hardware programs.

The Challenge

The TeraWave architecture consists of 5,408 optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO). This multi-orbit design enables ultra-high-throughput links between global hubs and distributed, multigigabit user connections, particularly in remote, rural, and suburban areas where fiber paths are costly, technically infeasible, or slow to deploy. TeraWave enterprise-grade user and gateway terminals can be rapidly deployed worldwide and interface with existing high-capacity infrastructure, providing additional route and strengthening overall network resilience.

TeraWave addresses the unmet needs of customers who are seeking higher throughput, symmetrical upload/download speeds, more redundancy, and rapid scalability. Globally distributed customers can each access speeds of up to 144 Gbps delivered using Q/V-band links from a constellation of 5,280 LEO satellites, while up to 6 Tbps can be accessed via optical links from 128 MEO satellites. Delivering this network on time and at scale requires quality to be built into every phase of development, and that is where you come in.

What You'll Do

Own the Design Quality Strategy

• Define and own the design and manufacturing quality strategy across all new product introduction and volume production phases, aligned with program milestones and hardware maturity gates
• Serve as the quality authority across the full product development lifecycle, from early concept and alignment phases through development, build validation, production ramp, and mass production
• Drive a quality philosophy where quality is designed in at every phase rather than inspected out at the end, ensuring that design escapes, nonconformances, scrap, and rework are systematically driven down over time
• Advise senior leadership on quality risk posture and program readiness across all active programs

Own and Enforce the Maturity Gate Framework

• Establish and own the maturity gate framework that defines exactly what "ready" looks like at every phase transition, specifying required maturity levels and readiness criteria tied to specific program milestones
• Serve as the independent readiness check prior to every phase advancement, reviewing and validating that every function has met its requirements before a program moves forward
• Establish cross-program quality governance standards and maturity gate criteria spanning design gates (PDR, CDR, TRR) and manufacturing gates (PRR, Production Readiness, Rate Readiness)
• Ensure readiness checks span the full scope of requirements, including customer requirements, internal requirements, and regulatory compliance, with no gaps

Lead Design Quality Engineering

• Lead design quality engineering engagement across the full product development lifecycle, owning qualification and acceptance test criteria, FAI/AS9102 processes, configuration management oversight, and engineering change control
• Maintain the as-designed versus as-built baseline across all active programs, ensuring configuration integrity as hardware matures from development into production
• Work directly with engineering teams during early NPI phases when engineering engagement is at its peak, ensuring quality is embedded in design decisions before the handoff to manufacturing operations

Own Manufacturing Quality

• Own the manufacturing quality function, establishing PFMEA, Control Plans, inspection plans, SPC/SQC programs, MSA/Gauge R&R studies, NDT/NDI programs, ATP development, and sampling plans to ensure hardware integrity from first article through rate production
• Own Material Review Board (MRB) authority and NADCAP accreditation, governing nonconformance disposition, special process oversight, and corrective action initiation across all production programs
• Lead Quality at the Source, operator-led quality programs, and Lean/Six Sigma continuous improvement to drive first-pass yield improvement, scrap and rework reduction, and a quality-first production floor culture
• Drive measurable yield improvement over time, with a clear objective of reaching and sustaining best-in-class first-pass yield performance as programs scale toward high-rate manufacturing

Own Supplier Quality

• Own the supplier quality function, establishing qualification requirements, source inspection programs, and corrective action processes
• Drive supplier performance through audits, scorecards, and rigorous escape prevention mechanisms
• Own nonconformance and corrective action processes for all design and manufacturing escapes, driving closed-loop learning and tracking meaningful quality metrics including nonconformance rates, first-pass yield, supplier escapes, and cost of poor quality (COPQ)

Own Compliance and Audit

• Own the internal audit program and serve as the primary interface with government quality representatives, customer source inspectors, and third-party auditors
• Ensure compliance with AS9100, AS9102, IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, MIL-STD-1916, NADCAP, and applicable MIL-SPEC requirements

