EVERETT, JAN. 28: In a move with little fanfare, Boeing added several employment listings to the Boeing Careers website for manufacturing managers for the long-awaited 737 MAX 10 North Line Team in Everett. This will be the first production line for 737 aircraft outside of the Renton facility.
The North Line was originally predicted to start operations in mid-2024 but was delayed following Machinist Union Workers strikes and incidents involving crashes and emergency landings. These issues led to an increase in public scrutiny regarding Boeing’s safety and quality control practices.
More than 2,000 Boeing employees were laid off between 2024 and early 2025 across King and Snohomish counties, which prompted the U.S. Department of Labor to offer a $2 million grant to help workers displaced by companywide reductions.
CEO Kelly Ortberg officially addressed hiring during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call Tuesday. Ortberg said that the production line can’t begin until the 737 MAX variant is certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Boeing expects the plane to be certified by the end of the year.
Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin took to Facebook last week to share her thoughts on the new listings.
“Everett is a proud Boeing town with a long aerospace history. There isn’t a person in Everett that isn’t connected to Boeing in one way or another. This company brought many families here decades ago – families that are still here today as second or even third-generation Boeing employees,” Franklin wrote.
Despite fourth-quarter shortcomings for Boeing, the company seems to be looking toward the future with optimism. In a press release last week, Boeing announced that Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline, ordered nine 787 Dreamliner airplanes to expand its route network, which currently serves 145 international destinations.
“The aerospace industry is the cornerstone of Washington’s economy and is growing as it recovers from industry-wide challenges,” Rachel Smith, CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Community, said in a 2024 blog post.
“With 77,400 aerospace employees in the state, over 66,000 at Boeing, aerospace generates more than $580 million in state tax revenue – money that is reinvested into communities to improve the quality of life for Washington residents,” Smith said.
