Safran Shifts Mexico Strategy Toward Engineering Focus

Safran is shifting the focus of its expansion in Mexico from manufacturing capacity to engineering, design, and talent development, as the French aerospace supplier seeks to strengthen higher-value operations after 35 years in the country. The company, which employs more than 15,000 people and operates 20 production facilities in Mexico, said attracting and retaining specialized engineers has become one of its main challenges as it expands research, design, and maintenance capabilities.

Alejandro Cardona Seemann, president, Safran Mexico, told A21 that the company’s next phase of growth depends on developing a workforce capable of supporting advanced engineering and technology programs rather than manufacturing alone.

“Not all of the responsibility lies with the talent. It is also our responsibility. We need to strengthen the country’s talent maturity and specialization curve significantly,” Cardona said.

The strategy comes as Safran continues expanding its footprint in Mexico through manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), and engineering projects—particularly in Queretaro and Chihuahua—while Mexico’s aerospace industry seeks to move further into higher-value activities.

According to Cardona, one of the company’s main concerns is the high turnover of young professionals, many of whom pursue careers abroad after finding limited opportunities to advance into engineering and research roles in Mexico.

He said the challenge extends beyond talent retention, reflecting structural limitations in the country’s industrial ecosystem. “I complete a doctorate in highly specialized technological and scientific fields. Who supports me in developing my project within a corporate industrial ecosystem? How do I build my career? Today, a maquiladora does not allow you to build that career,” he said.

Cardona argued that Mexico must expand beyond its role as a manufacturing platform if it wants to retain specialized professionals and continue attracting aerospace investment.

“The moment caught up with us and surpassed us in technological development. While I support building on what we have created in manufacturing, I continue to say that we need more technological development and more design, because that is what allows the country to move toward greater specialization,” he said.

Safran already operates engineering teams in Chihuahua dedicated to aircraft engine design and landing gear product support. However, Cardona acknowledged that expanding these operations has proven difficult due to the limited availability of specialized talent.

“There is difficulty finding the specialized skills that are required, and expanding those areas has become very difficult for us,” he said. The executive added that the solution requires closer coordination among government, industry, and academia through what he described as the “triple helix” model.

“That has to begin with the government, continue through the corporate and industrial sectors, and both must feed the education system,” Cardona said. His comments reflect broader concerns across Mexico’s aerospace industry regarding workforce development as companies increase engineering, maintenance, and advanced manufacturing activities.

Luis Lizcano, president, Mexican Federation of the Aerospace Industry (FEMIA), said educational institutions have strengthened collaboration with manufacturers to align academic programs with industry requirements. “Some time ago, graduates from Mexican universities were not specialized in the specific skills the aerospace sector requires, but educational institutions have enhanced their connections with the industry, improving their academic programs,” Lizcano told Mexico Business News.

Despite this progress, Lizcano said demand for specialized workers continues to exceed supply as aerospace operations become more complex. “Mexico continues to face challenges, such as the complexity of new operations being developed by the industry and the increasing demand for talent with these skills. To address this, Mexico is actively working to improve opportunities and conditions to develop its skilled workforce and continue strengthening its aerospace capabilities,” he said.

Safran’s strategy coincides with continued investment in Mexico's aerospace infrastructure. In June, Safran Landing Systems completed a 6,000-square-meter expansion of its MRO center in Queretaro, increasing capacity to service landing gear for Airbus A330 Enhanced, A330neo, and Boeing 787 aircraft. The facility is one of only three Safran sites worldwide dedicated to long-haul aircraft landing gear maintenance.

The company said the expansion strengthens its ability to support airline operators across North, Central, and South America. Safran has also expanded manufacturing operations in Querétaro. In late 2025, the company announced a US$48 million investment to expand Safran Aero Composites, adding production lines for titanium leading-edge components used in LEAP 1A and LEAP 1B aircraft engines. The project is expected to create 268 jobs.

“This plant currently manufactures fan components for the engine, primarily carbon-fiber blades produced together with Albany, our partner,” Cardona said during the project’s groundbreaking ceremony. “The expansion means those titanium leading edges will now be manufactured here instead of being sourced from abroad.”

Safran’s presence in Mexico began in 1991 with an aircraft wiring manufacturing facility in Chihuahua. Since then, the company has established corporate offices in Mexico City, landing gear manufacturing and CFM56 engine repair operations in Queretaro, Electronics & Defense facilities in Mexicali, aircraft cabin equipment production in Tijuana, and EZ Air operations in Chihuahua that manufacture cabin components for Embraer business jets.