COM DEV International Ltd., a manufacturer of space hardware subsystems, today announced a restructuring and downsizing of its Canadian government space division, COM DEV Canada, which is headquartered in Ottawa with additional facilities in Cambridge, Ont.
The firm said 31 employees have been provided with layoff notices, and the total cost associated with the restructuring is estimated to be approximately $2 million. In addition, 10 more employees will be transferred to open positions in other divisions of COM DEV.
"The lack of new program opportunities from the Canadian Space Agency in the foreseeable future has forced us to take action," said Michael Pley, CEO of COM DEV. "The funding situation on the CSA's Radarsat Constellation Mission is still uncertain and, if not resolved in the near future, will result in further job losses once development funding runs out later this year. I regret the impact these circumstances have had on the employees who are being affected."
COM DEV Canada is the contractor designated to provide the central electronics and AIS payloads for Radarsat Constellation Mission.