Specialist - Production Control/Inventory III - Custom Precise Machinery

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!  

This role supports a family of advanced custom precision machines built entirely in-house at Blue Origin. These are not purchased tools with a service contract behind them — we architect them, build them, instrument them, and sustain them ourselves. Each machine is a large-envelope, multi-axis precision platform assembled from thousands of parts spanning precision mechanical components, motion and feedback hardware, fluid and thermal assemblies, electrical and control hardware, and long-lead custom fabrications.

Every one of those parts has to be in the right place on the right day. That is this job. You will own the material side of building new machines, keeping a fielded fleet running, and executing retrofits on hardware already in production — kitting the work, controlling the inventory, and driving the procurement that feeds all three.

This is a high-leverage seat. A single missing long-lead component can hold a machine build for weeks, and a machine that is down stops engine hardware from moving. You will be the person who sees that coming and prevents it — working directly with the engineers who specify the parts, the technicians who install them, and the supply chain that delivers them.

Passion for our mission and vision is required.

Special Mentions

• Relocation provided
• Occasional extended hours or weekend coverage may be required to support machine builds and unplanned downtime
• On-site role — this work requires physical presence with the material and the hardware

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Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Own kitting for machine build, maintenance, and retrofit work — pull, stage, verify, and issue complete kits against work orders so that technicians never start a job short
• Perform kit shortage analysis ahead of work-order release, identify what will not be available in time, and drive resolution before the shortage stops work
• Maintain inventory accuracy through cycle counting, physical inventory, bin and location control, and reconciliation of system records against what is physically on the shelf
• Receive, inspect for count and damage, label, and put away incoming material; manage returns and discrepant material through the appropriate disposition process
• Control and track spare parts inventory for a fielded machine fleet, including setting and maintaining min/max levels, reorder points, and safety stock on critical and long-lead items
• Generate and manage purchase requisitions for machine parts, consumables, and spares; track them through purchase order placement, acknowledgement, shipment, and receipt
• Expedite critical and late material, escalate supplier delivery risk, and communicate revised dates to the engineers and technicians whose work depends on them
• Interface with buyers, planners, suppliers, and receiving to resolve pricing, quantity, lead-time, documentation, and quality-hold issues
• Maintain and reconcile bills of material against engineering releases and change notices, and flag material impacts when a design change lands on hardware already ordered or already installed
• Track material against machine serial numbers and configurations, so that what was installed on which machine is a matter of record rather than recollection
• Manage material for retrofit and upgrade campaigns, including staging kits per machine and sequencing deliveries against planned downtime windows
• Maintain accurate transaction records in the ERP and work-order systems — receipts, issues, moves, adjustments, and backflush — and investigate transaction errors and inventory variances to root cause
• Support control of consumables, calibrated tooling, and shelf-life-limited items, including expiration tracking and removal from service
• Produce and communicate material status reporting — shortages, open orders, aging, and inventory health — to engineering and program leadership
• Identify and implement process improvements in kitting, storage layout, labeling, and material flow that measurably reduce shortages and search time
• Operate material handling equipment safely, and maintain an organized, audit-ready stockroom
• Train and mentor junior production control and material handling personnel

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Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• 5+ years of experience in production control, material planning, inventory control, kitting, stockroom operations, procurement support, or equivalent supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment
• Hands-on experience with an ERP or MRP system for inventory transactions, purchase requisitions, and work-order material management
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret bills of material, engineering drawings, and part numbers, and to identify the correct part with confidence
• Experience performing cycle counts and resolving inventory discrepancies to root cause
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel for tracking, reconciliation, and reporting
• Demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail in transaction-based work where an error propagates
• Ability to prioritize competing demands and communicate clearly with engineers, technicians, and suppliers
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion
• 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

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate or Bachelor degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Industrial Technology, or a related field
• Experience supporting capital equipment, tooling, or production machine builds rather than only flight or product hardware
• Experience with spare parts and MRO inventory management for an operating equipment fleet
• Experience with long-lead procurement and the planning discipline it requires
• Experience kitting for complex mechanical or electromechanical assemblies
• Familiarity with engineering change control and the material impact of design changes in process
• Experience with configuration and serial-number traceability of installed components
• Experience with a PLM system for part and bill-of-material data
• Experience with barcode, RFID, or comparable inventory tracking systems
• APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP) or equivalent
• Lean, 5S, or continuous improvement training and demonstrated application
• Forklift and material handling equipment certification
• Experience in aerospace, semiconductor, medical device, or another regulated or high-precision manufacturing environment
• Experience training or leading other production control personnel

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Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift and carry up to 40 lbs unassisted, and to participate in team lifts of heavier material
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and climb stockroom ladders for extended periods
• Ability to operate material handling equipment including pallet jacks and forklifts
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment
• Comfortable working in an industrial manufacturing and warehouse environment

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