Earn and learn at space firms

CAPE CANAVERAL — Alex Condevillamar runs a computerguided cutting machine at a new space company in Titusville five days a week, helping to build satellite components for RUAG Space USA.

One night a week, he leaves that job early to attend classes to learn more complex skills as a machinist. The classes are paid for by RUAG, as part of its apprenticeship philosophy.

“It’s a lot of work, but I’m convinced this is where the future is,” says Condevillamar, a 39-year-old Army veteran who lives in Kissimmee. “If more companies did this, they would not only get better workers, they’d keep them longer.”

RUAG is leading new movement that embraces apprenticeship on Florida’s Space Coast to help fill jobs and prepare a new high-tech workforce. The region is seeing a big surge in jobs as companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin and OneWeb build new factories and ramp up activity. Many of those companies are now part of the Space Coast Consortium, which is focused on making sure there are talented people around to work for them.

RUAG is a Swiss company that uses German-style apprenticeships to train workers. It is now teaching that method to other Space Coast companies and to local colleges such as Valencia and Eastern Florida State.

In a traditional apprenticeship program, a student would work part time at RUAG, or eventually at other local space companies, and go to school part time. The student would have to pay for the schooling but would get on-thejob training and a higher wage