Lockheed Martin jobs in Colorado Springs: what's hiring in 2026

Colorado Springs is where Lockheed Martin builds the satellites that the US military depends on for navigation, missile warning, and secure communications. With over 3,000 employees spread across the Waterton Canyon campus and downtown offices, LM's Colorado Springs operation is one of the company's most important space hubs — and one of the best places in the country for a defense space career.

If you're looking at Lockheed Martin jobs in Colorado Springs, here's what programs are hiring, what they pay, and why the city itself is worth considering.

Why Lockheed Martin is in Colorado Springs

The answer is proximity to the customer. Colorado Springs hosts an extraordinary concentration of military space organizations:

• US Space Command at Peterson Space Force Base — the combatant command responsible for space operations
• Space Operations Command at Peterson SFB — runs day-to-day satellite operations for the Space Force
• Space Systems Command detachments at Schriever SFB — manages space system acquisitions
• NORAD/USNORTHCOM at Cheyenne Mountain and Peterson — aerospace warning and defense
• Missile Defense Agency presence at Schriever SFB
• National Space Intelligence Center operations in the area

When your customers are a 15-minute drive away, you can run the kind of close collaboration that remote work simply doesn't allow for classified defense programs. That's why LM, L3Harris, Raytheon, Boeing, and a dozen mid-tier contractors all have significant offices here.

Key programs at Lockheed Martin Colorado Springs

GPS III and GPS III Follow On (GPS IIIF)

The anchor program. GPS III satellites are the first major upgrade to the GPS constellation in two decades, and they're built right here in Colorado Springs.

• GPS III SV01-10: First 10 satellites, most already on orbit or delivered
• GPS IIIF SV11-32: Follow-on order of 22 satellites with enhanced military protection, search and rescue capability, and increased signal power
• Production rate: Roughly 2-3 satellites per year rolling off the line
• Workforce: Hundreds of engineers across systems, software, RF, thermal, power, structures, and integration & test

GPS IIIF is a long-duration production program, which means stable employment for the foreseeable future. New satellites are being contracted through the early 2030s.

Next Gen Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next Gen OPIR)

Next Gen OPIR replaces the aging SBIRS missile warning satellites. These satellites detect ballistic missile launches from geosynchronous orbit — they're a critical component of the US nuclear warning system. LM's Colorado Springs team handles ground systems and mission software for the constellation.

Unified Platform

A classified ground system that integrates data from multiple satellite constellations into a single operational picture for Space Force operators. Heavy software engineering and cybersecurity content.

Protected Tactical SATCOM and other programs

LM Colorado Springs also supports military satellite communications programs and various classified space programs that can't be named publicly. The classified work means a steady demand for people with active Top Secret/SCI clearances.

Lockheed Martin jobs in Colorado Springs: roles and salaries

Role	Salary range	Key skills
Systems Engineer	$100K–$155K	Satellite systems, requirements, MBSE, V&V
Software Engineer	$95K–$150K	Ground systems, mission software, Java/C++
Cybersecurity Analyst	$90K–$140K	RMF, STIG compliance, network security
RF/Payload Engineer	$100K–$160K	Satellite payload, antenna design, signal processing
Test Engineer	$85K–$135K	Satellite environmental test, ground system validation
Thermal Engineer	$90K–$140K	Spacecraft thermal control, Thermal Desktop
Power Systems Engineer	$90K–$140K	Solar arrays, batteries, EPS design
Program Manager	$115K–$175K	EVMS, risk management, customer coordination
Mission Operations Analyst	$80K–$130K	Constellation management, anomaly resolution
Structural/Mechanical Engineer	$90K–$140K	Satellite structures, mechanisms, FEA

These ranges reflect mid-career experience. Entry level (P1) positions start at the lower end — around $72K-$88K for a BS engineer. For a detailed breakdown of entry level pay, see our Lockheed Martin entry level careers guide.

The Colorado Springs aerospace ecosystem

One of the strongest arguments for building your career in COS is employer diversity. If you want to change jobs, you don't have to change cities:

Company	COS focus	Approximate headcount
Lockheed Martin	GPS III, missile warning, classified space	3,000+
L3Harris	Space payloads, ISR, ground systems	2,000+
Raytheon/RTX	Missile defense, space sensors	1,500+
Boeing	Space and intelligence systems	1,000+
Northrop Grumman	Ground systems, space vehicles	800+
SAIC	IT services, Space Force support	500+
Parsons	Missile defense, space C2	400+
Booz Allen Hamilton	Defense consulting, cyber	300+

That's thousands of defense space jobs within a 20-minute drive. Engineers routinely move between these employers every 3-5 years, collecting raises and new experiences without selling their house. The security clearance you earn at LM transfers to any of these companies.

