Where is Embraer located? The answer that reveals Brazil's most strategic aerospace hub.
Embraer is located in São José dos Campos.in the interior of São Paulo. But those who seek this simple answer end up finding something much bigger: a city built over decades as one of the most sophisticated industrial and technological ecosystems in the country.
It is no coincidence that the Embraer factory Be here. It's a consequence of a structure that began to be built even before the company existed and that continues to expand with... Boeing, ITA, DCTA, INPE and an innovation park with more than 330 affiliated companies.
Where is Embraer located?
Embraer's headquarters and main industrial unit are located in São José dos Campos., in the state of São Paulo, approximately 88 km from the capital of São Paulo.
Embraer's factory in Brazil has been operating in this city since... company founded in 1969.
The federal government chose the municipality to host the national project for the development of the Brazilian aeronautical industry., a decision that shaped the city's economic and technological trajectory for more than half a century.
In addition to São José dos Campos, Embraer maintains operations abroad — the United States, Portugal, China, and Singapore, but SJC is where most of the company's engineering, manufacturing, and technological intelligence are concentrated..
The strategic role of the city
São José dos Campos was not chosen by chance. Decades before Embraer, the city already housed a rare concentration of strategic institutions:
- ITA — Technological Institute of Aeronautics, created in 1950;
- DCTA — Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, present in the region since the beginning of the Brazilian aerospace race;
- INPE — National Institute for Space Research, a continental reference in remote sensing and space research.
This pre-existing environment was the fertile ground that allowed Embraer to grow from scratch into what it is today. the world's third largest manufacturer of commercial jets.
Today, universities such as UNIFESP, FATEC, and UNIVAP are also part of the chain, continuously training professionals for an industry that... exports to more than 100 countries.
How did Embraer help transform São José dos Campos?
Industrial and technological development
Embraer's presence in São José dos Campos generated one of the most consistent industrial development dynamics in Brazil.
For over 50 years, the company:
- Attracted specialized suppliers of components, materials and embedded electronics;
- It trained engineers in partnership with ITA and other local institutions;
- Developed laboratories and R&D centers which today serve multiple sectors;
- It consolidated a aerospace cluster with its own logic, independent of any single company.
A Embraer delivered more than 9.000 aircraft since its foundation and has a workforce of more than 23 professionals globally.
every 10 secondsAn aircraft manufactured by the company takes off somewhere in the world, carrying more than 150 million passengers a year.
The evolution of the aerospace ecosystem
The ecosystem that formed around Embraer in SJC It went beyond dependence on a single company..
A Boeing, for example, installed its Center for Engineering and Technology in Brazil, located in São José dos Campos., one of the company's global centers, chosen for the concentration of talent and engineering infrastructure available in the city.
This chain of attraction is what differentiates a true aerospace hub from a city that simply has a large factory. In SJC, an aeronautical technology company finds:
- Qualified suppliers already installed;
- Engineers trained locally by elite institutions;
- Laboratories for testing and prototyping;
- An institutional network that reduces implementation risks and costs.
The Brazilian aerospace hub
Engineering, research and innovation
São José dos Campos is recognized as the main aerospace hub in Latin America.
This position results from a combination of world-class research institutions, elite technical training, and an industry that has demanded high-level engineering solutions for decades.
O Brazilian aerospace sector It has a strong presence in the national export agenda for higher value-added products and São José dos Campos is the main location for this chain in the country..
The role of ITA and DCTA
O ITA It has been one of the most selective engineering institutions in Brazil for decades. Its graduates hold leading technical positions at Embraer, Boeing, INPE, and hundreds of technology companies in Brazil and abroad.
DCTA is the research and technological training center of the Brazilian Air Force. Its presence in SJC directly connects the city to defense, propulsion, advanced materials, and embedded systems projects for both civilian and military use.
For companies operating at the forefront of aerospace technology, this proximity has strategic value that is difficult to replicate in any other location in the country.
The relationship between Embraer, technology and exports.
How SJC's exports reveal the strength of the ecosystem.
