Quality Specialist III

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!

As the Kent Site Leader for Quality Containment, you will own and drive the end-to-end containment process for nonconforming hardware and out-of-tolerance (OOT) measurement and test equipment events. You will establish a disciplined, risk-based containment operation that meets the full intent of our quality management system -- ensuring that affected hardware is identified, mapped, and dispositioned with rigor, and that findings are systematically fed back to engineering, program leadership, and procurement to prevent recurrence and build quality into the product lifecycle.

This role requires both process ownership and hands-on execution. You will define and maintain KPIs and SLAs for containment activities, lead escape communications to internal and external stakeholders, generate Quality Alerts and bulletins, and actively drive improvement in how quality requirements are reflected in design specifications, purchase order terms and conditions, and the calibration lifecycle. You will serve as the technical authority for containment at Kent and a key contributor to enterprise-wide process standardization.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Special Mentions:

*Shift available: Monday - Friday, Day Shift

*Some multi-site travel may be required to support process coordination and site expansion activities

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

*Serve as the Kent site leader for all quality containment activities including nonconformance stock checks and out-of-tolerance (OOT) investigations; own KPI tracking, SLA compliance, and regular reporting to Quality leadership

*Lead stock check and hardware containment execution; map affected hardware across the build, determine active vehicle or fielded hardware status, and drive timely closure of all containment events

*Communicate quality escapes to internal and external stakeholders; generate and issue Quality Alerts and quality bulletins as required based on event severity and scope

*Develop and maintain a risk-based triage framework for OOT events -- applying instrument category, drift magnitude relative to tolerance, process criticality, and hardware usage history to prioritize investigations and eliminate over-containment

*Establish feedback loops to Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, and program leadership to address overly restrictive design tolerances, unresolved calibration lifecycle gaps, and systemic over-containment drivers

*Drive updates to purchase order terms and conditions and quality flow-down requirements to ensure that quality is built into the product through procurement -- not added reactively through containment

*Standardize the capture and documentation of calibrated tool usage across work orders to ensure consistent traceability, complete suspect-period analysis, and a defensible audit trail for every OOT investigation

*Contribute to the Quality Improvement Process (QIP) by fulfilling the containment and stock check feedback loop -- ensuring corrective actions address confirmed root causes and close the engineering and program feedback cycle

*Collaborate with Calibration, Manufacturing Engineering, and Design Engineering to incorporate instrument drift considerations into tool qualification requirements and design specifications

*Lead or support quality system procedure and policy updates that reflect improved containment practices and accurately represent quality requirements without adding unnecessary process overhead

*Develop and deliver training and awareness materials to build containment and OOT process competency across the Kent site quality team; support onboarding of additional sites as the process matures

Minimum Qualifications:

*GED / High School Diploma; technical degree or quality-related certification preferred

*5+ years of experience in quality assurance, nonconformance management, or a related quality function in aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing

*Demonstrated experience executing containment activities including hardware traceability, scope determination, and documentation of stakeholder communications for quality escapes

*Working knowledge of calibration concepts, measurement uncertainty, and out-of-tolerance risk factors

*Familiarity with AS9100 or equivalent Quality Management System requirements

*Proven ability to define, track, and report quality metrics and KPIs to multiple levels of leadership

*Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting quality data and findings to engineering, program, and executive stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications:

*Aerospace or space launch manufacturing experience with quality responsibility for flight hardware or safety-critical assemblies

*Familiarity with calibration management systems and calibration lifecycle principles (e.g., Indysoft or equivalent)

*Experience with data analytics tools for quality trend analysis and workload reporting (e.g., Databricks or comparable platforms)

*Experience with purchase order terms and conditions, quality flow-down requirements, and supplier quality interface

*Familiarity with measurement system analysis, instrument drift characterization, or gauge R&R methodology

*Six Sigma Green Belt or comparable process improvement certification

*Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), or equivalent professional certification

Compensation 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 atEEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.