Boeing careers in St. Louis: defense hub with 18,000 employees (2026)
Boeing careers in St. Louis: defense hub with 18,000 employees (2026)
St. Louis is Boeing's primary defense hub and second-largest employee site. In February 2026, Boeing announced it's relocating its Defense, Space & Security (BDS) division headquarters back to St. Louis from Arlington, VA — a return to where the division operated from 1997 to 2017.
Key programs in STL
F-15EX Eagle II — Production is doubling to 2 aircraft per month by early 2027 to meet surging demand. The 2025 machinists' strike (August-November) delayed deliveries, but production is ramping back up.
T-7A Red Hawk — Next-generation advanced trainer for the Air Force, replacing the T-38. Design and production in St. Louis.
MQ-25 Stingray — Autonomous carrier-based aerial refueling drone. Development continues at the STL facility.
JDAM — Joint Direct Attack Munitions production in St. Louis.
Salary ranges
| Role | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer | $90,000–$158,000 |
| Systems Engineer | $109,000–$150,000 |
| Software Engineer | $92,000–$124,000 |
| General Engineer | $86,000–$143,000 |
| Manufacturing Engineer | $78,000–$120,000 |
What to know about hiring
- Most defense positions require Secret or Top Secret clearance — Boeing sponsors clearances for new hires who meet eligibility criteria
- Must be a U.S. citizen for defense roles
- The IAM District 837 (production workers) has ~3,200 members; the August-November 2025 machinists' strike disrupted production
- Boeing is cutting
17,000 positions company-wide (10% of workforce), but STL defense production is ramping up — net hiring is mixed
Boeing announced 17,000 layoffs across the company in 2025 due to financial pressure. St. Louis defense programs are relatively protected since F-15EX demand is surging, but some support and corporate roles may be affected. Ask recruiters about specific program stability.
Browse Boeing positions on Zero G Talent, or see our Boeing engineer salary guide and Boeing careers overview.
