# Lockheed Martin Colorado Springs in 2026: programs, jobs, and pay

**Author:** Zero G Talent
**Published:** 2026-02-28
**Category:** career-guides
**Tags:** lockheed-martin, colorado, space, defense, salary, security-clearance

[Read on Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com/blog/lockheed-martin-colorado-springs-co-2026)

---

# Lockheed Martin Colorado Springs in 2026: programs, jobs, and pay

<div class="blog-stats">
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">~3,000</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">COS Employees</div>
  </div>
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">Space Division</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">Primary Division</div>
  </div>
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">GPS III</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">Key Program</div>
  </div>
</div>

Lockheed Martin's Colorado Springs facility is a major hub for the Space division, supporting GPS satellites, missile defense, and Space Force programs. Combined with the nearby Denver/Littleton campus, Colorado is LM's largest Space division presence.

## Key programs

| Program | Description |
|---------|-----------|
| GPS III/IIIF | Next-generation navigation satellites — LM is the prime contractor |
| SBIRS/NGP | Missile warning satellites (ground segment support) |
| Space Fence | Space domain awareness radar system |
| Classified | Multiple classified Space Force and NRO programs |

## Salary

| Role | Colorado Springs Range |
|------|----------------------|
| Systems Engineer (E2-E3) | $85,000–$125,000 |
| Software Engineer (E2-E3) | $90,000–$130,000 |
| Staff Engineer (E4) | $120,000–$155,000 |
| Program Manager | $110,000–$160,000 |

Colorado has no local income tax on top of the 4.4% state rate, and cost of living is moderate compared to California — making take-home pay competitive.

## Why Colorado Springs for LM

The city hosts Schriever SFB, Peterson SFB, Cheyenne Mountain Complex, and U.S. Space Command HQ. This concentration of military space customers means LM engineers work closely with their end users — a significant career advantage.

<div class="blog-callout blog-callout-info">
  <div class="blog-callout-title">COS vs. Denver/Littleton</div>
  <p>LM's Denver/Littleton campus (~10,000 employees) is the Space division's main manufacturing and integration facility. Colorado Springs is more focused on ground systems, operations, and program management. Some engineers work across both sites (90-minute drive apart).</p>
</div>

See our [LM careers guide](/blog/lockheed-martin-careers-2026) and [LM engineer salary guide](/blog/lockheed-martin-engineer-salary-2026). Browse [Lockheed Martin positions on Zero G Talent](/space-jobs-at-lockheed-martin).


---
*Source: [Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com), the job board for space, defense, AI, robotics and frontier-tech companies.*