The region’s outsized opportunity in space and aerospace has been a cornerstone of our mission from the start, and today we’re taking a closer look at the data and insights surfaced in the series of reports we released earlier this year on the region’s key growth industries.
What does it entail?
Space + Aerospace have deep roots on the Central Coast, stretching from Cold War-era missile testing and aviation to modern-day space launch, next-gen drones and emerging advanced air mobility. The landscape spans large government contractors such as Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, commercial space operators such as SpaceX, and smaller locally grown companies.
The industry has significant crossover with the region’s precision manufacturing cluster (which we highlighted in April), with standout specialization in the manufacturing of space vehicle parts and equipment, instrumentation, and highly complex satellite components and communications systems.
Why is it a priority industry?
Its potential for high-wage job growth, concentration of quality jobs across skill and education levels, and strong regional foundation. In-demand occupations pay well above the region’s median wage, many by wide margins, with average earnings per job of $88,000. The global space industry has shot up 90 percent over the last decade, with dramatic gains projected to continue, and the Central Coast is well positioned to capitalize on that growth.
How big an industry is it?
It contributes $1.45 billion to the regional economy and employs about 7,000 people, with just over half of that attributed to military employment. While the majority of jobs are located in Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County has seen a dramatic increase over the past 20 years, nearly doubling jobs in the industry and projected to keep rising sharply.
What’s the growth trajectory?
Space + Aerospace are projected to spur 1,190 new jobs by 2027 — 634 within the industry and 556 from ripple effects, accounting for $82 million in earnings and $6.8 million in added tax revenues.
While engineering and engineering-related activities are most in demand, the largest rise in jobs is expected among Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians, with 17% projected growth, as well as logisticians, software developers, and a range of production-related occupations.
Why here?
A confluence of factors, most visibly the presence of Vandenberg Space Force Base, which has had a primary role in U.S. space activities stretching back to the launch of Discoverer 1, the first-ever polar orbit satellite in 1959.
Today, the base’s status as one of two federal spaceports for government and commercial rocket launches has put the Central Coast at the forefront of the commercial space race. Companies including SpaceX, Firefly Aerospace and Relativity Space are expanding operations at the base, where annual launches are expected to soar to over 100 in coming years.
The region’s higher education system also boosts the industry, attracting research dollars, entrepreneurial ventures, and top talent as well as producing a robust talent pipeline.
As a co-developer of the mini CubeSat satellites now used across the globe, Cal Poly hosts a leading aerospace engineering program and the Cube Sat Lab and partners with the US Air Force Research Laboratory on uncrewed aerial vehicle and small satellite technology research. UC Santa Barbara conducts high-profile research in deep space, quantum and infrared technologies, and Cuesta College, in partnership with ACI Jet, recently launched technician courses in aviation maintenance.
Who are some of the players?
Example companies in the industry include:
- Santa Barbara Focalplane designs and produces cutting-edge infrared sensors as part of Lockheed Martin.
- San Luis Obispo-based WhiteFox Defense Technologies develops counter-drone technologies used by the military as well as commercially for public safety.
- SLO-based Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero) designs manned and unmanned electric aircraft.
- San Luis Obispo-based Edge Autonomy, formerly Jennings Aeronautics and now part of Florida-based AE Industrial Partners, develops autonomous technologies and optics.
- Goleta-based Deployable Space Systems, now part of Redwire, is a leading supplier of space mission-enabling deployable solar arrays, structures and mechanisms.
- San Luis Obispo-based Inspired Flight designs, develops, and manufactures commercial drones for industrial and government use.
- San Luis Obispo-based ACI Jet offers private aviation charters, maintenance and repair services, and aircraft management.
- Santa Barbara-based Umbra manufactures, launches, and operates satellites — see more on Umbra here!
Our latest company spotlight shows the industry in action with a peek at how Umbra is revolutionizing satellite imagery — and producing dreamy images from across the globe worthy of a coffee table book.
