Lockheed Martin entry level careers in 2026: roles, salaries, and how to get hired

Lockheed Martin hires thousands of people each year into entry level positions — direct-hire roles where you join a team on day one and start contributing to programs like F-35, Orion, GPS III, or THAAD. Unlike the rotational early career programs (covered in our Lockheed Martin early careers guide), entry level careers put you in one specific job from the start. You pick the role, the location, and the program. No rotations, no waiting.

This guide breaks down the Lockheed Martin entry level careers available in 2026 — what they pay, what they require, and how the hiring process actually works from application to offer.

How Lockheed Martin defines entry level

At LM, entry level means "P1 band" — the first rung on their engineering and professional career ladder. P1 positions require a bachelor's degree and 0-2 years of experience. Internships and co-ops count toward that experience. Some P1 postings ask for 0-3 years, which means they'll consider both new grads and people with a couple years at another employer.

Lockheed Martin entry level careers by job family

LM hires entry level talent across a wide range of disciplines. Here are the major job families and what you can expect in 2026:

Software engineering

The largest hiring category at LM right now. Entry level software engineers work on ground systems, embedded flight software, simulation tools, and cybersecurity applications. Languages vary by program — C++ and Java dominate mission-critical systems, while Python shows up in data processing and test automation.

Role	Salary range	Top locations	Common requirements
Software Engineer (P1)	$78K–$95K	Fort Worth, Orlando, Denver	BS in CS/SE, C++ or Java
Embedded Software Engineer	$80K–$95K	Moorestown, Orlando	BS in CE/EE/CS, C/C++, RTOS
DevSecOps Engineer	$82K–$98K	Fort Worth, Denver	BS in CS, CI/CD, containers

Systems engineering

Systems engineers are the glue between disciplines at LM. Entry level roles focus on requirements analysis, interface definition, verification and validation (V&V), and model-based systems engineering (MBSE). If you studied aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering and want to see the big picture of how a weapon system or spacecraft comes together, this is the path.

Role	Salary range	Top locations	Common requirements
Systems Engineer (P1)	$74K–$90K	Fort Worth, Denver, Bethesda	BS in AE/ME/EE/SE
Requirements Engineer	$74K–$88K	Fort Worth, Moorestown	BS engineering, DOORS experience helpful
Integration & Test Engineer	$72K–$88K	Denver, Orlando, Palmdale	BS engineering, hands-on lab work

Mechanical engineering

Structural analysis, thermal design, mechanisms, and manufacturing engineering. Mechanical engineers at LM work on everything from satellite structures to missile airframes to helicopter gearboxes. SolidWorks, CATIA, ANSYS, and Nastran are the standard tools.

Role	Salary range	Top locations
Mechanical Engineer (P1)	$72K–$88K	Fort Worth, Marietta, Denver
Structural Analyst	$74K–$90K	Fort Worth, Palmdale
Thermal Engineer	$74K–$90K	Denver, Sunnyvale

Cybersecurity

One of the fastest-growing entry level career paths at LM. The Department of Defense is pouring money into cyber defense, and contractors like LM need people to secure their systems, networks, and classified programs. A Security+ certification makes you significantly more competitive for these roles — some postings list it as required.

Role	Salary range	Top locations	Certifications that help
Cybersecurity Analyst (P1)	$75K–$92K	Fort Worth, Denver, Bethesda	Security+, CySA+
Information Systems Security	$72K–$88K	Orlando, Moorestown	Security+, CISSP (for advancement)

Supply chain, finance, and HR

Non-engineering entry level careers at LM are less visible but still pay well. Supply chain analysts, financial analysts, contracts administrators, and HR generalists all start at P1 band.

Role	Salary range	Top locations
Supply Chain Analyst	$62K–$75K	Fort Worth, Marietta, Orlando
Financial Analyst	$65K–$78K	Bethesda, Fort Worth
Contracts Administrator	$60K–$74K	Fort Worth, Orlando
HR Generalist	$58K–$72K	Bethesda, Fort Worth

Typical requirements for Lockheed Martin entry level positions

Every entry level posting at LM shares a few non-negotiable requirements:

• US citizenship: Required for virtually every position. LM's work is controlled under ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations), and most programs involve classified information. There are no exceptions to this.
• Bachelor's degree: In engineering, computer science, math, physics, or a business discipline depending on the role.
• 0-2 years of experience: Internships and co-ops count. Senior design projects count. Relevant personal projects can count too.
• Ability to obtain a security clearance: LM sponsors clearances for new hires. You don't need one going in, but you need to be eligible.

The Lockheed Martin interview process for entry level

The interview process for Lockheed Martin entry level careers typically takes 4-6 weeks from application to offer. Here's what to expect at each stage:

Stage 1: Application and ATS screening

You apply through LM's careers portal or through a university job board like Handshake. The applicant tracking system scans your resume for keyword matches against the job description. If the posting asks for MATLAB, Python, and ANSYS, those exact words should appear on your resume. The ATS also checks for degree match, GPA (if listed), and citizenship.