Embraer is the most visible expression of what São José dos Campos has built, but it is not the only one. The city exports technology in multiple forms:
- Aircraft and aerospace components;
- Engineering solutions and embedded software;
- High value-added industrial equipment;
- Specialized technical services.
São José dos Campos recorded US$4,1 billion in exports in 2024, aimed at about 120 countries, positioning the municipality as fourth largest exporter in the state of São Paulo, behind only Santos, São Paulo and São Bernardo do Campo.
The profile of the product range, dominated by products with high technological content, is what differentiates SJC from most Brazilian industrial municipalities.
For an investor considering setting up shop in the country, this export history signals something concrete: mature production chain, skilled workforce, and functional institutional environment., proven on a large scale and over time.
Why São José dos Campos attracts global companies
Infrastructure and competitiveness
São José dos Campos brings together assets that are rarely found combined in a single city outside of major global centers:
- SJK Airport with passenger and cargo operations;
- Rail network operated by MRS Logistics for transporting cargo;
- 71 km from Guarulhos International Airport (GRU);
- 111 km from the Port of São Sebastião, the state's main export port for high-value cargo;
- 300 public Wi-Fi hotspots and pilot of 5G in operation;
- Urban traffic management system with artificial intelligence.
For industrial operations that depend on connectivity, logistics, and infrastructure, this set represents... a concrete operational advantage.
Skilled workforce and innovation
São José dos Campos has one of the highest proportions of engineers and technology professionals in Brazil, with estimated base of over 20 active specialists.
This human capital is continuously replenished by innovation ecosystem from the Technology Park (PIT), which houses:
- More than 330 affiliated companies;
- 11 multi-user laboratories;
- Direct connections with ITA, INPE, UNIFESP and FATEC.
For companies that evaluate Investing in São José dos Camposthis ecosystem It's not a matter of image differentiation.
It is an operational structure. which reduces deployment time and connects new operations to an already existing and globally integrated production chain.
Invest SJC: São José dos Campos beyond Embraer
Embraer is one of the city's most visible anchors, however, The real assets of São José dos Campos are the ecosystem that formed around it:
- Elite universities;
- Strategic research centers;
- Mature supply chain;
- Connected logistics infrastructure;
- A proven ability to attract and sustain global operations in technically demanding sectors.
For companies seeking Brazilian aerospace hub with ambitions for scale, São José dos Campos is not just a geographical answer. It's a strategic decision.
Do you want to understand how to start an operation in São José dos Campos? Talk to Invest SJC and discover how the city's ecosystem can accelerate its implementation.
FAQ — Frequently asked questions about Embraer and São José dos Campos
Where is Embraer located?
Embraer's main industrial unit and headquarters are located in São José dos Campos, in the state of São Paulo, approximately 88 km from the capital.
Where is the Embraer factory located in Brazil?
Embraer's factory in Brazil is located in São José dos Campos (SP). It is there that commercial, executive, and defense aircraft are produced, including the E-Jets family and the KC-390 Millennium.
Why is Embraer located in São José dos Campos?
The choice was not random. Before Embraer's founding in 1969, the city already housed strategic institutions such as ITA and DCTA, which trained engineers and conducted high-level aeronautical research. This environment enabled the company's growth.
Is São José dos Campos the main aerospace hub in Brazil?
Yes. The city is recognized as the largest aerospace hub in Latin America, with the presence of Embraer, Boeing, ITA, DCTA, INPE, and an ecosystem of over 330 technology companies linked to the Technology Park.
Does Embraer influence the economy of São José dos Campos?
Significantly, but the impact goes beyond just one company. Embraer's presence catalyzed the formation of a complete production chain, attracted global companies like Boeing, and contributed to SJC becoming the fourth largest exporter in the state of São Paulo, with US$4,1 billion in annual exports.
Today, the company has more than 23 professionals globally and has already delivered more than 9.000 aircraft For customers in over 100 countries.
What research institutions are located in São José dos Campos?
ITA (Technological Institute of Aeronautics), INPE (National Institute for Space Research), DCTA (Department of Aerospace Science and Technology), and IEAv (Institute for Advanced Studies), in addition to UNIFESP, FATEC, and UNIVAP.
