Los Angeles has been the center of American aerospace since the 1940s. Today, the greater LA area — from Hawthorne to El Segundo to Long Beach — is the undisputed capital of NewSpace, home to SpaceX, Rocket Lab, Virgin Orbit's legacy, and the Space Force's Space Systems Command. More rockets are designed in LA than anywhere else on Earth.
Hawthorne, CA — world's most prolific rocket manufacturer, Falcon 9, Starship, Starlink
El Segundo — federally funded R&D center supporting Space Force and NRO
Los Angeles AFB — responsible for acquiring and operating military space systems
Long Beach — Electron and Neutron rockets, Photon spacecraft
Pasadena — NASA center managed by Caltech, planetary science and Mars rovers
| Company | Focus Area | Profile |
|---|---|---|
| SpaceX | Launch services, Starlink, Starship | View profile |
| Rocket Lab | Small/medium launch, spacecraft | View profile |
| Boeing Space (El Segundo) | Satellites, SLS core stage | View profile |
| Raytheon (El Segundo) | Space sensors, missile warning | View profile |
| Relativity Space | 3D-printed rockets (Terran R) | View profile |
| Long Wall | Missile defense (formerly ABL Space Systems, pivoted from orbital launch in 2025) | View profile |
Los Angeles has 300+ space and aerospace companies, ranging from major defense primes to innovative startups.
The average aerospace salary in Los Angeles is approximately $130,000. Top roles include Propulsion Engineer, Avionics Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer.
Key facilities include SpaceX Headquarters, The Aerospace Corporation, Space Systems Command (SSC). Los Angeles is a major hub for commercial space operations.
There are currently 4,500+ open positions in the Los Angeles area. Top roles include Propulsion Engineer, Avionics Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Software Engineer, Structures Engineer.
SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and Relativity all headquartered in greater LA. JPL — NASA's premier planetary science and robotics center.
Company profiles, job listings, government contracts, and real-time industry data.
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