Rocket Lab has announced an agreement to acquire satellite communications company Iridium in a deal the companies describe as creating a fully vertically integrated space company. The acquisition combines Rocket Lab’s launch services, spacecraft manufacturing, and space systems with Iridium’s global satellite communications network, positioning the combined company to offer end-to-end space capabilities across government, defense, civil, and commercial markets.
The companies say the transaction will strengthen their ability to support national security and defense customers by bringing together launch, satellite production, mission operations, and resilient communications under one organization. If approved by shareholders and regulators, the acquisition is expected to accelerate growth in government and commercial space programs while expanding the combined company’s role in the rapidly evolving space and defense sector.
Layoffs: Cisco
Cisco is laying off hundreds of employees across its Bay Area offices as the networking giant continues to reshape its workforce around artificial intelligence and higher-growth technology areas. The latest reductions affect multiple California locations and are part of the company’s broader restructuring efforts, which have included workforce reductions over the past year as it reallocates resources toward AI, cybersecurity, and cloud infrastructure.
The layoffs reflect a wider trend across the technology sector, where major companies are trimming traditional roles while increasing investment in AI-driven products and services. For the national security and defense workforce, the shift highlights continued demand for professionals with AI, cybersecurity, and advanced networking skills as both commercial technology firms and government contractors compete for specialized talent.
Hiring: Anduril
Defense technology company Anduril Industries is continuing its rapid expansion in the Pacific Northwest, growing both its office presence and manufacturing capabilities in the Seattle area. The company has more than 100 open positions locally—primarily software engineering roles—to support its Connected Warfare division, while permit filings indicate it is planning to expand its headquarters space in downtown Seattle’s 2+U office tower.
Beyond office growth, Anduril is investing heavily in maritime defense. The company has invested in the former Foss Shipyard along Seattle’s Ship Canal, where it will partner with South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to assemble autonomous surface vessels for the U.S. Navy under the Modular Attack Surface Craft program. The investment reflects Anduril’s broader strategy to expand autonomous defense manufacturing while helping rebuild U.S. shipbuilding capacity and grow the region’s maritime workforce.
Cleared Employer at Work: Workday
At Workday, cleared professionals are designing secure, cloud-first systems that safeguard sensitive data, support national defense and modernize how federal agencies operate. Whether you’re scaling threat detection, building resilient infrastructure or pushing the limits of automation the work has real world consequences and high impact outcomes.
We are currently hiring for a variety of needs including; Software Engineering, Site Reliability Engineering, DevOps, Cybersecurity, Program Management and many more opportunities.
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Opportunity to Watch
A Senate Armed Services Committee proposal for the fiscal 2027 defense policy bill would give the Department of War new tools to recruit and retain cyber talent while limiting broad civilian workforce reductions. The legislation would make it easier for employees to move between the Cyber Excepted Service and the competitive civil service, shorten the cyber workforce probationary period from three years to two, and expand hiring flexibility to help attract qualified cybersecurity professionals.
The bill also includes several workforce protections following significant civilian staffing reductions over the past year. Proposed measures would require the Pentagon to notify Congress before large-scale layoffs, prohibit certain hiring freezes affecting key organizations, create a pilot program offering bonuses for high-performing civilian managers, expand pay flexibility for defense industrial base employees, and require job postings to clearly identify telework eligibility. The proposal now moves through the annual NDAA legislative process before becoming law.
