Raytheon Technologies Corp. will close its office in Albuquerque, where it employs about 200 people, the Albuquerque Journal reported Tuesday.
Company spokeswoman Heather Uberuaga said Raytheon is looking to streamline its capabilities with pursuits and programs located at other sites around the country.
Raytheon’s Albuquerque division has specialized in designing and building directed energy systems, including laser-based technology and high-powered electromagnetic, or microwave, systems. It’s worked closely in recent years with the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base on those technologies to develop modern laser and microwave weapons.
That work will now be transferred to Raytheon Missiles and Defense headquarters in Tucson, where 13,000 other workers are employed.
The move to close the New Mexico facility she described as being in best interest of customers as they look to further integrate and streamline capabilities with pursuits and programs located at other sites. That could include transferring to a new site or applying for different positions within the company.
Raytheon purchased the operation in New Mexico in 2011 and expanded its operations at the Sandia Science and Technology Park in Albuquerque in 2017. The company received $850,000 in economic development funding from the state to offset the expansion costs. Uberuaga said that money has been returned.
The last day of work in Albuquerque will vary by employee, based on the programs they are working on, but it will be between mid-July 2020 and December 2020 for the majority of employees.
Uberuaga said all laid off workers will receive severance packages that include one week per year of service, with a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of 26 weeks for regular employees working 20 hours or more per week. Healthcare will continue during the severance, and COBRA insurance will be available afterwards.
“Raytheon Technologies also offers an educational benefit to employees who are laid off,” Uberuaga added. “While we are not using a third-party outplacement provider, we are collaborating with New Mexico’s dislocated worker unit to help employees find other employment if they wish to stay in Albuquerque. Other options for the employees may include relocating to a new site or applying for different positions on other programs across the country.”
It is unclear exactly how many new positions this will create in Tucson.