Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories in 2026

Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories (ATL) is the company's applied research division, and it operates differently from the production-focused business areas that most people associate with Lockheed Martin. ATL employs over 300 engineers and scientists across facilities in Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Minneapolis; Philadelphia; and Arlington, Virginia. Their work covers artificial intelligence, quantum computing, autonomy, human-machine teaming, and advanced physics applications. If you are interested in research roles at a defense prime contractor, ATL is one of the most technically ambitious places to work.

What ATL actually does

ATL sits within Lockheed Martin's broader research ecosystem but focuses specifically on applied research, the stage between fundamental science and production engineering. The lab takes emerging technologies and demonstrates their viability for defense and intelligence applications.

Current research pillars at ATL include:

Artificial intelligence and machine learning: ATL develops trustworthy AI systems that can operate in contested environments where adversaries actively try to deceive sensors and algorithms. Their work covers computer vision for satellite imagery analysis, natural language processing for intelligence reports, and reinforcement learning for autonomous mission planning. The emphasis on "trustworthy" AI means explainable models that human operators can verify and override.

Quantum computing: ATL partnered with Xanadu in 2025 to explore quantum machine learning, specifically generative models and quantum-native operations that could outperform classical approaches on specific defense-relevant optimization problems. This research sits at the frontier of practical quantum computing, targeting problems in logistics optimization, cryptanalysis, and sensor data fusion.

Autonomy and robotics: Developing autonomous systems that can operate in GPS-denied and communications-degraded environments. This includes drone swarm coordination, autonomous undersea vehicles, and ground robots for logistics and reconnaissance.

Spectrum operations: Advanced signal processing, electronic warfare, and cognitive radio systems that can adapt to dynamic electromagnetic environments.

Hypersonics: Modeling and simulation of hypersonic flight regimes, including thermal management, guidance systems, and materials behavior at extreme speeds.

Cherry Hill, NJ headquarters

The primary ATL campus is located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, a suburb about 10 miles east of Philadelphia. The facility includes secure computing labs, hardware prototyping spaces, and collaboration areas designed for interdisciplinary research teams.

Cherry Hill offers several advantages as a research location:

• Proximity to universities: Drexel, Penn, Princeton, and Rutgers are all within commuting distance, enabling joint research programs and adjunct faculty positions for ATL scientists
• Defense ecosystem: The Philadelphia-South Jersey corridor includes the Naval Air Warfare Center (Lakehurst), Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, and several other defense research facilities
• Cost of living: Lower than Washington DC, New York, or Boston, with median home prices around $320K in Cherry Hill proper
• Talent pool: Access to STEM graduates from the dense concentration of mid-Atlantic universities

Research scientist roles and requirements

ATL hires predominantly PhD-level researchers and experienced engineers with advanced degrees. The typical candidate has:

• PhD in computer science, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related field
• Publications in peer-reviewed journals or top-tier conferences (NeurIPS, CVPR, AAAI, APS)
• Experience with programming in Python, C++, or domain-specific languages
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance (US citizenship required)

Position types at ATL:

Title	Degree	Experience	Salary Range
Research Scientist	PhD	0–3 years	$120,000–$155,000
Senior Research Scientist	PhD	3–8 years	$145,000–$185,000
Principal Research Scientist	PhD	8–15 years	$175,000–$210,000
Research Fellow	PhD	15+ years	$200,000–$250,000+
Senior Research Engineer	MS/PhD	5+ years	$130,000–$175,000
Research Engineer	BS/MS	2–5 years	$100,000–$140,000

ATL also hires postdoctoral researchers on 1-2 year appointments with salaries in the $90K–$115K range, which convert to permanent positions for strong performers.

How ATL compares to other defense research labs

ATL is one of several corporate research labs in the defense sector. Here is how it stacks up:

Lab	Parent Company	Headcount	Focus Areas	Key Location
ATL	Lockheed Martin	300+	AI, quantum, autonomy	Cherry Hill, NJ
Northrop Grumman Research	Northrop Grumman	200+	Cyber, space sensors, AI	Linthicum, MD
Raytheon BBN	RTX	500+	Speech AI, networking, quantum	Cambridge, MA
DARPA (govt)	DoD	220	Breakthrough military tech	Arlington, VA
Lincoln Lab	MIT (govt-funded)	4,000+	Radar, space surveillance, cyber	Lexington, MA

ATL is smaller than MIT Lincoln Lab or Raytheon BBN but offers the advantage of direct technology transfer into Lockheed Martin's $65B+ product portfolio. Research at ATL has a clearer path to deployment than at a university lab or a government-funded research center.

