XCOR launches employment search in Midland

MIDLAND – XCOR has begun to look for employees in West Texas as it prepares to move its headquarters to Midland in 2013. The company committed in July 2012 to move its headquarters from California to Midland as part of a $10 million incentive agreement with the Midland Development Corp.

The aerospace company has locally advertised five position openings: an entry-level electrical engineer/technician, designer/draftsman, human resources manager, project management data analyst and a safety/security engineer.

The company plans to create a payroll in Midland of at least $12 million in five years, which could mean the employment of up to 200 people or more. XCOR currently has about 50, according to COO Andrew Nelson.

In 2013, that number might be potentially as high as 75 or 100 if the company realizes its business plan.

The company hopes to move its employees to Midland in summer 2013 but it could be as late as the end of 2013 depending on when the airport receives its spaceport license from the Federal Aviation Administration and when the company’s Lynx prototype suborbital vehicle is developed enough to XCOR leaders’ liking.