Build and Scale the Organization

• Build, develop, and lead a high-performing Design Quality organization, defining team structure, hiring top talent, and establishing the operating model that will carry the function from early NPI through full-rate production
• Own the quality technology and tools strategy, ensuring the team has the systems and infrastructure needed to operate effectively at scale
• Work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, and program management teams within an Integrated Product Team (IPT) structure
• Build a results-driven team environment grounded in accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement

About the Team

The TeraWave Design Quality team is responsible for ensuring that quality is built into every phase of one of the world's most advanced satellite manufacturing programs, from early concept through mass production. We own the maturity gate framework, set cross-program quality standards, and serve as the independent check that ensures our hardware programs are truly ready before they advance. Embedded at the intersection of engineering and manufacturing operations, our team is a critical enabler of program success and the long-term reliability of the TeraWave constellation.

What You Bring

Minimum Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in quality engineering, manufacturing quality, or mission assurance in an aerospace, defense, or high-complexity hardware manufacturing environment, with at least 8 years leading quality teams
• Minimum B.S. degree in Engineering or a related technical field (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, or Systems Engineering preferred)
• Hands-on experience with AS9100 Quality Management Systems, Process FMEA (PFMEA), Control Plans, design review processes (PDR, CDR, PRR, TRR), and root cause/corrective action methodologies
• Experience with First Article Inspection (AS9102), configuration management, and engineering change control in a hardware manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated experience managing Material Review Board (MRB) authority including nonconformance disposition, corrective action initiation, and scrap/rework reduction programs
• Experience with Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Statistical Quality Control (SQC) methods applied to aerospace manufacturing processes
• Demonstrated experience owning supplier quality programs including supplier qualification, source inspection, and supplier corrective action processes
• Familiarity with NADCAP accreditation requirements and special process oversight including welding, NDT/NDI, heat treatment, chemical processing, or composites in an aerospace manufacturing environment
• Experience with Non-Destructive Testing and Inspection (NDT/NDI) programs, inspection planning, Acceptance Test Procedures (ATP), and sampling plan development
• Experience managing quality programs with budget and headcount responsibility across multiple programs or manufacturing sites
• Proven ability to build and scale quality engineering organizations including defining team structure, hiring, and establishing operating models

Preferred Qualifications

• 15+ years of total work experience in quality engineering, manufacturing quality, or a related discipline
• Experience supporting design and manufacturing quality for aerospace hardware, launch vehicle systems, satellite systems, communications hardware, or high-complexity electronics development and production programs
• Experience owning and enforcing a maturity gate framework across multiple concurrent hardware development programs, with demonstrated ability to serve as an independent readiness check across engineering and manufacturing functions
• Demonstrated experience driving first-pass yield improvement from early NPI through high-rate manufacturing, with measurable reduction in nonconformances, scrap, rework, and cost of poor quality
• Familiarity with applicable industry standards including IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, MIL-SPEC, MIL-STD-1916, and AS9102 in an electronics or communications hardware manufacturing environment
• Experience with Measurement System Analysis (MSA) and Gauge Repeatability and Reproducibility (Gauge R&R) studies to validate inspection and measurement processes
• Experience with manufacturing process qualification and validation, workmanship standards, traveler/router quality controls, and production floor quality culture development
• Demonstrated experience implementing Quality at the Source, self-inspection, and operator-led quality programs to drive first-pass yield improvement
• Experience with Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) or equivalent production approval processes, Certificate of Conformance (CoC) program management, and production readiness assessments
• Track record of building and scaling quality functions through periods of rapid hardware program growth and production ramp
• Experience working cross-functionally with systems engineering, program management, and manufacturing engineering teams within an Integrated Product Team (IPT) structure
• Experience interfacing with government quality representatives or managing customer source inspection programs
• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical field
• American Society for Quality (ASQ) certification (CQE, CQM/OE, CMQ/OE, or equivalent); Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent a plus
• Familiarity with model-based engineering (MBSE), digital thread concepts, or digital quality management systems as applied to hardware development and production environments

Base Pay Range for:

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 [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.