News Summary

Lockheed Martin has announced the layoff of 64 employees from its Andover facility by July 5, as part of a routine annual business review. Positions primarily affected include engineering, product operations, and quality roles. The site is crucial for the GridStar Flow Battery project, yet uncertainty looms over its future due to a lack of information. This news follows another significant layoff announcement from nearby Symbotic LLC, highlighting a challenging employment environment in the area. The company encourages affected employees to explore retraining options for their transition.

Andover, Massachusetts – Lockheed Martin will lay off 64 employees from its Andover facility by July 5, as detailed in a recent Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice. These layoffs are part of a routine annual business review, though specific reasons for the cuts have not been disclosed.

The layoffs will affect primarily those in engineering, product operations, and quality positions. Currently, the Andover facility employs 51 individuals, with approximately 75% holding engineering roles. This facility, located on Dascomb Road, plays a significant role in Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control division.

This Andover site serves as the “official home and single site” for the development, testing, and production of the GridStar Flow Battery project, intended for large-scale energy storage solutions. Lockheed Martin opened the facility in 2020 and secured a contract to implement the GridStar Flow system at Fort Carson, Colorado, in 2022. However, uncertainty now looms over the future of this project, as related information has been removed from Lockheed Martin’s website, and queries regarding its status are being redirected to the US Army and the Romanian Ministry of Energy, partners in the effort.

The layoffs in Andover come in the wake of another substantial job reduction nearby. Symbotic LLC, based in the same area, is also expected to lay off around 400 employees by the end of June. These significant cuts highlight a challenging employment landscape in the region.

At present, Lockheed Martin operates two facilities in Massachusetts, with the second location in Chelmsford employing approximately 350 personnel. The Chelmsford facility will not be affected by the upcoming layoffs.

As Lockheed Martin faces these workforce reductions, the company remains committed to continuing its provision of critical defense capabilities while focusing on innovation and efficiency. The initiatives and future projects, including the GridStar Flow system, will be closely monitored as the company navigates through this period of transition.

Founded in 1912, Lockheed Martin has become a global leader in aerospace, defense, and security, with extensive partnerships and contracts fueling its operations. The decisions regarding workforce changes and project adjustments are typically undertaken in light of ongoing assessments of business needs and market conditions.

As this situation develops, affected employees are encouraged to explore retraining options in collaboration with local workforce development initiatives to facilitate their transition into new employment opportunities.

Lockheed Martin’s annual business review process is a standard procedure in the industry, often resulting in workforce adjustments as companies align their resources with current objectives and evolving market demands.