Stage 2: Recruiter phone screen (20-30 minutes)

A recruiter calls to verify basics — your degree, graduation date, citizenship, willingness to relocate, and interest in the specific role. They may ask about your salary expectations. Know the range for your role and location before this call.

Stage 3: Technical interview (45-60 minutes)

A hiring manager or senior engineer conducts a technical interview, usually over video. For software roles, expect coding questions or system design discussions. For mechanical or systems roles, expect questions about your senior design project, coursework, and how you'd approach technical problems. This isn't LeetCode-style — it's more conversational and project-based.

Stage 4: Behavioral interview (30-45 minutes)

LM uses the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions. Common themes: teamwork under pressure, resolving disagreements, learning from failure, and leading without formal authority. Have 5-6 stories prepared that you can adapt to different questions.

Stage 5: Offer

Written offers typically come within 1-2 weeks of the final interview. Offers include base salary, signing bonus, start date, and location. There is room to negotiate — particularly on signing bonus and start date. Base salary has less flexibility because LM uses standardized pay bands.

The security clearance process

Every Lockheed Martin entry level career requires at least a Secret clearance, and many require Top Secret or Top Secret/SCI. Here's what the process looks like for new hires:

Interim clearance (2-4 months): After you start, LM submits your SF-86 form to DCSA (Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency). An interim Secret clearance is usually granted within 2-4 months, allowing you to access classified work areas and start contributing to classified programs.

Full clearance (6-12 months): A background investigator reviews your SF-86, checks references, and verifies your history. Full Secret clearance typically takes 6-12 months. Top Secret takes longer — 9-15 months is common.

What can delay or prevent clearance: Significant debt, foreign contacts or foreign financial interests, recent drug use (varies by substance and recency), criminal record, or dishonesty on the SF-86. The key word is dishonesty — investigators find discrepancies, and lying on the form is a federal offense.

How to stand out for Lockheed Martin entry level careers

Thousands of people apply for each entry level posting at LM. Here's what actually differentiates successful candidates:

Relevant internships trump everything. A previous internship at any defense contractor (LM, Boeing, Northrop, Raytheon, L3Harris) is the single strongest indicator on your resume. If you interned at LM specifically, your conversion rate to full-time is around 60-70%.

Security+ for cyber roles. The CompTIA Security+ certification costs a few hundred dollars and a few weeks of study. For cybersecurity positions at LM, it can mean the difference between getting screened out and getting an interview. Some postings list it as required.

Active clearance is an accelerator. Military veterans and people leaving other defense jobs who already hold a clearance skip the 6-12 month wait. LM can put you on classified programs from day one. This is a real competitive advantage that's worth emphasizing in your application.

Tailor every application. Don't submit the same resume to 20 LM postings. Read each job description, identify the specific tools, methods, and skills mentioned, and adjust your resume to mirror that language. The ATS filters on keywords, and human reviewers appreciate seeing relevant detail.

Follow up with a referral. If you know anyone at LM — even tangentially — ask for an employee referral before you submit your application. Referred candidates are tracked separately and generally get faster attention from recruiters.

Comparing LM entry level to other defense contractors

Factor	Lockheed Martin	Boeing	Northrop Grumman	Raytheon/RTX
Entry salary (BS eng)	$72K–$95K	$70K–$92K	$72K–$94K	$70K–$90K
Signing bonus	$5K–$10K	$5K–$10K	$5K–$10K	$3K–$8K
9/80 schedule	Most sites	Some sites	Most sites	Some sites
Tuition reimbursement	$10K/yr	$12K/yr	$10K/yr	$10K/yr
Work-life balance	Good (program dependent)	Good	Good	Good

The salary ranges across the big defense primes are similar. The real differences come down to which programs interest you, which locations work for your life, and which company culture fits your personality. LM's 9/80 schedule (every other Friday off) is available at more sites than most competitors, which is a genuine quality-of-life advantage.

Where to find Lockheed Martin entry level job postings

Start with these sources:

• Lockheed Martin positions on Zero G Talent — filtered for aerospace and space roles
• LM's careers portal (lockheedmartinjobs.com) — filter by "Entry Level" or experience "0-2 years"
• Handshake and university career boards — LM cross-posts to over 50 schools
• Campus career fairs — LM attends career fairs September through November at target universities

If you're interested in the space division specifically, check out roles in Denver and Sunnyvale. For the broadest selection of entry level aerospace positions, search across all employers. And if you want the rotational program experience instead, read our Lockheed Martin early careers guide.

The application window for 2026 start dates is open now. Don't wait until spring — the best positions fill on a rolling basis starting in September. Get your resume tailored, your STAR stories ready, and apply to multiple openings across different sites and business areas.