Littleton Colorado Lockheed Martin in 2026
Lockheed Martin's Waterton campus in Littleton, Colorado is where some of the most significant spacecraft in the US inventory get designed and built. The Orion crew vehicle for Artemis, the GPS III navigation satellites, and classified missile defense systems all call this campus home. With over 10,000 employees, it's one of the largest private employers in the Denver metro area.
The Waterton campus
The Waterton facility sprawls across roughly 5,300 acres in unincorporated Jefferson County, just south of Littleton proper. It's Lockheed Martin Space's headquarters and the nerve center for the company's civil space, national security space, and strategic missile defense programs.
The campus includes manufacturing floors, clean rooms, integration and test facilities, thermal vacuum chambers, and acres of office space. It's a self-contained aerospace city. The main address is on South Wadsworth Boulevard, and the campus has expanded several times to accommodate new programs.
Key facilities at Waterton include:
- Spacecraft manufacturing and integration for Orion and GPS III
- A massive thermal vacuum chamber for full-scale satellite testing
- Secure facilities (SCIFs) for classified defense programs
- A simulation center for Orion crew training support
- Engineering labs for avionics, power systems, and communications
| Program | What It Does | Status in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Orion MPCV | Deep space crew vehicle for Artemis | Active production |
| GPS III/IIIF | Next-gen navigation satellites | Production, 10 satellites delivered |
| SBIRS/OPIR (Next Gen) | Missile warning from GEO | Transitioning to NGP |
| AEHF/EPS | Protected military comms | Sustaining and next-gen |
| Trident II D5 | Fleet ballistic missile | Life extension program |
| Classified programs | National security space | Ongoing |
What jobs are available at Littleton
Lockheed Martin Littleton hires across all engineering disciplines, plus program management, supply chain, manufacturing, and business functions. The most common openings reflect the major programs on-site.
| Role | Level | Salary Range (2026) | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Systems Engineer | Level 2-4 | $95,000 - $155,000 | Orion, GPS III, OPIR |
| Software Engineer | Level 2-4 | $100,000 - $165,000 | Mission systems, ground |
| Mechanical Engineer | Level 2-4 | $90,000 - $150,000 | Structures, mechanisms |
| Electrical Engineer | Level 2-4 | $95,000 - $155,000 | Avionics, power systems |
| Thermal Engineer | Level 2-4 | $95,000 - $150,000 | Satellite thermal control |
| Program Manager | Level 3-5 | $120,000 - $190,000 | Various |
| Manufacturing Engineer | Level 2-3 | $85,000 - $130,000 | Production lines |
| Quality Engineer | Level 2-3 | $85,000 - $125,000 | All programs |
| Supply Chain Manager | Level 3-4 | $100,000 - $145,000 | Procurement |
| Test Engineer | Level 2-3 | $90,000 - $135,000 | Integration & test |
Lockheed Martin uses a leveling system where Level 1 is entry/early career, Level 2 is experienced individual contributor, Level 3 is senior/lead, Level 4 is principal/staff, and Level 5 is fellow/distinguished. Most Littleton openings are Level 2-4, reflecting the facility's focus on complex programs that need experienced engineers.
The majority of Lockheed Martin Littleton positions require a Secret or Top Secret/SCI security clearance. If you don't have one, apply to positions that say "ability to obtain" rather than "active clearance required." Lockheed sponsors clearances for new hires on programs that need it, but the process takes 6-18 months. Plan accordingly.
Major programs you'd work on
Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle: This is the capsule that carries astronauts beyond low Earth orbit for NASA's Artemis program. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor, and the bulk of design, integration, and testing happens at Waterton. Orion engineers work on structures, avionics, life support, thermal protection, and mission planning. This is one of the few active human spaceflight programs in the US outside of SpaceX and Boeing.
GPS III and GPS IIIF: Lockheed Martin builds the next generation of GPS satellites at Waterton. GPS III provides 3x greater accuracy and 8x improved anti-jamming capability over legacy satellites. The GPS IIIF (Follow-on) variant adds a regional military signal and a search-and-rescue payload. This is steady, long-term production work with predictable schedules.
Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (NGP): The replacement for the SBIRS missile warning system. These geosynchronous satellites detect missile launches via infrared sensors. NGP is classified in many aspects, but the engineering work spans optics, cryocoolers, signal processing, and spacecraft bus design. Lockheed Martin's El Segundo facility also works this program, with Littleton handling specific subsystems.
Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missile: Lockheed Martin manages the life extension program for the Navy's submarine-launched ballistic missiles. This long-running program sustains a significant workforce at Waterton focused on guidance systems, reentry vehicles, and flight software.
Cost of living in the Littleton/Denver metro area
Littleton sits in the southwest suburbs of Denver, roughly 20 minutes from downtown (traffic depending). The Denver metro area's cost of living has increased over the past decade, but it remains below coastal markets.
| Cost Factor | Littleton/SW Denver | National Average | vs. LA | vs. DC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | ~$480,000 | ~$430,000 | 40% less | 30% less |
| 2BR apartment rent | ~$1,600 - $2,000 | ~$1,750 | 30% less | 25% less |
| Groceries | Average | Average | Similar | Similar |
| State income tax | 4.4% flat | Varies | Lower than CA (13.3%) | Lower than VA (5.75%) |
| Gas/commute | Average | Average | Similar | Lower |
The Denver metro area offers strong quality of life: 300+ days of sunshine, easy access to skiing and hiking, a growing food and brewery scene, and a young professional demographic. The tradeoff is that housing costs have risen steadily, and traffic on C-470 (the ring road near Waterton) can be brutal during rush hour.
