Jan. 07--A year after B/E Aerospace opened an engineering center of excellence in Wichita, the site is expanding, the company said Tuesday.
The center at 8110 E. 32nd St. North, which supports the commercial aviation industry, has openings for stress, certification, mechanical and electrical engineers and engineering leaders.
B/E Aerospace employs about 40 at the Wichita facility, which opened in 15,000 square feet last year.
It leased an additional 3,000 square feet of space this month to add employees, said Jason Corcoran, the engineering site manager.
There are 16 openings, but more positions are expected to be added, Corcoran said.
He declined to say how many engineers B/E plans to hire.
The site, however, will be tripling its scope of work this year, B/E Aerospace said in a release.
Engineers will work on lavatories, galleys and galley equipment, economy and business class seating, oxygen systems and aircraft modification programs for commercial aircraft.
More engineers are needed because of sales increases in commercial aviation.
"The commercial aviation industry as a whole is doing a lot better," Corcoran said.
The company said it chose Wichita for the engineering center because of the city's rich engineering talent.
"From a talent standpoint, I don't think you can get much better," Corcoran said.
Wichita engineers have a diversity in disciplines and in engineering styles, he said.
The engineering center has hired local engineers or engineers who once worked in Wichita but may have had to leave because of layoffs.
Still, recruitment remains challenging, Corcoran said.
The company is hosting an engineering job fair at the facility on Jan. 23. Details are still being worked out.
Reach Molly McMillin at 316-269-6708 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @mmcmillin.
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