Boeing Long Beach: jobs, campus, and career guide in 2026
Boeing's Long Beach campus carries decades of aviation history. The site once built the 717 and C-17 Globemaster III on its production lines. While C-17 production ended in 2015, the facility remains a busy military sustainment and modification center, employing roughly 1,500 to 1,700 people in 2026.
This guide covers the programs at Long Beach, the types of roles available, salary expectations, and what it's like to live and work in the area.
What happens at the Long Beach campus
The Long Beach campus shifted from new-build manufacturing to full-lifecycle support. The primary work revolves around keeping military aircraft operational and upgrading them with modern systems.
C-17 Globemaster III sustainment
The C-17 sustainment program is the anchor of the Long Beach campus. Boeing supports every C-17 ever delivered — over 275 aircraft operating across the US Air Force, Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Indian Air Force, and NATO's Strategic Airlift Capability.
Sustainment work includes:
- Structural inspections and repairs — fatigue-critical areas on wing boxes, fuselage joints, and landing gear attach points
- Avionics upgrades — replacing legacy displays and mission computers with modern digital cockpits
- Component overhaul — hydraulic actuators, flight control surfaces, environmental control systems
- Modification kits — engineering changes to address fleet-wide issues or add new capabilities
Flight deck modernization
Boeing received a $266 million contract for flight deck modernization across legacy military platforms. This work involves replacing analog instruments and early-generation displays with integrated digital cockpit systems. The Long Beach engineering team handles design, integration testing, and flight certification.
F/A-18 Super Hornet maintenance
The campus performs depot-level maintenance on F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, including structural repairs, corrosion treatment, and avionics modifications. This work continues through the 2030s as the Navy transitions to the F-35C.
Advanced composites R&D
A smaller team at Long Beach works on advanced composite structures research and prototyping. This supports future programs and provides repair techniques for composite components on fielded aircraft.
| Program | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| C-17 Globemaster III | Fleet sustainment for 275+ aircraft worldwide | Active — multi-decade |
| F/A-18 Super Hornet | Depot maintenance and modifications | Active through 2030s |
| Flight deck modernization | Digital cockpit upgrades, $266M contract | Active |
| Advanced composites | R&D and prototype manufacturing | Ongoing |
Roles and salaries at Boeing Long Beach
Long Beach is primarily an experienced-hire campus. Most engineering positions require 5+ years of relevant experience in military aircraft, structures, avionics, or sustainment operations.
Engineering roles
| Role | Salary Range | Experience | Clearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structures Engineer | $95,000–$145,000 | 5-15 years | Secret |
| Avionics Systems Engineer | $100,000–$155,000 | 5-15 years | Secret/TS |
| Software Engineer (avionics) | $110,000–$160,000 | 3-10 years | Secret/TS |
| Test Engineer | $90,000–$140,000 | 3-12 years | Secret |
| Systems Integration Engineer | $105,000–$155,000 | 5-15 years | Secret |
| Manufacturing Engineer | $85,000–$130,000 | 3-10 years | Secret |
Non-engineering roles
| Role | Salary Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Program Manager | $120,000–$170,000 | Usually 10+ years aerospace |
| Quality Inspector | $60,000–$85,000 | A&P license preferred |
| Supply Chain Analyst | $75,000–$110,000 | Military logistics experience valued |
| Configuration Manager | $85,000–$120,000 | CMII certification helpful |
| Technical Writer | $70,000–$95,000 | Military tech pubs experience |
Technician roles
| Role | Hourly Rate | Union |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $32–$48/hr | SPEEA/IAM |
| Avionics Technician | $34–$50/hr | SPEEA/IAM |
| Sheet Metal Mechanic | $30–$45/hr | IAM |
| Quality Assurance Inspector | $35–$48/hr | SPEEA |
Nearly every position at Boeing Long Beach requires at least a Secret security clearance due to the military nature of the work. If you don't have one, Boeing can sponsor, but expect 3-6 months of processing. US citizenship is required for all positions. Some roles — particularly those involving avionics integration or mission systems — require Top Secret.
