Northrop Grumman will create about 25 jobs as it expands into Max Q, a mixed-use development slated to be built on vacant land near Kirtland Air Force Base.
The 25,000-square-foot facility Northrop Grumman will occupy broke ground this month, and construction is expected to be completed in February of next year. Northrop's new facility will focus on space systems and cybersecurity operations. When asked about the project, Northrop Grumman vice president Troy Brashear said Albuquerque was "one of the nation's centers for aerospace" activity.
“When you look at the infrastructure, the capabilities and the talented workforce in that area, it’s just such a prime spot to support our important customers," he said.
Thunderbird Kirtland LLC, the developer of Max Q, will construct the building for Northrop Grumman. Kevin Yearout, who manages Thunderbird Kirtland Development LLC, said a lease with an initial term of 10 years was inked March 19. Wilger Enterprises of Albuquerque is handling the buildout of Northrop's Max Q expansion.
If all goes as planned, Northrop Grumman — which has about 90,000 employees worldwide— will be an early tenant at Max Q. The entire Max Q development would sit on more than 70 acres near Gibson Blvd. SE and Carlisle Blvd SE.
For Northrop Grumman, the expansion provides easy access to the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base which hosts the Space Vehicles Directorate (a research and development program for space tech). Other defense and space organizations will also be in close proximity.
“We’ll be able to work hand in hand with our customers,” Brashear said. “Our customers can just come right through the gate, [sic.] can come into the building and we can work technical issues jointly and also be able to further the research and development of these kinds of space capabilities.”
Northrop Grumman will look to hire engineers, finance and business personnel, according to Brashear, who confirmed 25 new jobs will be created.
Three years ago, Northrop tech fellowAndrew Kwas said the defense firm planned to hire 150 engineers as part of an expansion spurred (at least in part) by a string of contract wins, primarily for space-related projects. The company was also eyeing plots of land on Gibson Boulevard for a new building, Kwas said at the time.
When asked if this week's news was related to those past plans, a representative for Northrop Grumman was unable to confirm a connection.
Northrop's facility marks the beginning of the first of four phases of development at Max Q. The first phase will include about 20 acres east of Carlisle Boulevard with proposed retail, restaurant, hotel, office and R&D space.
A Max Q site plan indicates that buildings on the mixed-use property could range in size from 3,130 square feet to 70,000 square feet.