Career path at ATL

Unlike Lockheed Martin's production divisions where engineers follow a structured level system (E1-E5), ATL uses a research track that mirrors academia:

1. Research Scientist / Engineer: Individual contributor running experiments and publishing results
2. Senior Researcher: Leading small project teams, securing internal R&D funding, establishing external collaborations
3. Principal Researcher: Defining new research directions, managing multi-year programs, mentoring junior researchers
4. Research Fellow: ATL's equivalent of a Distinguished Engineer. Sets technical vision for an entire research area. Peer-reviewed at the corporate level.

ATL researchers are encouraged to publish in academic venues and present at conferences, which is unusual for a defense contractor. The lab typically publishes 30-50 papers per year, though some work remains classified.

Current hiring priorities (2026)

Based on recent job postings and public research announcements, ATL is actively hiring in these areas:

• AI/ML engineers with experience in reinforcement learning, computer vision, or graph neural networks
• Quantum computing researchers with backgrounds in quantum error correction, variational quantum algorithms, or quantum-classical hybrid systems
• Autonomous systems engineers skilled in ROS, perception stacks, and multi-agent planning
• Cybersecurity researchers focusing on zero-trust architectures and adversarial machine learning
• Human-machine teaming specialists with backgrounds in cognitive engineering or human factors

Positions are posted on lockheedmartinjobs.com. Search for "Advanced Technology Laboratories" or "ATL" in the keyword field, and filter by Cherry Hill, NJ or Arlington, VA.

Benefits and work culture

ATL benefits mirror the broader Lockheed Martin package:

• 401(k) with 50% match on first 8% (effective 4% match) plus additional 2% company contribution
• Medical, dental, vision with employer covering roughly 70% of premiums
• $10K–$20K annual education reimbursement for approved graduate programs
• Patent bonuses ($1,500–$3,000 per filed patent)
• Conference travel budget for researchers presenting published work
• Flexible work arrangements including hybrid schedules (3 days on-site typical)

The culture at ATL leans more academic than the production side of Lockheed Martin. Researchers have autonomy to pursue internal R&D proposals, and the pace is project-driven rather than production-line driven. That said, deliverables still have deadlines, and the defense customer base creates classification constraints that do not exist in civilian research.

FAQ

What kind of degree do you need to work at ATL?

Most research positions require a PhD in a STEM field. Research engineer roles may accept a master's degree with strong relevant experience. A small number of engineering support positions are available at the bachelor's level. ATL also hires postdoctoral researchers on temporary appointments that can convert to permanent roles.

Is ATL only in Cherry Hill?

No. While the Cherry Hill, NJ campus is ATL's headquarters and largest facility, the lab also has offices in Minneapolis, MN; Philadelphia, PA; and Arlington, VA. Some ATL researchers work embedded at Lockheed Martin business area locations like Sunnyvale (Space) or Fort Worth (Aeronautics) for specific technology transition projects.

How does ATL pay compare to tech company research labs?

ATL salaries are competitive with defense industry peers but typically 15-30% below Google Research, Meta AI, or Microsoft Research for equivalent PhD-level positions. The tradeoff is more stable funding (defense contracts vs. tech company restructuring), clearance-enabled work that tech companies cannot do, and a direct path to seeing your research deployed on real platforms.

Can ATL researchers publish their work?

Yes, with approval. ATL researchers publish 30-50 papers per year in academic conferences and journals. All publications go through a security review process that can take 2-6 weeks. Unclassified research can generally be published; classified work cannot. The publication record at ATL is strong enough that researchers maintain academic credibility while working in industry.

What is the interview process for ATL?

Expect a technical phone screen (45-60 minutes), followed by a half-day on-site interview with 3-4 technical presentations and discussions with research team members. PhD candidates typically give a research talk. The process takes 3-6 weeks from application to offer. Candidates without an existing clearance should expect an additional 6-18 months before accessing classified work.

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Information sourced from Lockheed Martin's public research publications, ATL technical innovations page, job postings on lockheedmartinjobs.com, and industry sources as of February 2026. Salary ranges reflect research positions in the Cherry Hill, NJ area.

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