Engineering Operations Manager – Solar Center of Excellence

BLUE ORIGIN

. Own facility setup for the Solar COE production floor, including space planning, utilities, ESD, cleanroom zoning, and phased buildout .

Posted 11/5/2026full-timeHutto • Texas • United StatesSeniorLeadWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in facility setup and equipment lifecycle management within manufacturing environments, with a strong focus on MES configuration, project management, and cross-functional leadership. Proficient in integrating digital manufacturing systems and optimizing production processes for efficiency and compliance.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Facility Setup ManagementMES Configuration and DeploymentProject ManagementEquipment Lifecycle ManagementCross-Functional Leadership

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

MES ConfigurationMBOM ManagementEquipment FAT/SATOEE ImprovementProduction QualificationData AnalysisSpace PlanningPreventive MaintenanceRoot-Cause AnalysisCompliance Tracking

Soft Skills

LeadershipStakeholder CommunicationContinuous ImprovementTeam DevelopmentProblem-Solving

Tools & Technologies

PLM SystemsERP SystemsWindchillSAPOracleMS ProjectJIRASmartsheetDigital TwinsSCADA

Certifications & Qualifications

Lean CertificationSix Sigma CertificationPMP Certification

Industry Keywords

Solar ManufacturingAerospace ManufacturingDefense ManufacturingCleanroom StandardsNPI ExperienceDFM/DFAAS9100MIL-SPECDigital Manufacturing InfrastructureIoT Equipment Monitoring

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

ERPIoTOraclePMP

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own facility setup for the Solar COE production floor, including space planning, utilities, ESD, cleanroom zoning, and phased buildout
Maintain the Facility Readiness Matrix and track civil, MEP, and infrastructure deliverables against equipment installation schedules
Partner with Facilities, EHS, and Site Operations on safety and workmanship standards, zone acceptance, walk-downs, punch-list closure, and production handoff
Own the equipment lifecycle, including sourcing support, FAT, shipping, installation, SAT, and production qualification
Maintain the Equipment Master Register covering asset status, warranty, calibration, preventive maintenance, and spares
Develop Equipment Installation Plans and coordinate utilities, personnel, software, and tooling for first-article capability
Lead MES setup and deployment, including traveler workflows, genealogy/traceability, electronic work instructions, and production data collection
Integrate MES, ERP, PLM, and quality systems for paperless data flow from order release through final test and shipment
Work with IT and Digital Manufacturing to prioritize enhancements and resolve integration issues
Define and monitor system KPIs, including traveler completion, data-entry cycle time, genealogy completeness, and MES-ERP synchronization accuracy
Translate eBOMs into mBOMs with routings, work centers, and labor standards
Establish the Solar COE OEE framework and lead cross-functional uptime improvement
Build preventive and predictive maintenance programs, set availability targets, track compliance, and escalate gaps
Lead root-cause analysis for repetitive equipment failures and verify corrective-action effectiveness
Manage critical spares and supplier SLAs to minimize MTTR
Provide operations-readiness input at NPI gate reviews and own the critical-path equipment schedule
Escalate compliance issues and bottlenecks affecting NPI transition or production release
Provide capacity, cycle-time, and equipment-utilization data for DFM/DFA decisions
Own the operations-readiness checklist for PRRs and support pilot-line builds
Manage Operations Engineers and Production Technicians
Set performance expectations and development goals, conduct 1:1s and reviews, and foster continuous improvement, safety ownership, and data-driven decisions

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, or Systems Engineering, or a closely related field
10+ years of progressive manufacturing or production operations experience, owning facility setup, equipment deployment, or factory infrastructure programs
Verifiable experience supporting mid- or high-rate production lines
Hands-on MES configuration, deployment, or administration, including routing, electronic work instructions, and traceability
Experience creating and managing mBOMs in a PLM or ERP system (Windchill, Arena, SAP, Oracle, or equivalent)
Leadership of engineering and/or technician teams in a production setting
Experience with equipment FAT/SAT, production qualification, and OEE/uptime improvement
Strong project management: scheduling, risk tracking, stakeholder communication, and cross-functional coordination
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: aerospace, defense, or space manufacturing experience (AS9100, MIL-SPEC, or equivalent)
Preferred: solar module, solar array, or photovoltaic (PV) production experience
Preferred: capital equipment installation and commissioning in a precision or clean manufacturing environment
Preferred: digital manufacturing infrastructure experience, including ERP-MES integration, IoT equipment monitoring, SCADA, or digital twins
Preferred: Lean or Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt); VSM or similar methods
Preferred: NPI experience in an operations capacity, including DFM/DFA, pilot builds, and PRRs
Preferred: proficiency with MS Project, Smartsheet, JIRA, and PLM, ERP, and MES systems
PMP or equivalent certification, Master’s degree in Engineering or Engineering Management, or MBA is a plus
Travel expected: up to 25% during ramp and approximately 10% steady-state
Interviews will include a technical assessment
Required background checks and other checks may apply based on job profile

Benefits

Comp & perks

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%
Education Support Program
Stock Options for all regular employees working at least 20 hours/week
Paid Time Off: Up to four weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours
Up to 14 company-paid holidays
Benefits and bonuses may be available depending on role type and job level
Relocation provided