Lockheed Martin jobs in Utah in 2026: Promontory rockets, Clearfield operations, and hiring outlook
Utah might not be the first state that comes to mind when you think of Lockheed Martin, but the company has a substantial and growing presence here. The state's connection to aerospace runs deep: the solid rocket motors that powered the Space Shuttle and now boost the Space Launch System are manufactured in Utah. Lockheed Martin's Utah operations span solid rocket propulsion, missile systems production, and fleet sustainment, employing over 1,500 people across multiple facilities.
Promontory: where the big rockets are made
Northrop Grumman connection
It is important to understand the organizational structure here. The large solid rocket motor facility in Promontory, Utah, is operated by Northrop Grumman (formerly Orbital ATK, and before that, ATK Launch Systems). Lockheed Martin works closely with this facility as the prime contractor or major subcontractor on several programs that use solid rocket motors manufactured in Promontory.
The SLS solid rocket boosters (the largest ever flown) are built at Promontory by Northrop Grumman and integrated into Lockheed Martin-led programs. The GEM-63XL strap-on boosters for ULA's Vulcan Centaur are also Northrop Grumman products used on a Lockheed Martin joint venture launch vehicle. This interconnection means Lockheed Martin has program management, systems engineering, and quality assurance personnel stationed in or near Promontory to oversee these critical interfaces.
Lockheed Martin roles tied to Promontory
Lockheed Martin employees at or near Promontory work on:
- Program management — Overseeing solid rocket motor delivery schedules for SLS, Trident, and other programs
- Quality engineering — Ensuring solid rocket motor production meets specifications and NASA/DoD requirements
- Systems engineering — Managing interfaces between solid motors and the vehicles they power
- Propulsion analysis — Performance modeling and integration analysis for solid rocket systems
These roles are relatively specialized. If you have experience with solid rocket propulsion, energetic materials, or large-scale production quality systems, Promontory-area positions are a strong fit.
Promontory is in Box Elder County, about 30 miles west of Brigham City and roughly 90 minutes north of Salt Lake City. This is a remote location by most standards. The nearest significant town is Brigham City (pop. ~20,000). Engineers who work at Promontory typically live in Brigham City, Logan, or Ogden and commute. The rural setting is a trade-off: lower cost of living and minimal traffic, but limited urban amenities.
Clearfield: sustainment and production
Hill Air Force Base connection
Clearfield is adjacent to Hill Air Force Base, which is the Air Force's primary depot for F-35, F-16, and A-10 aircraft maintenance and sustainment. Lockheed Martin maintains a significant workforce at and near Hill AFB to support F-35 depot operations, aircraft modifications, and ongoing maintenance programs.
Lockheed Martin roles at Clearfield
The Clearfield/Hill AFB operation focuses on:
- F-35 sustainment engineering — Resolving in-service issues, developing modifications, and supporting depot-level maintenance
- Aircraft modification technicians — Hands-on work modifying and upgrading fighter aircraft
- Supply chain and logistics — Managing spare parts, repair supply chains, and inventory for fleet sustainment
- Software sustainment — Updating mission systems software for operational F-35 aircraft
- Program management — Managing the sustainment contracts with the Air Force
These roles are more operations and sustainment focused than the design engineering work done at Fort Worth (where new F-35s are designed and assembled). If you prefer working on fielded systems rather than paper designs, Clearfield is appealing.
Missiles and Fire Control in Utah
Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control (MFC) business area also has a Utah presence, supporting missile programs that use solid rocket motors and other components manufactured in the state. THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) and PAC-3 missile production chains touch Utah facilities.
Types of jobs and what they pay
Utah roles span engineering, technician, and program management categories:
| Role category | Primary location | Salary range |
|---|---|---|
| Propulsion Systems Engineer | Promontory area | $90K–$145K |
| Quality Engineer | Promontory / Clearfield | $75K–$120K |
| F-35 Sustainment Engineer | Clearfield / Hill AFB | $85K–$140K |
| Aircraft Modification Technician | Hill AFB | $55K–$85K |
| Supply Chain Specialist | Clearfield | $65K–$105K |
| Software Engineer (sustainment) | Clearfield | $90K–$155K |
| Systems Engineer | Both | $95K–$150K |
| Program Manager | Both | $100K–$155K |
| Manufacturing Engineer | Clearfield | $80K–$130K |
| Logistics Analyst | Clearfield | $70K–$110K |
Utah salaries are generally 5-15% lower than equivalent roles in Denver or the Bay Area, but the cost of living difference more than compensates. A $100K salary in Utah goes further than $120K in Littleton, CO.
Clearance requirements
- Promontory (propulsion programs) — Many roles require Secret clearance due to the military programs involved (Trident, missile defense). Some NASA-related work is unclassified but requires US citizenship (ITAR).
- Clearfield / Hill AFB — F-35 sustainment requires at least Secret clearance. Some modification work on classified avionics or EW systems requires TS/SCI. All roles require US citizenship.
Military veterans who already hold active clearances from their service are strong candidates for Utah roles, particularly at Clearfield where the Hill AFB connection creates a natural military-to-contractor pipeline.
Living in Utah
Northern Utah (Promontory area)
Living options near Promontory include:
- Brigham City — The closest town to the Promontory facilities. Small-town living with affordable housing (median home price $300K-$380K). Limited amenities but strong community.
- Logan — University town (Utah State) about 40 minutes from Promontory. More restaurants, culture, and recreation options. Home prices $350K-$450K.
- Ogden — Larger city with more urban amenities, about 45 minutes from Promontory. Historic downtown, craft breweries, ski resort access. Home prices $350K-$450K.
Clearfield / Davis County
The Clearfield area sits between Salt Lake City (25 minutes south) and Ogden (15 minutes north) along the I-15 corridor:
- Housing — Median home price $400K-$480K. Rentals $1,200-$1,500/month for a one-bedroom.
- Commute — Clearfield and Hill AFB are directly off I-15. FrontRunner commuter rail connects to Salt Lake City and Ogden.
- Lifestyle — Access to world-class skiing (Park City, Snowbird, Alta are 45-90 minutes), hiking, mountain biking, and national parks. Utah's outdoor recreation is among the best in the country.
Utah has a flat state income tax of 4.65%, comparable to Colorado's 4.4%. But housing costs are significantly lower than Denver, especially in the Clearfield and Brigham City areas. A Lockheed Martin engineer making $110K in Clearfield has roughly the same purchasing power as someone making $130K-$140K in Littleton, CO. This makes Utah one of the best value locations in the Lockheed Martin footprint.
Other aerospace employers in Utah
Utah's aerospace ecosystem extends beyond Lockheed Martin:
- Northrop Grumman — The largest aerospace employer in Utah (Promontory solid rockets, Bacchus propellant production, Clearfield operations)
- L3Harris — Sensor systems and satellite components in Salt Lake City
- Boeing — Small presence supporting defense programs
- Raytheon (RTX) — Missile systems components
- Various small companies — Utah's growing tech corridor ("Silicon Slopes") includes several small space and defense startups
How to apply
Search for Utah roles on the Lockheed Martin careers site using location filters for "Clearfield, UT," "Promontory, UT," "Brigham City, UT," or "Hill AFB, UT."
Browse all Lockheed Martin jobs on Zero G Talent, or search for space jobs in Utah across all companies.
For comparisons with other Lockheed Martin locations, see our guides on jobs in Colorado, Colorado Springs, Fort Worth, and Cape Canaveral. For salary benchmarks, see Lockheed Martin salary data.