Ken Caryl, Highlands Ranch, and Columbine Valley are the closest residential areas to the Waterton campus, with 10-20 minute commutes. Littleton proper and Centennial offer slightly more urban living. Some employees commute from Golden, Arvada, or Lakewood (30-40 minutes) for proximity to the mountains. Avoid living north of downtown Denver unless you enjoy sitting on I-25.
The Lockheed Martin Littleton culture
Lockheed Martin's Littleton campus has a reputation as a more stable, schedule-conscious workplace compared to New Space companies. The 40-hour work week is generally respected, and overtime is the exception rather than the rule on most programs.
This doesn't mean the work is boring. Orion is a high-profile human spaceflight program with real schedule pressure and technical challenges. GPS III production demands precision and quality. The classified programs carry their own intensity. But the expectation is that you do your work well during business hours, not that you sacrifice your personal life.
The employee demographic skews older and more experienced than places like SpaceX or Rocket Lab. Many engineers have 15-30 years of tenure. This creates a deep knowledge base but can also mean slower promotions if you're an ambitious early-career engineer waiting for someone above you to retire.
Benefits highlights:
- 401(k) with 8-10% company match (one of the best in industry)
- Pension plan (for employees hired before certain dates)
- Tuition reimbursement ($10,000-$15,000/year)
- 9/80 schedule (every other Friday off) available on many programs
- Flexible work arrangements including hybrid remote
Other aerospace employers near Littleton
The Denver metro area is one of the densest aerospace corridors in the country. If Lockheed Martin Littleton isn't the right fit, alternatives abound:
| Company | Location | Key Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Ball Aerospace | Boulder/Broomfield | JPSS, science instruments, smallsats |
| Raytheon (RTX) | Aurora | Missile defense, sensors |
| Northrop Grumman | Aurora/Colorado Springs | SBIRS payload, ground systems |
| United Launch Alliance | Centennial | Vulcan Centaur, Atlas V |
| Sierra Space | Louisville/Broomfield | Dream Chaser, LIFE habitat |
| Maxar | Westminster | Earth imaging satellites |
| Rocket Lab | Littleton (SolAero) | Solar panels, Photon spacecraft |
Between Lockheed Martin, Ball Aerospace, ULA, Raytheon, and a dozen smaller companies, the Denver/Colorado Springs corridor employs over 30,000 aerospace professionals. If you leave one company, you can likely find another role without moving.
Browse Lockheed Martin openings on Zero G Talent, or search all aerospace engineering positions in the Denver metro area. Also check out roles at Ball Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, and Sierra Space.
How to get hired at Waterton
The hiring process at Lockheed Martin Littleton follows a standard pattern:
- Apply online through lockheedmartin.com/careers. Filter by "Littleton, CO" or "Waterton." You can also find listings on Zero G Talent's Lockheed Martin page.
- Resume screen (1-3 weeks). Recruiters check for keyword matches, clearance status, and experience fit. Use the language from the job posting in your resume.
- Phone screen (30 min). A recruiter confirms logistics: clearance, relocation, salary expectations, availability.
- Technical interview (60 min). One or two engineers from the hiring team ask discipline-specific questions. For systems engineers, expect questions about requirements decomposition, verification planning, and interface management. For software, expect coding and architecture discussions.
- Manager interview (45-60 min). The hiring manager evaluates cultural fit, leadership potential, and program-specific experience.
- Offer (1-2 weeks after interviews). Lockheed Martin HR extends the formal offer. Negotiation is expected, especially for experienced hires with active clearances.
Clearance tip: If you hold an active Secret or TS/SCI clearance, mention it in the first line of your resume summary. This is the single most impactful thing on a defense contractor resume. It tells the recruiter you can start working immediately without a 6-18 month clearance processing delay.
FAQ
How many people does Lockheed Martin employ in Littleton Colorado?
The Waterton campus employs roughly 10,000-12,000 people across Lockheed Martin Space programs. This includes engineers, technicians, managers, and support staff. It's the largest single Lockheed Martin Space facility in the country.
What programs does Lockheed Martin work on in Littleton?
The major programs at Waterton include the Orion crew vehicle (Artemis), GPS III/IIIF navigation satellites, next-generation missile warning satellites (NGP/OPIR), the Trident II D5 missile program, and several classified national security space programs.
What is the starting salary at Lockheed Martin Littleton?
Entry-level engineers (Level 1) at the Littleton campus start between $75,000 and $95,000 depending on the discipline and degree level. A master's degree typically adds $8,000-$12,000 over a bachelor's for the same role. Salaries increase to $95,000-$120,000 within 2-4 years as you advance to Level 2.
Does Lockheed Martin Littleton offer remote work?
Hybrid work is available on some programs, typically 2-3 days in office. However, most Littleton programs involve classified work that cannot be done remotely. Integration, test, and manufacturing roles are fully on-site. Ask about the specific program's telework policy during the interview process.
Is Littleton Colorado a good place to live?
Littleton consistently ranks among the best suburbs in the Denver metro area. It offers good schools, low crime, proximity to both Denver's urban amenities and the Rocky Mountain foothills for outdoor recreation. The cost of living is moderate by national standards. The main downsides are rising home prices and traffic congestion on C-470 and I-25 during rush hours.
