Draper, a nonprofit defense contractor based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has expanded its planned Titusville campus and will triple the number of employees there.
“Currently, we have about 50 employees in Titusville,” Vice President and General Manager of Navy Strategic Systems Robert Bacon told Orlando Business Journal. “This new facility will bring in another 100, bringing the total to around 150 employees."
The Draper strategic enhanced ground test facility will add a second story and be larger than originally planned, and Bacon said the company has an option to expand its Titusville campus even further — a move that could happen in the late 2020s.
As for progress on construction, Bacon told OBJ core foundation and infrastructure work is underway. Titusville-based Rush Construction Inc. is on track to finish by the end of 2026, within the time frame established at the outset.
Draper’s Chief Operating Officer Marjorie Quant said connecting with the local community is front of mind for the firm.
"As part of our expansion, we’re committed to offering internship opportunities to students at local colleges and trade schools,” she said. “We want to provide students and early-career professionals with hands-on experience, which will be valuable for both their careers and our mission.”
Draper currently has two University of South Florida interns and also works with the University of Florida, Florida Atlantic University and Florida Polytechnic University via its internship program.
“We also have a number of efforts we call Nexus,” said Quant. “We partner with other businesses, which we can do without competing since we’re a nonprofit. When there’s a really hard technical problem that others are not addressing — and it aligns with markets related to national security — that's where Draper focuses."
She also mentioned the firm’s workforce development efforts include reviewing college and trade school curriculums to make sure they are relevant to future industry needs and Draper’s hiring plans.
Related: Draper's new $50M high-tech Titusville campus will test nuclear deterrence systems
From the start, Draper scoped the Titusville facility for testing nuclear deterrence systems such as hypersonic missiles and Trident II D5 missiles.
Draper will also use the site to test guidance and navigation systems, gyroscopes and computer chips to ensure they can operate effectively in harsh environments. Draper uses simulations to test, too, but environmental testing of products that already have undergone simulated environment testing will happen in Titusville.
Microelectronics testing will support the firm’s new advanced packaging manufacturing site in St. Petersburg, which opened earlier this month.
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