Tucson-area optics firm Geost has been supplying sensor systems for U.S. defense and intelligence satellites since its founding by a University of Arizona optics Ph.D. two decades ago.
Now, Geost is rapidly expanding its headquarters and lab spaces in Marana to help the nation shift to networks of smaller satellites, with the backing of a private-equity firm that acquired most of the company in 2021.
The company, now part of LightRidge Solutions, recently cut the ribbon on an expansion that doubled the production capacity at its main facility on West River Road, near Orange Grove Road, with plans to double that again later this year.
Over the past three years, Geost has boosted its employee count by 600% to more than 200 workers now after hiring more than 95 over the past year alone, with plans to add 100 more workers this year.