Military transition: from uniform to Lockheed Martin

Colorado Springs is one of the best cities in the country for military-to-civilian career transitions, and Lockheed Martin jobs in Colorado Springs are a natural landing spot for separating service members. Here's why:

Proximity to bases. If you're separating from Peterson SFB, Schriever SFB, Fort Carson, or the Air Force Academy, you already live here. No relocation required.

Clearance portability. Most military space operators and intelligence professionals hold TS/SCI clearances. That clearance is valid for up to 24 months after separation, and LM can "pick it up" without starting a new investigation. An active TS/SCI is worth $10K-$20K in additional salary.

Domain knowledge. If you operated GPS satellites at Schriever, you understand the systems that LM builds. That operational perspective is valuable to the engineering teams and makes you competitive even without a traditional engineering degree.

SkillBridge. The DoD SkillBridge program lets active-duty service members work at LM during their last 180 days of service. It's essentially a paid trial — LM evaluates you, you evaluate them, and both sides can decide before you separate. LM's Colorado Springs site participates actively in SkillBridge.

Cost of living in Colorado Springs

Category	Colorado Springs	Denver	Sunnyvale, CA	Fort Worth, TX
Median home price	$420K	$550K	$1.8M	$320K
1BR rent	$1,400–$1,800	$1,700–$2,200	$2,800–$3,500	$1,200–$1,600
State income tax	4.4% flat	4.4% flat	Up to 13.3%	0%
Commute to LM	15–30 min	N/A	N/A	15–30 min

COS is notably cheaper than Denver (40 minutes north on I-25) and dramatically cheaper than California. The 4.4% Colorado income tax is the main downside compared to Texas or Florida, but the lower housing costs more than offset it for most salary levels.

Where LM employees live in COS

• Briargate/North COS: Newer suburban developments, popular with families, 15-20 minute drive to Waterton campus
• Downtown COS: Walkable, restaurants, breweries, 10-15 minutes to the office
• Monument/Palmer Lake: Between COS and Denver, mountain town feel, 25-30 minute commute
• Fountain/Security-Widefield: More affordable, close to Fort Carson, 10-15 minutes to south-side offices
• Woodland Park: Mountain community west of town, 25-35 minute drive, popular with outdoor enthusiasts

Quality of life in Colorado Springs

COS consistently ranks among the best mid-size cities in the US for quality of life, and there are specific reasons it appeals to aerospace professionals:

Outdoor recreation. Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, and hundreds of trails are minutes from town. Skiing is 2 hours west. The climate is 300+ days of sunshine with a manageable altitude (6,035 feet). If you're coming from an office park in suburban Virginia or Orlando, the difference is dramatic.

Growing tech scene. COS is no longer just a military town. Tech companies and startups are establishing presence, drawn by the same quality of life and lower costs that attract aerospace talent. The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Colorado College provide a steady stream of graduates.

Reasonable traffic. Unlike Denver, COS commutes are predictable. A 20-minute drive stays a 20-minute drive. No 90-minute I-25 crawls.

Family friendly. Good public schools in the north side (District 20, District 38), low crime relative to city size, and plenty of activities for families. The military community adds a stable, family-oriented culture.

How to get hired at Lockheed Martin in Colorado Springs

Search "Colorado Springs" on LM's careers portal. GPS-related keywords to look for: "GPS III," "GPS IIIF," "navigation payload," "satellite," "spacecraft," and "ground systems." For classified programs, search "cleared" or "TS/SCI."

LM Colorado Springs recruits heavily from:

• CU Boulder and Colorado School of Mines (engineering)
• UCCS (computer science, cybersecurity)
• Air Force Academy graduates
• Military separations from COS-area bases

You can browse current Lockheed Martin positions on Zero G Talent, including roles across the space division. For other Colorado aerospace employers, check out positions at Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, and Boeing.

If you're weighing Colorado Springs against other LM locations, consider this: COS offers the best combination of meaningful space programs, affordable living, employer diversity (so you can change jobs without moving), and quality of life of any LM site. Denver has more restaurants. Sunnyvale has higher salaries. But dollar-for-dollar and life-for-life, Lockheed Martin jobs in Colorado Springs are hard to beat.