Chemring Energetic Devices plans to add 50 jobs at its Downers Grove facility, the aerospace and defense manufacturer announced in a Nov. 2 press release.
The company, known as CED, said the hiring push comes as demand for its products reaches record levels. CED makes devices used on space launch vehicles, satellites, missiles and aircrew escape systems. The new hires would join a workforce of about 250 at the company's Curtiss Street location.
The roles are wide-ranging.
The 50 planned positions include program managers for defense and space programs, mechanical and process engineers, test and radiographic technicians, quality engineers, contracting specialists, finance and pricing experts, assembly technicians, CNC operators and facilities personnel, according to the release.
"This anniversary isn't only about our history, but also about the future," CED President Steven Hill said in the release. "Demand for our products has never been higher, so we're investing in the talent we need to meet our customers' requirements for the next 50 years."
Hobin Lee, CED's vice president of engineering, said the work offers a rare draw. "Few companies offer engineers the chance to see their product launch into space or provide direct support to the military," Lee said in the release.
A complicated anniversary
The announcement coincides with what the company calls its 50th anniversary in the energetics business. But the timeline is not straightforward. CED's corporate parent, Chemring Group, acquired the Downers Grove operation (then called Scot, Inc.) in July 2008, according to Chemring's corporate website. CED's LinkedIn page states the facility has been manufacturing ordnance and pyro-mechanical components for defense and aerospace since the 1950s.
CED's products perform what the company describes as mission-critical functions on platforms including tactical missiles, space launch vehicles and satellites. The company also said in the release that it is winning new business on hypersonic interceptor programs being developed for U.S. defense.
Recent recognition
The Downers Grove company picked up a high-profile honor earlier this year. The Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation announced that CED was crowned the 2026 champion of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association's #MakersMadness competition. The winning product was CED's NASA Standard Initiator, a component the DGEDC said is used on NASA's Orion capsule.
