The aerospace engineers who test aircraft systems and design satellites across the Puget Sound region have a new employer competing for their skills.

Los Angeles-based Nominal, valued at $1 billion after an $80 million funding round in March, is converting its downtown Seattle co-working outpost into a permanent office and plans to grow from 11 local employees to 40 or 50 by the end of 2027.

The company's software helps engineers build, test, and validate complex hardware systems including satellites, aircraft, and autonomous vehicles.

CEO Cameron McCord told GeekWire on July 29 that Seattle's concentration of engineers experienced in large-scale infrastructure problems drove the decision.

"Some of the magic of Nominal is putting them in one room," McCord said.

That room is getting bigger. Nominal is relocating Head of Product Stephen Slattery, formerly director of technical operations at defense tech company Anduril Industries, from Los Angeles to Seattle to run the office.

The company expects to reach 20 to 25 local employees by the end of 2026, then double again the following year. It is actively searching for permanent downtown office space to replace its current co-working setup.

McCord, a former U.S. Navy submarine officer and nuclear engineer, said conversations with Anduril co-founder Matt Grimm reinforced Seattle's appeal. McCord characterized Grimm's feedback as "incredibly positive on the talent and density."

What it means for Boeing's engineers

Boeing maintains roughly 65,000 workers in Washington, and SPEEA, the union representing about 17,000 white-collar Boeing employees including 13,000 engineers, has the majority of its members in the Puget Sound region. Boeing and SPEEA reached a new contract agreement on Thursday, July 30, their first full negotiation in nearly 14 years.

But Boeing also announced plans in early 2026 to shift up to 300 engineering jobs to South Carolina, according to KIRO 7, a move SPEEA called a breach of trust.

Nominal's arrival offers an alternative employer for the region's aerospace-trained engineers at a moment of workforce uncertainty. The company counts 75 customers, about half in defense, and says four of the five traditional U.S. defense contractors use its software. Energy, robotics, and AI data center infrastructure are growing sectors for the firm.

Part of a broader AI office wave

Nominal joins a string of AI companies leasing space in the region. AI firms have signed leases for more than 292,000 square feet of Puget Sound office space in 2026 through mid-June, according to the Seattle Times. Anduril expanded its maritime manufacturing presence on the Ship Canal.

Anthropic leased 113,000 square feet at Dexter Yard in South Lake Union. OpenAI opened a Bellevue engineering center.

Nominal's March funding round was led by Founders Fund at a $1 billion valuation, with Sequoia Capital, Lux Capital, and General Catalyst also participating. The company reported sevenfold revenue growth year-over-year leading into that round and grew from 43 to 135 employees globally before reaching roughly 200 as of late July.

The Seattle office will not be a satellite engineering outpost. McCord said it will house engineering, sales, customer success, and design teams as it scales, a full cross-functional hub hunting for permanent space downtown.