Performance Drone Works (PDW) has announced the addition of two new engineering facilities in Denver and Boston to accelerate the development, integration, and production of next-generation autonomous defense systems.
The expansion aims to deepen access to top engineering talent while connecting research, design, and prototyping directly to scaled manufacturing at the company’s Drone Factory 01 in Huntsville, Alabama. The Denver facility, led by Chief Engineer Brandon Pearce, began operations in June and brings together software, autonomy, electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering teams focused on advancing next-generation drone and robotic platforms. The Boston location will open in October under Chief Engineer Dave Weatherwax, providing a dedicated environment for rapid prototyping, advanced development, and cross-disciplinary collaboration across aircraft, software, communications, and mission systems.
James Slider, CEO of PDW, commented, “The speed of engineering determines how quickly new capability reaches the field. A great prototype sitting on a shelf does not help anyone. Expanding in Denver and Boston gives us access to leading talent and should strengthen our ability to solve hard problems, move quickly and connect innovation directly to production at DF01. That is how we deliver mission-ready systems and put decisive airpower in the hands of every operator.”
This strategic initiative builds on PDW’s broader domestic expansion, which included the summer acquisition of Vanteon Corporation in Rochester, New York. As an American defense technology firm specializing in unmanned hardware and software for defense and public safety applications, the company is actively recruiting across software, autonomy, electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering disciplines. Over time, both new sites will also house select corporate, sales, and administrative functions.
Brian Burke, PDW’s SVP of Engineering, added, “Building better systems requires continuously advancing both the technology and the team behind it. At PDW, we combine strong engineering talent with direct operator feedback to improve our designs, respond to changing battlefield requirements and move capability into the hands of warfighters faster.”