Skills and qualifications that get hired
The Long Beach campus values a specific skill set that differs from Boeing's commercial or new-build defense sites:
Most valued experience:
- Military aircraft maintenance or modification background
- Familiarity with MIL-STD specifications and military airworthiness processes
- Experience with aging aircraft programs (fatigue analysis, corrosion prevention, service life extension)
- Avionics integration and DO-178C/DO-254 certification experience
- Active security clearance
Academic background:
- BS in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering for engineering roles
- A&P license for mechanic positions
- ABET-accredited programs preferred but not always required
What Long Beach does NOT typically hire for:
- New graduates (limited entry-level positions; internship-to-hire conversions happen but are fewer than at Puget Sound or St. Louis)
- Pure R&D roles (those are at Boeing Research & Technology in other locations)
- Commercial aviation roles (that's Everett/Renton and Charleston)
Living in Long Beach
Long Beach offers a rare combination for Southern California aerospace: genuine military aviation work without the extreme commute to Palmdale or the congestion of the San Fernando Valley.
Cost of living
| Category | Long Beach | Palmdale | Hawthorne | Huntington Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR rent | $2,100–$2,500 | $1,400–$1,800 | $2,200–$2,700 | $2,400–$3,000 |
| Median home | $780,000 | $450,000 | $820,000 | $1,100,000 |
| Gas & groceries | High | Moderate | High | High |
Long Beach is not cheap, but it's more affordable than most coastal LA neighborhoods. The Belmont Shore, Bixby Knolls, and Signal Hill neighborhoods are popular with Boeing employees.
Commute
The Boeing campus is near Long Beach Airport (LGB), making it accessible from multiple directions:
| From | Drive Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Long Beach | 10–15 min | Easy commute |
| Lakewood/Cerritos | 10–20 min | Affordable suburbs |
| Orange County (north) | 20–30 min | Via 405 or 605 |
| Downtown LA | 30–45 min | Traffic-dependent |
| Torrance/South Bay | 20–30 min | Close to Huntington Beach Boeing too |
Nearby Boeing sites
Long Beach engineers sometimes collaborate with other Boeing Southern California locations:
| Site | Focus | Distance from Long Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Huntington Beach | Satellites (O3b mPOWER, SDA) | 15 miles south |
| El Segundo | Boeing Defense & Space HQ | 20 miles northwest |
| Seal Beach | Naval weapons systems | 8 miles south |
Long Beach is a sustainment campus — stable but not expanding. If you want Boeing's growth programs (T-7A Red Hawk, MQ-25 Stingray, satellites, or Starliner), look at St. Louis, Huntington Beach, or Kennedy Space Center. Long Beach provides steady, long-term work maintaining existing military fleets, which means job security but fewer new-program opportunities.
How to get hired at Boeing Long Beach
Boeing Long Beach openings appear under "Long Beach, CA" on Boeing's careers portal. The hiring process typically follows this pattern:
- Online application — Apply through Boeing careers with a resume tailored to the specific role
- Recruiter screen — 20-30 minute phone call covering experience, clearance status, and salary expectations
- Technical interview — 45-60 minutes with the hiring manager, focused on relevant aircraft experience
- Panel interview — Some positions include a second round with multiple engineers
- Offer — Typically 2-4 weeks after final interview
Tips for Long Beach specifically:
- Emphasize military aircraft experience in your resume (C-17, F/A-18, KC-135, etc.)
- If you have an active clearance, put it prominently at the top of your resume
- Long Beach hiring managers value practical maintenance and modification experience over pure academic credentials
- Internal transfers from other Boeing sites are common — if you're already at Boeing, talk to your manager about mobility
Boeing Long Beach versus other SoCal aerospace
| Employer | Location | Focus | Entry-level friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing Long Beach | Long Beach | Military sustainment | Limited |
| SpaceX | Hawthorne | Rockets (Falcon, Starship) | Yes |
| Boeing Huntington Beach | Huntington Beach | Satellites | Moderate |
| Northrop Grumman | Redondo Beach | Space systems | Moderate |
| Northrop Grumman | Palmdale | B-21 Raider | Yes (growing) |
| Raytheon/RTX | El Segundo | Missiles, sensors | Moderate |
Browse Boeing positions on Zero G Talent, see our Boeing St. Louis guide, or explore Boeing OKC careers.
