Over the summer, 17 people left the company.
Summer Losses
Blue Origin continues to be a hit.
This year, Jeff Bezos' company has lost out on a $2.9B contract to SpaceX. It was also beaten by Virgin Galactic to the title of the first billionaire CEO to orbit. CNBC has released a new report that shows that Blue Origin lost 17 of its top employees this summer.
Many Blue Origins employees have left to seek better opportunities, such as Nitin, who joined SpaceX, and was the lead engineer for the company's disastrous lunar lander program.
Cats out of the bag https://t.co/3gTCv2TDmi Nitin Arora (@tintin_in_space) August 17, 2021
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Lauren Lyons, an aerospace engineer, joined Firefly Aerospace in the role of chief operating officer.
It is an honor to be part of this incredible team! https://t.co/JY43hjysUx Lauren Lyons (@Laur_Ly) August 18, 2021
CNBC reports that fifteen other employees, ranging from senior executives to engineers to administrators to project managers, have left the company this summer.
Talent Bribe
Blue Origin has a brighter outlook despite this.
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Blue Origin saw an increase of 850 employees in 2020, and the company has grown by another 651 so far in 2021 according to a spokesperson. We have grown nearly four times in the last three years. We are still able to fulfill important leadership roles in quality, manufacturing, engine design and vehicle design. We have great talent and it's a team we are building.
Blue Origin gave a generous $10,000 bonus to all its employees after Bezos's space flight this summer. CNBC was told by anonymous employees that the bonus was intended to keep employees happy in light of the departures.
Workforce frustration
Blue Origin is not the only reason people are leaving Blue Origin in large numbers. There are a few key factors that may be at play.
Ars Technica reports that many employees are embarrassed by their company's public spats with SpaceX, NASA, and Virgin Galactic. These actions are likely to lead to Blue Origin losing more work in future.
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An anonymous NASA source said that they will never be awarded a government contract.
Blue Origins Glassdoor reviews show that former and current employees don't have much to say about the company's stifling culture and low job growth. They also don't care about CEO Bob Smith.
It is always bad for your company if your employees leave your company in large numbers. It's even worse when your employees quit and go directly to your largest competitors.
READ MORE: NASA lander fight intensifies as top talent leaves Jeff Bezos Blue Origin [CNBC]
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Blue Origin Lead Lunar Lander Engineering Jumps Ship, Joins SpaceX
