Looking to mine the local engineering talent, Seattle-based AeroTEC will be opening an engineering office in the heart of Wichita.
The aircraft development company will be opening at 105 N. Washington in Old Town, with initial plans for 25 engineers that could eventually grow to as many as 100.
The company, which is planning an open house next week, said on its website that it specifically targeted Wichita because of the city’s reputation for aerospace engineering.
AeroTEC programs include work for Rolls-Royce, Honeywell, special mission aircraft modifications and multiple hybrid and electric aircraft in development.
Most recently, it added a partnership with Universal Hydrogen on a hydrogen-power conversion program on the De Havilland Dash-8 turboprop formerly built by Bombardier
“We are working on the front lines of modern aircraft development,” says CEO Lee Human. “The Wichita office will play a significant role in supporting these programs with critical engineering activities.”
The company has begun hiring locally and its job openings can be found here.
According to a report from the Puget Sound Business Journal earlier this year, AeroTEC actually managed to expand through the industry downturn of 2020 due to Covid-19 by opening an 85,000 square-foot hangar in the Seattle area for maintenance, repair and overhaul work.
“Everybody had a slow 2020, but things are starting to break loose right now in 2021. Contracts are opening up, based on what we’re seeing right now,” Human told the PSBJ in February.
At that time, the company employed around 200 workers.
