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Two Arlington-based technology companies are expanding into Fairfax County, pledging a combined investment of nearly $15 million and more than 300 new jobs in Tysons and Reston.

Defense contractor Grvty announced Tuesday that it will establish a new corporate headquarters at 8270 Greensboro Drive in Tysons. The company plans to hire 200 engineers, scientists, technologists and corporate employees for the more than 22,000-square-foot office.

Grvty, which already employs nearly 1,000 people, said the headquarters will feature collaborative workspaces, flexible team areas, natural light, wellness accommodations and spaces for meetings and demonstrations.

“Establishing this location is a strategic step forward for GRVTY,” CEO Katie Selbe said. She described the headquarters as a place intended to encourage new ideas and advance the company’s national security work.

Private investment firm Arlington Capital Partners formed Grvty last March with about 325 employees across 11 states. Its primary offices included locations in Arlington, Dulles, Chantilly and Springfield.

The company provides technology to the U.S. military, intelligence community and Department of Homeland Security, including cybersecurity services, geospatial data and research.

Grvty expects to invest $8 million in the Tysons project. The development received support from an $800,000 Commonwealth’s Opportunity Development Fund grant approved by Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

Fairfax County Economic Development Authority President and CEO Victor Hoskins said the arrival of a national security technology headquarters would strengthen Northern Virginia’s broader innovation sector.

Umbra Picks Reston for Expansion

Space technology manufacturer Umbra announced Feb. 12 that it will open a 20,000-square-foot Reston office expected to accommodate more than 100 employees.

Umbra plans to invest $6.75 million in the Fairfax County expansion. The project was supported by the county economic development authority and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, along with a $500,000 state grant.

Founded in 2015, Umbra supplies commercial and military customers with radar data gathered by its satellite constellation. The company maintains dual headquarters in Arlington and Santa Barbara, California, where it opened a 50,000-square-foot satellite manufacturing facility last June.

Umbra did not disclose the Reston office’s address or an expected move-in date. The location will support its rapidly growing remote-sensing data and custom satellite systems divisions.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said the expansion reinforces the county’s position as a space-industry hub. More than 150 space-related companies have a presence in the area.

Umbra’s announcement also came as the inaugural spaceNEXT conference opened Wednesday at Capital One Hall in Tysons. The regional space-industry event had been scheduled for November but was postponed during a 43-day federal government shutdown.

McKay said Northern Virginia’s talent, partnerships and proximity to federal agencies have helped drive the sector’s momentum.

Office Vacancy Rate Begins to Ease

The two expansions arrive as Fairfax County’s office market shows signs of improvement. County Executive Bryan Hill reported during his proposed fiscal year 2027 budget presentation that the vacancy rate declined year over year in 2025 for the first time since 2019.

The overall vacancy rate, including available sublease space, fell from 18.4% at the end of 2024 to 17.9% at the end of 2025. Empty office space declined to 21.3 million square feet.

Hill attributed the improvement partly to the demolition or conversion of buildings with high vacancy rates, along with a slowdown in speculative construction without committed tenants.

Fairfax County recorded about 6.3 million square feet of office leasing in 2025, down from 7 million square feet in 2024 but equal to the 2023 total. County officials cited fewer large lease renewals and employers’ reluctance to make expensive long-term commitments amid policy and economic uncertainty.

The county ended 2025 with slightly more than 119 million square feet of office inventory. Although the total had surpassed 120 million square feet following completion of a 210,000-square-foot Reston building, more than 1 million square feet was later demolished or converted to other uses.

Six office buildings totaling more than 900,000 square feet were demolished during 2025. Two adaptive-reuse projects are also converting more than 300,000 square feet into affordable housing and an independent-living facility.

Two office buildings totaling 320,000 square feet remained under construction at year’s end, with both expected to be fully occupied when completed.