Northrup Grumman To Add Jobs To Florida's Space Coast

MELBOURNE, Florida –  According to the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, Northrop Grumman intends to expand its presence on the Space Coast and add more than 900 jobs, including hundreds of engineering positions.  

UPDATE: Tax Money For Confusing Florida Jobs Numbers Explained

Northrop Grumman Corporation announced on Monday it is designating five centers of design and integration excellence in support of its Aerospace Systems sector's manned aircraft, unmanned systems and electronic attack businesses. 

"Consolidating these centers of excellence will improve our strategic alignment with our customers' need for increasingly innovative and affordable products, services and solutions," said Wes Bush, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Northrop Grumman. "We continuously examine our operational capacity to determine how we can leverage it in the most efficient and cost-competitive manner. Given the current budget environment, it is imperative that we act to enhance future performance, innovation and affordability for our customers."

The Manned Aircraft Design Center of Excellence will be located in Melbourne, Fla., and will include aircraft design work currently being performed at the company's Bethpage, N.Y., facility. The B-2, F/A-18 and F-35 programs will remain in Palmdale, El Segundo and Redondo Beach, Calif., respectively.

The company's Unmanned Systems Center of Excellence will be located at its Rancho Bernardo facility in San Diego, Calif. Two programs will transition to that center: the MQ-4C Triton program from Bethpage, N.Y., and the NATO Airborne Ground Surveillance program from Melbourne, Fla.


“This is exciting news from Northrop Grumman,” said Congressman Posey. “Brevard County has been a home for Northrop Grumman for decades and their decision to expand here and strengthen their commitment to our community should be applauded.  Brevard County is a natural fit for Northrop Grumman’s new Manned Aircraft Design Center.  This positive news means hundreds of new jobs for Brevard County and will provide a needed economic boost for local businesses and families.”  

Additionally, Northrop Grumman has designated two Aircraft Integration Centers of Excellence, one in Palmdale, Calif., and the other in St. Augustine, Fla.

“We are grateful for Northrop Grumman’s existing presence in our state and that they have chosen to establish two new centers of excellence here – one in St. Augustine and one in Melbourne," Florida Governor Rick Scott said.  "Northrop Grumman’s investment in Florida means more than 1,000 new jobs for our state and builds on our strong record of job creation over the last two years. Florida is already ranked number two in the nation for businesses to grow and succeed, and we won’t stop until we are number one. More companies continue to move here from other states like New York and California because Florida is committed to cutting taxes and eliminating regulations to help job creators succeed at creating more jobs.”

The company will close its Dominguez Hills, Calif., facility as part of its long-term effort to reduce facilities and costs. This facility supports the development and integration of C4I networked communications capabilities and solutions, and mission support work for the Information Systems sector. This work will be transitioned in phases to other company facilities beginning in 2013. 

Northrop Grumman also announced plans to complete the closure of its Electronic Systems sector's Norwalk, Conn., facility, including radar test range operations.