Lockheed Martin Fort Worth jobs in 2026: F-35 and open roles
Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth plant is the Aeronautics division headquarters and F-35 Lightning II final assembly line — the largest defense program in history. With ~16,000 employees, it's one of LM's biggest facilities.
Current hiring areas
| Category | Roles | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer | Structures, aero, flight test | $80K–$155K |
| Software Engineer | Mission systems, avionics | $90K–$165K |
| Systems Engineer | Integration, requirements | $85K–$160K |
| Manufacturing | Assembly, tooling, automation | $75K–$130K |
| Production Tech | Aircraft assembly, wiring | $45K–$75K |
| Quality Engineer | Inspection, supplier quality | $80K–$135K |
Why Fort Worth has the best take-home pay
Texas has zero state income tax. Combined with moderate DFW housing costs, an E3 Senior Engineer at $120K in Fort Worth takes home ~$95K — compared to ~$85K for the same salary in Sunnyvale, CA (9.3% state tax), plus DFW housing costs 2-3x less.
F-35 job security
The F-35 program is funded through the 2070s. The plant delivers 130-160 aircraft per year to the U.S. and international partners. This provides unusual long-term employment stability.
For the detailed Fort Worth guide, see our LM Fort Worth hiring page. Browse Lockheed Martin positions on Zero G Talent.
