Gates-Backed Heart Aerospace Expands in Los Angeles to Torrance

(TORRANCE, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA) Heart Aerospace, the Bill Gates‑backed aviation startup, has leased space in Torrance to speed up its hybrid‑electric aircraft program, marking a fresh push in Southern California’s clean aviation corridor as of September 2025. The move puts the company’s research and development closer to a deep pool of aerospace talent and suppliers in the South Bay, while setting the stage for future hiring in advanced engineering, certification, and possible manufacturing roles.

For foreign workers and employers, this growth raises practical immigration questions about how teams can lawfully relocate or expand in the United States 🇺🇸.

Program focus and regional significance

Company officials have framed the Torrance site as a hub for building and testing systems tied to hybrid‑electric regional aircraft that aim to cut emissions and costs on short routes. The expansion aligns with investor Breakthrough Energy Ventures’ broader effort to back technologies that lower aviation’s climate footprint.

Industry observers say the Torrance foothold also signals confidence that the Los Angeles basin can support certification and supply chain needs for next‑generation aircraft.

Immigration context and timing

From an immigration standpoint, the timeline matters. If Heart Aerospace ramps staffing quickly to meet test and certification milestones, employers in the sector will likely rely on existing visa categories that support high‑skilled roles, short‑term assignments, and executive transfers.

Companies setting up or expanding in Los Angeles County often use a mix of:
– H‑1B specialty occupation
– O‑1 extraordinary ability
– L‑1 intracompany transfer
– E‑2 treaty investor

The choice depends on the worker’s profile and the firm’s corporate structure.

Why timelines matter

Hybrid‑electric development is milestone‑driven: bench tests, integration, ground runs, taxi tests, then flight. Each stage has different staffing needs, so employers often plan near‑term nonimmigrant visas for immediate needs and parallel immigrant filings for long‑term stability.

Practical immigration planning — filing early, using premium processing when possible, and tracking the visa bulletin — reduces delays at critical test and certification phases.

Immigration pathways likely to support clean aviation hiring

1. H‑1B for engineers and software professionals
   • Employers file Form I‑129 for H‑1B roles that normally require a bachelor’s degree or higher in a specific field.
   • Cap‑exempt options may be relevant mid‑year when partnering with universities or nonprofit research institutions.
   • See USCIS’s official resource: USCIS: Working in the United States.
2. O‑1 for standout experts
   • Suited for seasoned aerospace engineers, battery scientists, propulsion leads, and test pilots with strong records (publications, patents, awards, or key roles).
   • Employers file Form I‑129 with detailed evidence.
3. L‑1 for transfers from overseas offices
   • Fits when moving managers or specialized staff from a non‑U.S. office to Torrance.
   • File Form I‑129 with the L supplement.
   • Common when R&D units span several countries.
4. E‑2 for investors and essential staff
   • Available to companies from treaty countries for leaders and certain employees supporting early build‑out.
5. STEM Optional Practical Training (STEM OPT)
   • New graduates on F‑1 status in aerospace, electrical, or software fields can extend work authorization and gain hands‑on experience while employers assess longer‑term pathways.

According to VisaVerge.com analysis, clean aviation firms often pursue parallel tracks: near‑term nonimmigrant visas to meet test schedules and immigrant cases for long‑term retention.

Practical steps for employers expanding in Torrance

Local operations in Torrance raise a few immigration planning points employers should address:

• Worksite details
  • For H‑1B and similar workers, employers must post and file a Labor Condition Application (LCA) for each worksite and ensure prevailing wage compliance in Los Angeles County’s South Bay corridor.
• Timing and premium processing
  • For urgent roles, request premium processing by filing Form I‑907 with the primary petition to shorten adjudication timelines.
• Dependents and travel
  • Dependents may need Form I‑539 for status changes and Form I‑765 for employment authorization where allowed (e.g., certain L‑2 or E‑2 spouses).
• Permanent residence planning
  • For roles expected to continue through certification and production, start the PERM labor certification with the Department of Labor, then proceed to Form I‑140 and, when current, Form I‑485 for adjustment of status.

Key forms commonly used in aerospace hiring

• Form I‑129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) – H‑1B, O‑1, L‑1. Link: USCIS Form I-129
• Form I‑907 (Request for Premium Processing) – optional faster service. Link: USCIS Form I-907
• Form I‑539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) – for eligible dependents. Link: USCIS Form I-539
• Form I‑765 (Application for Employment Authorization) – where category permits EADs. Link: USCIS Form I-765
• Form I‑140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) – employment‑based immigrant route. Link: USCIS Form I-140
• Form I‑485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) – when a visa number is available. Link: USCIS Form I-485

For PERM labor certification, employers initiate with the Department of Labor using ETA Form 9089. Link: DOL ETA-9089

Compliance considerations across the South Bay cluster

The Torrance location ties into a wider aerospace cluster stretching from Hawthorne and El Segundo down to Long Beach. That density benefits immigration compliance because employers can assign workers across nearby sites with careful LCA planning and accurate public access files for H‑1B roles.

The cluster also draws talent from universities and technical programs. Candidates on STEM OPT can step into testing labs and systems integration benches while employers prepare petitions.

Employer and employee best practices

• Align start dates with equipment deliveries, simulator readiness, and flight approvals.
• File early and use premium processing when budget allows.
• Track visa bulletin movement for immigrant cases to avoid bottlenecks.
• Brief recruits on travel and status rules:
  • Keep copies of approved petitions at ports of entry.
  • Maintain updated I‑94 records.
  • Report address changes on time.
  • Plan visa stamping trips during natural schedule breaks between test phases.

Important: Immigration stability matters as much as the job for workers and families. A well‑timed H‑1B change of employer, or a switch from O‑1 to an immigrant track after major achievements (such as patents or successful flight tests), can anchor careers in the region.

Spouses with work authorization under L‑2 or E‑2 rules can find roles in the broader South Bay economy, adding financial resilience during long certification cycles.

Conclusion

Heart Aerospace’s expansion in Torrance is more than an aerospace story; it’s a signal that clean aviation jobs are growing in places with the right mix of hangar space, airports, and engineering depth. As the company builds out its hybrid‑electric program, immigration planning will sit beside airworthiness and safety as a core enabler.

Firms that pair smart hiring with compliant visa strategies will be best placed to turn prototypes into planes carrying passengers across short routes with lower emissions and lower costs.