Proud to Work

Culture leader · Halifax · NS · Hardware

Nautel

Decades-long careers on the Nova Scotia coast, building radio transmitters for 177 countries

Since 1969, Nautel has built radio transmitters on the coast at Hackett's Cove, and more than 20,000 of them now broadcast in over 177 countries. It is a privately held manufacturer whose people stay for decades, and it now describes itself as the world's largest maker of AM and FM broadcast transmitters. It shows how a rural Nova Scotia workplace can lead a global niche.

Website ↗Halifax boardHalifax guide

01 · Culture

How they work

Our viewNautel's culture is about long careers and lifetime customer support: senior leaders, including the CEO, are multi-decade veterans who came up through the company. It publishes a short set of team values, from accountability to embracing change, along with a commitment to an inclusive workplace. Public, third-party culture recognition is thin and dated, so we lean on its own words and its record of keeping people.

Recognition

In their words

“Nautel has a worldwide reputation for quality products and lifetime customer support.”
— Scott Marchand, Head of Quality Assurance and Support & Sustain source ↗
“Nautel values diversity; we are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse, equitable, inclusive and collaborative workplace.”
— Nautel employer profile source ↗
“Challenge the status quo and embrace change”
— Nautel team values source ↗
“We have a culture that breeds innovation, and this means creative solutions for more companies around the world.”
— Peter Conlon, then CEO (2010) source ↗

In practice

  • Published team valuesAsks people to work as a team, be accountable, operate with integrity, understand the customer's view, embrace change, communicate effectively and put safety first. (2026) source ↗
  • Promotion from withinCEO Kevin Rodgers was a 29-year veteran when appointed in 2014, and in 2026 a near-30-year employee took on an expanded leadership role. (2026) source ↗

02 · Capabilities

What they do best

Our viewNautel pioneered solid-state AM broadcast transmitters and has built a reputation on equipment that keeps running for decades, backed by lifetime support. Beyond broadcast, it makes navigation beacons, eLORAN and sonar systems, and in 2026 it is still launching new hardware and software for radio stations.

225+ across 4 locations in 3 countriesEmployees2026 source ↗
20,000+Transmitters deployed2026-07 source ↗
177+Countries served2026 source ↗
About $40 millionAnnual revenue2013 source ↗
1969Founded2026 source ↗

Broadcast transmitters

AM and FM radio transmitters deployed more than 20,000 times in 177+ countries; it calls itself the world's largest manufacturer of AM and FM broadcast transmitters. source ↗

Solid-state reliability

Pioneered fully solid-state AM broadcast transmitters, introducing 10 kW and 50 kW models in the 1980s, many still in service. source ↗

Navigation and sonar RF

Builds radio beacons, DGPS, NOAA weather radio, eLORAN and NAVTEX transmitters, and sonar amplifiers, expanded through the 2013 Marport C-Tech acquisition. source ↗

Continuing product launches

In 2026 it launched NX1/NX2.5 low-power AM transmitters, a $299-a-month software air chain for FM stations and new 8 kW and 10 kW VX models. source ↗

03 · Capital

Who backs them, and what they back

Bootstrapped

Our viewNautel is privately held through its parent, Nautel Capital Corp., and has grown on its own earnings rather than venture rounds. Provincial support has come as payroll rebates tied to hiring, and it has used its own balance sheet to diversify, as with the 2013 purchase of sonar maker Marport C-Tech.

Public programs

  • Nova Scotia Business Inc. payroll rebate (five years)Up to $860,500 · 2010-03 source ↗

Capital they deploy

  • Acquisition of Marport C-Tech Ltd.Bought the Cornwall, Ontario sonar engineering firm to diversify beyond broadcast; terms not disclosed. · 2013-11 source ↗
  • 2010 expansionA $1.7 million expansion plan aimed at up to 20 new positions. · 2010-03 source ↗
What we could not confirm (4)
  • Current ownership structure (parent Nautel Capital Corp. confirmed in 2013; whether family-, founder- or employee-held is not confirmed; 'Bootstrapped' means no venture rounds were found)
  • Any current employer awards (none found on Mediacorp, Great Place to Work or Atlantic Business Magazine)
  • Benefits and policies such as parental leave or hybrid work (no careers page with details found)
  • Revenue figure is from 2013

Checked 2026-10-05