Cybersecurity firm Expel adding 164 jobs in Fairfax

Expel Inc., a managed cybersecurity provider, is investing $1.4 million to expand its Herndon headquarters, creating 164 jobs in engineering, customer experience, IT, marketing and sales during the next three years.

“Virginia has emerged as a national leader in cybersecurity and continues to be at the forefront of workforce development in this rapidly evolving industry, thanks to companies like Expel, Inc.,” said Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, who announced the company’s expansion on Tuesday. “We are thrilled to support this homegrown Northern Virginia business as they grow and expand and look forward to their ongoing success in Herndon.”

Expel offers 24/7 cybersecurity monitoring services though its operations center, utilizing security tools customers already have in place.

“Expel was founded in Virginia, and the company’s headquarters is located in Herndon — right in the heart of the Dulles tech corridor,” Expel CEO Dave Merkel said in a statement. “There’s a fantastic pool of tech talent located in Northern Virginia, and we have close proximity to strong education institutions and major tech companies. All of those factors combined make Northern Virginia a prime location for Expel to grow its business.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership collaborated with the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and the town of Herndon to secure the project for Virginia. VEDP will support the company’s job creation through the state-funded Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP), which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities.