Despite a first-quarter slide in deliveries, strong business jet sales are driving Embraer to increase its workforce in Melbourne, Florida. Embraer on Tuesday reported that it shipped eight executive jets in the quarter—five Phenom 300s, a single Phenom 100, and two Praetor 600s. This was down from the 13 shipped a year ago, including nine Phenom 300s, one Phenom 100, and three Praetor 500/600s. The Brazilian manufacturer’s first-quarter commercial deliveries dipped from nine a year ago to six this year.

Even so, Embraer said sales of its executive jets continued to increase in the quarter. That helped to boost its backlog to $17.3 billion, up from $14.2 billion a year ago.

As it released first-quarter delivery results, Embraer also announced plans to hire for more than 150 positions open at its facility in Melbourne, Florida, where Embraer Executive Jets is headquartered and the Phenom 100EV and 300E light jets are assembled. Embraer’s 67-acre Melbourne campus further houses final assembly work for the Praetor 500 and 600, as well as a global customer center and engineering and technology center.

Embraer is looking to hire assembly technicians, A&P technicians, aircraft painters, quality inspectors, and manufacturing engineers at the Florida facility. In fact, the company is holding a recruiting event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 21 at the Rockledge Career Center in Rockledge, Florida.

“Our company is growing at a remarkable pace and we are now looking to expand our talent search,” said Darrel Stern, head of talent acquisition and campus programs manager for Embraer North America.

The company ended its fourth quarter with its highest backlog since the second quarter of 2018, according to the company. It also pointed out that the Phenom 300-series has averaged 50 deliveries annually since it entered service in December 2009.