# Lockheed Martin Fort Worth hiring in 2026: F-35, roles, and what to expect

**Author:** Zero G Talent
**Published:** 2026-02-28
**Category:** career-guides
**Tags:** lockheed-martin, defense, aerospace, texas, salary, manufacturing

[Read on Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com/blog/lockheed-martin-fort-worth-hiring-2026)

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# Lockheed Martin Fort Worth hiring in 2026: F-35, roles, and what to expect

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    <div class="blog-stat-value">F-35</div>
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    <div class="blog-stat-value">~16,000</div>
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Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth, Texas plant is the company's Aeronautics division headquarters and the final assembly line for the F-35 Lightning II — the largest defense program in history. With approximately 16,000 employees, it's one of the largest LM facilities and one of the top aerospace employers in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

## What Fort Worth builds

**F-35 Lightning II** — Three variants (F-35A conventional, F-35B STOVL, F-35C carrier) are assembled here. The facility delivers 130–160 aircraft per year to the U.S. military and international partners.

**F-16 upgrades** — Sustainment and modernization of existing F-16 fleets.

**Future programs** — Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) and other classified aeronautics programs.

## Roles and hiring

| Category | Examples | Salary Range |
|----------|---------|-------------|
| Aerospace Engineer | Structures, aerodynamics, flight test | $80K–$155K |
| Software Engineer | Mission systems, avionics, flight software | $90K–$165K |
| Systems Engineer | Integration, requirements, V&V | $85K–$160K |
| Manufacturing Engineer | Assembly process, tooling, automation | $75K–$130K |
| Production Technician | Aircraft assembly, composite layup, wiring | $45K–$75K |
| Quality Engineer | Inspection, supplier quality, MRB | $80K–$135K |
| Test Engineer | Flight test, ground test, avionics test | $85K–$145K |

## Why Fort Worth

- **Zero state income tax** — Texas has no state income tax, adding 5–10% to take-home pay vs. California or Maryland
- **Moderate cost of living** — Dallas-Fort Worth housing is significantly cheaper than LA, Seattle, or DC
- **9/80 schedule** — Every other Friday off (standard at most LM sites)
- **F-35 job security** — The F-35 program is funded through the 2070s, providing unusual long-term stability
- **10% 401(k)** — LM's 6% match + 4% auto contribution

<div class="blog-callout blog-callout-info">
  <div class="blog-callout-title">The purchasing power advantage</div>
  <p>An E3 Senior Engineer earning $120K in Fort Worth takes home approximately $95K after federal taxes (no state tax). The same salary in Sunnyvale, CA would yield ~$85K after federal + 9.3% state tax — and Sunnyvale housing costs 2–3x more. Fort Worth offers arguably the best purchasing power of any major LM site.</p>
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## How to apply

Search lockheedmartin.com/careers filtered by "Fort Worth, TX." Most positions require U.S. citizenship due to ITAR/EAR restrictions on the F-35 program. Many require ability to obtain a Secret clearance.

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


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