Amazon Picks Kirkland For 2nd Satellite Plant

KIRKLAND, WA — Amazon is expanding its Eastside footprint and will build a large-scale satellite manufacturing facility in Kirkland, the company announced Thursday. The new 172,000 square-foot facility will serve Project Kuiper, an Amazon effort to build a network of low Earth orbit satellites designed to offer affordable high-speed internet to communities around the world where options are limited or non-existent.

The project is headquartered in Redmond, where teams moved into a sprawling research and development facility in 2020. Having a dedicated production facility nearby will help the project scale up to commercial operations, with the capacity to build up to four satellites each day, Amazon said Thursday.

"Getting Project Kuiper's satellites into space requires significant precision, expertise, and a world-class team committed to our vision, said Rajeev Badyal, the project's vice president of technology. "This new satellite production facility will significantly expand our manufacturing capacity as we approach launch and deployment, and it brings us another step closer to delivering on our mission to connect unserved and underserved communities around the world."

Amazon expects the Kirkland plant will create more than 200 aerospace and manufacturing jobs, adding to its core team in Redmond. The company said streamlining design, development and manufacturing in-house helps reduce costs and improve quality control, while centralizing operations in Puget Sound ensures project teams work in close coordination.

While Amazon did not disclose the precise location for the new facility, Geekwire reported that a real estate listing matching the description was located at the Totem Lake Commerce Center.

"Amazon could have located their Project Kuiper satellite production facility anywhere in the world, and yet they chose Kirkland and the Greater Seattle region to expand," said Brian Surratt, CEO of Greater Seattle Partners. "The decision to continue to grow here will create new jobs and opportunities for our rich ecosystem of aerospace companies and talent that has evolved over more than a century of research, development, and manufacturing."

Greater Seattle Partners notes Amazon's newest facility joins dozens of aerospace companies based on the Eastside, including 16 in Kirkland, 17 in Redmond and 25 in Bellevue. Kirkland Mayor Penny Sweet celebrated the announcement in a statement Thursday.

"We’re excited with Amazon’s selection of Kirkland for Project Kuiper’s satellite production facility," Sweet said. "Whether you’re looking to get your foot in the door or are pursuing an advanced, high-level career, this will bring even more economic opportunity for professionals who live here and for those who have yet to call Kirkland home."

Amazon plans to launch the first two Project Kuiper prototypes early next year. Future launches will utilize rockets from United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin and Arianespace. The company estimates more than 1,000 people are working on the project across the United States.