Weld Engineering & Inspection Manager

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!

At Blue Origin, we are building a road to space so our children can build the future. The Advanced Manufacturing Group's Operations Reliability organization owns structural welding quality and code welding compliance across Blue's non-flight-hardware fabrication. We certify and manage welders, qualify welding procedures, inspect welds, and support design and field teams on welding quality and code requirement conformance. We look for individuals who take ownership of their work, thrive in a team, and hold a relentless focus on the details that drive quality and safety.

As the Weld Engineering & Inspection Manager, you will lead and grow the non-flight-hardware welding engineering and inspection function. You will manage a team of Welding Engineers and Certified Welding Inspectors (CWIs), own the company-wide welder certification program and welding procedure database, and serve as the technical authority on AWS and ASME structural welding code compliance, including D1.1, D1.6, and D17.1 for aerospace and GSE fabrication applications. You will set the technical bar for weld integrity, hold it against schedule pressure, and give your team clear direction with the room to execute. This role is based at OLS, Cape Canaveral, Florida, with occasional travel to other Blue Origin sites (estimated 25%, including Huntsville, AL and Kent, WA).

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of Welding Engineers and Certified Welding Inspectors (CWIs) supporting structural non-flight-hardware and ground support equipment welding across Blue Origin
• Own the company-wide non-flight-hardware welder certification program - qualification testing, documentation generation (WPQ's), and renewal of certifications as they near expiration
• Own welding procedure qualification (WPS/PQR) for fabrication production across Blue non-flight-hardware welding locations
• Partner with work centers, programs, and design teams to resolve welding issues and drive corrective action to closure
• Serve as the technical authority on structural welding and AWS and ASME fabrication code compliance; ensure code requirements are not waived by schedule pressure
• Support design engineers on welding and code compliance, including drawing annotations/weld symbol usage and proper inspection requirements for code fabrication
• Direct and support the planning, execution, and documentation of weld inspections for structural fabrication and GSE
• Lead hiring activities for Welding Engineers and CWIs, including reviewing resumes, conducting interviews, and making hiring recommendations
• Coordinate performance management, career development, and compensation and promotion recommendations for direct reports
• Disposition field weld issues, weighing repair-in-place against installed-condition corrections and the cost of each path
• Oversee third-party contracted welding activities, including vendor qualification, on-site audits, documentation review, and acceptance authority for contracted weld packages

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering, Engineering Management, or a related engineering discipline - or equivalent combination of technical education and 10+ years of progressive welding inspection and engineering experience
• Current AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification, with working knowledge of AWS CWI duties and requirements sufficient to direct and oversee a team of inspectors
• Minimum 7 years of experience as an AWS CWI, with at least 3 years in a lead, senior, or supervisory inspection role
• Demonstrated experience managing, mentoring, or leading a team of engineers or inspectors in a structured inspection or welding program
• Demonstrated expertise in AWS and ASME structural welding and fabrication codes and standards
• Experience qualifying welders (WPQ) and welding procedures (WPS/PQR)
• Experience leading, coaching, and mentoring engineers or inspectors
• Strong technical judgment on structural weld integrity, inspection, and disposition
• Ability to read and annotate fabrication drawings, including weld symbols and code/inspection requirements
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills across engineering, operations, and design teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing a welding certification or welding procedure program across multiple sites
• Experience in aerospace, heavy structural, or high-reliability fabrication environments
• Familiarity with NDT methods and acceptance criteria for structural welding applications
• Prior people-management experience, including hiring and performance management
• Familiarity with AWS D17.1 fusion welding requirements for aerospace applications
• Experience overseeing or auditing third-party contracted welding operations, including documentation review and on-site verification

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.