Director, NDT-Non-Destructive Testing Verified today

The Role

As Director of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) at Blue Origin, you lead the enterprise NDT organization, establishing strategies, standards, and processes to ensure the integrity of flight and ground support hardware across all programs and production sites. You serve as the senior technical authority for all NDT methods and applications, acting as a key interface between engineering, manufacturing, quality, and program teams.

This role reports to the Sr. Director of Quality Assurance within Blue Origin Operations (Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance).

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Vision and Continuous Improvement

• Develop and execute an enterprise NDT strategy prioritizing automation, technology insertion, and requirements optimization over workforce scaling
• Drive continuous improvement within the NDT organization using Lean principles, process automation, and data analytics to reduce cycle times and improve first-pass yield
• Identify, evaluate, and deploy automated NDT inspection systems (automated UT scanning, robotic X-ray, machine-vision-assisted inspection) to replace manual processes
• Lead initiatives to rationalize NDT requirements across programs in partnership with Engineering, reducing or eliminating inspections where appropriate without compromising integrity
• Develop business cases and roadmaps for NDT technology investments tied to production rate readiness and cost reduction

Design Engineering Integration

• Embed NDT expertise early in the design process, closing the current gap between NDT and Design Engineering
• Insert NDT into conceptual design, detailed design reviews, and producibility assessments from program inception
• Partner with Design Engineering and Materials and Processes teams to influence hardware designs for inspectability, advocating for design features and material selections that reduce inspection burden
• Challenge and refine NDT acceptance criteria and inspection requirements, ensuring they are risk-based and technically justified
• Support new product introduction and new process development by evaluating inspectability early and recommending NDT methods and design changes
• Develop formal processes for sustained, structured NDT involvement with engineering teams (design review participation, IPT membership, producibility gates)

Operations and Technical Leadership

• Develop and execute standardized NDT processes, procedures, and specifications across all Blue Origin manufacturing and launch sites
• Lead a team of Senior Managers, NDT Level 3 examiners, NDT Engineers (Level 1 through Principal), and NDT Technicians across all inspection methods: radiographic testing (RT), ultrasonic testing (UT), penetrant testing (PT), eddy current testing (ET), visual testing (VT), and emerging methods (phased array UT, computed tomography, digital radiography, thermography)
• Serve as the corporate NDT authority for compliance with customer and regulatory requirements
• Drive selection, qualification, and standardization of NDT equipment, techniques, and acceptance criteria
• Manage NDT nonconformance investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs): turnaround time, throughput, technician utilization, escape rate, and first-pass yield

Compliance, Accreditation, and External Engagement

• Ensure compliance with industry standards and specifications (ASNT, ASTM, AWS, NAS410, SSCMAN 91-710)
• Lead NADCAP accreditation efforts for all applicable NDT methods across Blue Origin facilities; serve as subject matter expert for NADCAP and customer audits
• Partner with Supply Chain and Supplier Quality to establish NDT requirements for suppliers and support capability assessments
• Stay current with industry advancements in NDT technology and represent Blue Origin in industry working groups and standards bodies (ASNT, AIA-NAS, ASTM committees)

People and Resource Management

• Develop and manage the NDT training and development pipeline, including apprenticeship programs and career progression for technicians and engineers
• Manage capital planning and budgeting for NDT labs, equipment, and facility infrastructure across all sites
• Represent NDT in design reviews, material review boards, program reviews, failure investigations, and executive briefings
• Foster a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and technical excellence

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, materials science, physics, or related technical field
• 10+ years of experience in non-destructive testing, inspection engineering, or related discipline within manufacturing or production
• 5+ years of people management experience, including leading multi-site or multi-disciplinary teams
• Deep working knowledge of NAS410 personnel qualification and certification requirements
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing Written Practices, NDT procedures, and technique sheets
• Proven track record of implementing NDT automation, advanced inspection technologies, or process improvements that measurably reduced manual inspection labor, cycle time, or cost
• Experience partnering with Design Engineering to influence product designs for inspectability and rationalize inspection requirements
• Experience with NADCAP accreditation processes and audit readiness
• Strong knowledge of NDT applications for metallic and composite aerospace structures (welded, bonded, cast, forged, additively manufactured components)
• Proficiency with quality and problem-solving tools: root cause analysis, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), statistical methods
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in engineering, materials science, physics, or related technical field