Aerospace Staffing & Policy at Colorado Caucus

Colorado has long been a driver of aerospace and defense innovation. On April 8th, PDS contributed to this legacy at the Aerospace and Defense Caucus meeting of the Colorado State Legislature. Michael Mendocha represented PDS on the panel, joining over 30 attendees to showcase the state’s growing aerospace industry.

A Diverse Panel, A Unified Industry

PDS joined a distinguished group of Colorado-based aerospace and defense organizations, including CisLunar Industries, Agile Space, RocketLab, SG Aerospace & Gas, Advanced Space, and Gould Compliance Services.

The range of aerospace employers represented, from emerging startups to established contractors, reflected the full spectrum of Colorado’s aerospace sector and the diverse challenges that come with operating within it.

Key Topics from the Caucus

The panel discussed critical issues that shape the future of aerospace and defense in Colorado. Many of these issues intersect directly with aerospace staffing and engineering recruitment.

Workforce and Costs:
Attracting and retaining professionals in roles like systems engineer, design engineer, mechanical engineer, software engineer, and aerospace engineer remains one of the top challenges facing Colorado’s aerospace employers.

Interstate Competition:
Colorado isn’t the only state courting aerospace and defense investment. Panelists examined what the state is doing right and where more work is needed to remain a top destination for aerospace professionals, job seekers, and aerospace recruitment activity.

From propulsion engineers and electrical engineers to test engineers and avionics engineers, the demand for specialized aerospace engineering talent continues to outpace supply. This drives up costs for aerospace companies of every size.

Federal and state regulatory frameworks set the pace for how quickly aerospace and manufacturing organizations can scale, hire, and deliver. If regulators streamline these processes, Colorado will better maintain its competitive edge.

Colorado’s thriving startup ecosystem continually generates job opportunities across engineering, including manufacturing, quality, and process engineering roles. Sustained growth requires collaboration among industry, policymakers, educational institutions, and staffing services providers.

Why Policy Matters for Aerospace Growth

Events like the Aerospace and Defense Caucus educate legislators on the real-world needs of this fast-moving industry. Thoughtful policy helps aerospace companies recruit, hire, and retain the engineers and project managers they need. For staffing firms and recruiters, a stable policy environment connects technical talent with the right aerospace company at the right time, whether through contract staffing, recruitment process outsourcing, or direct placement.

PDS and Colorado’s Aerospace Community

Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Arvada, Colorado, PDS has spent nearly four decades as a trusted aerospace recruiter and engineering staffing partner.

Through direct hire, contract staffing, and project delivery, PDS places aerospace engineers, mechanical engineers, mechanical design engineers, and other technical professionals with the aerospace employers shaping Colorado’s future and beyond.

As a leader in aerospace staffing and aviation recruiting, PDS uniquely connects job seekers to specialized roles across commercial aviation, defense, manufacturing, and space, drawing on deep industry expertise, and actively advocates for the policies that enable this work.

PDS’s participation in the Colorado Aerospace and Defense Caucus demonstrates our commitment to the state’s aerospace professional community and reinforces its belief that strong public-private collaboration keeps Colorado at the forefront of the national aerospace landscape.