Thales Plans 9,000 Global Hires in 2026, Including 450 Roles in India
Thales, a multinational operating across defence, aerospace, and digital security technologies, has announced plans to expand its global workforce by 9,000 employees in 2026. Of these new positions, approximately 450 roles will be based in India, reflecting the country’s growing importance within the company’s engineering and innovation network.
The planned recruitment aligns with Thales’ recent hiring trajectory. Over the past several years, the company has consistently added at least 8,000 employees annually to support expansion across its three primary business segments. This sustained hiring underscores continued demand for advanced technological capabilities in areas such as aerospace systems, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure.
In India, Thales has already taken steps to strengthen its talent pipeline. The company recently onboarded more than 120 engineering interns at its Engineering Competence Centres located in Noida and Bengaluru. These centres play a central role in research, design, and development activities, and the internship programme is intended to cultivate future-ready engineering talent while deepening collaboration with academic institutions. The initiative also aligns with national priorities aimed at strengthening domestic technological capability and self-reliance.
Workforce diversity remains another focus area. In 2025, women accounted for roughly one-third of Thales’ total hires in India, indicating gradual progress toward gender balance in technical and engineering roles. The company continues to prioritise inclusive recruitment alongside capability development in specialised domains.
Looking ahead to 2026, Thales expects to recruit professionals across hardware, software, and systems engineering disciplines, with a significant share of hiring concentrated in its Bengaluru and Noida engineering hubs. Additional roles will span supporting business functions required to scale operations and deliver complex technology programmes.
Beyond external hiring, internal mobility forms a key component of Thales’ workforce strategy. Around 3,500 employees globally are projected to transition into new roles within the organisation during 2026. This movement is supported by the company’s broad international presence and diversified portfolio of business activities, enabling employees to pursue cross-functional and cross-regional career paths.
Skill development is reinforced through Thales’ “Learning Company” framework, which provides access to more than 35 internal academies focused on continuous professional growth. These academies cover technical, managerial, and emerging-technology competencies, helping employees adapt to rapidly evolving industry requirements.
From a global hiring perspective, engineering talent will represent the largest share of new recruits. Approximately 40 per cent of 2026 hires are expected to join engineering teams working in software development, systems engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data-driven technologies. A further 25 per cent will be placed in industrial roles, including technicians, operators, and production engineers—positions essential to manufacturing, integration, and operational delivery.
The scale of the recruitment drive highlights Thales’ broader emphasis on innovation, capability building, and long-term workforce development. It also reinforces the company’s role as a significant technology employer both in India and internationally, particularly in sectors tied to national security, transportation, and digital transformation.
In parallel with hiring, Thales continues to invest in early-stage science and technology engagement. Through its “Vocation Makers” outreach programme, the company introduces young students aged six to eighteen to STEM fields via site visits, demonstrations, and school-based educational sessions. In 2025 alone, the initiative reached approximately 250,000 students worldwide, spanning primary through high-school levels.
STEM outreach in India includes additional programmes designed to inspire interest in science and engineering among employees’ families and wider community networks. These initiatives aim to build long-term awareness of technology careers while contributing to the development of future talent pipelines.
Together, Thales’ planned hiring, internal mobility efforts, and education initiatives signal a sustained commitment to growth and innovation. The company’s continued investment in India—through engineering centres, recruitment, and skills development—positions the country as an increasingly important contributor to its global technology ecosystem in the years ahead.
