Lockheed Martin marketing jobs in 2026
Marketing at a defense contractor looks nothing like marketing at a consumer brand. Lockheed Martin doesn't run Super Bowl ads to sell F-35s. Their customers are government procurement offices, congressional appropriations committees, and foreign military sales programs. If you want a marketing career that involves classified briefings instead of TikTok campaigns, this is the lane.
How marketing works at a defense company
Lockheed Martin's marketing function serves a fundamentally different purpose than consumer marketing. The company's revenue comes almost entirely from government contracts, which means the "customer" is a government program office, not an individual consumer.
Marketing at Lockheed Martin splits into several distinct functions:
Business Development (BD): The revenue-facing side of marketing. BD professionals identify upcoming government contract opportunities, shape requirements, build relationships with government customers, and lead proposal efforts. This is the highest-paid marketing-adjacent function because it directly drives new business.
Communications (Corporate Comms): Internal and external messaging, media relations, social media, crisis communications, and employee communications. This is the closest to traditional "marketing" and handles Lockheed Martin's public image.
Government Affairs: Lobbying and legislative relations. Lockheed Martin maintains offices in Washington DC to brief congressional members and their staff on programs, advocate for defense budgets, and respond to legislative inquiries.
Digital Marketing & Brand: Website management, digital campaigns, content strategy, trade show presence, and brand management. This team produces the videos, infographics, and publications you see at air shows and defense conferences.
Technical Marketing: Engineers and subject matter experts who translate complex capabilities into compelling proposals and customer briefings. These roles require both technical depth and communication skills.
| Function | Focus | Typical Background |
|---|---|---|
| Business Development | Win new contracts | Engineering + MBA, military officers |
| Corporate Comms | Public messaging, media | Journalism, PR, communications |
| Government Affairs | Congress, legislative | Political science, law, military |
| Digital Marketing | Brand, content, campaigns | Marketing, digital media |
| Technical Marketing | Proposals, white papers | Engineering + writing skills |
| Trade Shows & Events | Air shows, conferences | Event management, marketing |
Salary ranges across marketing functions
Compensation varies significantly across marketing-related functions at Lockheed Martin. Business development consistently pays the most because it's directly tied to revenue generation.
| Role | Level | Base Salary (2026) | Total Comp (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Coordinator | Entry | $55,000 - $72,000 | $63,000 - $83,000 |
| Communications Specialist | L2 | $70,000 - $92,000 | $80,000 - $106,000 |
| Digital Marketing Manager | L3 | $90,000 - $120,000 | $103,000 - $138,000 |
| Sr. Communications Manager | L3-L4 | $105,000 - $140,000 | $120,000 - $162,000 |
| Business Development Manager | L3-L4 | $115,000 - $160,000 | $132,000 - $185,000 |
| Government Affairs Director | L4-L5 | $140,000 - $195,000 | $160,000 - $225,000 |
| VP of Communications | VP | $200,000 - $300,000 | $250,000 - $400,000 |
| Technical Marketing Lead | L3 | $95,000 - $130,000 | $109,000 - $150,000 |
| Proposal Manager | L3 | $90,000 - $125,000 | $103,000 - $144,000 |
Business development roles at the director level and above often include additional compensation tied to captures (winning new contracts). A BD director who leads a successful $500 million capture may receive a substantial performance bonus.
If your goal is to maximize compensation in a non-engineering role at Lockheed Martin, business development is the path. BD directors and VPs earn $180,000-$350,000+ in total comp. The catch: successful BD professionals typically need 10+ years of combined military, engineering, and customer-facing experience. It's not a role you walk into from a marketing degree.
Locations for marketing roles
Marketing and communications positions concentrate at Lockheed Martin's corporate headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, with additional roles at major program sites.
| Location | Functions Present | Why There |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington, VA (HQ) | All functions | Corporate headquarters, near Pentagon |
| Bethesda, MD | BD, government affairs | Near intelligence community |
| Fort Worth, TX | Comms, BD (Aeronautics) | F-35 program headquarters |
| Littleton, CO | Comms, BD (Space) | Space division headquarters |
| Orlando, FL | Comms, BD (Missiles & Fire Control) | MFC division headquarters |
| Marietta, GA | Comms, BD (Aeronautics) | C-130J production |
| Moorestown, NJ | BD (Rotary & Mission Systems) | RMS division headquarters |
The Arlington headquarters houses the largest concentration of corporate communications, government affairs, and executive-level BD positions. If you want to work in defense marketing without being locked to a specific program, Arlington is where the action is.
What sets defense marketing apart
Working in marketing at Lockheed Martin requires adapting to constraints that don't exist at civilian companies:
Classification. Many products and capabilities are classified. You can't tweet about them, you can't put them on the website, and the press releases must be cleared by security review. Your marketing materials for classified programs may only exist as briefing slides in a SCIF.
Procurement regulations. Government procurement has strict rules about contractor communications with government officials. You can't just call a customer and pitch them. Organizational conflict of interest (OCI) rules, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and lobbying disclosure requirements all govern how marketing happens.
Long sales cycles. A major defense program takes 5-10 years from initial concept to contract award. Business development professionals cultivate customer relationships and shape requirements over years, not quarters. Patience and long-term thinking are essential.
B2G, not B2C or B2B. Your audience is government professionals who evaluate capabilities against requirements documents, not consumers who respond to emotional appeals. Marketing materials are technical, data-driven, and requirements-mapped. "Flashy" doesn't work; "compliant and compelling" does.
The big defense trade shows (Paris Air Show, Farnborough, AUSA, Space Symposium, Air & Space Forces Association) are where Lockheed Martin's marketing teams showcase products and BD professionals meet customers. If you work in defense marketing, expect to spend several weeks per year at these events. The Space Symposium in Colorado Springs each April is the premier event for space-focused marketing professionals.
How to get hired for marketing at Lockheed Martin
The path depends on which function you're targeting:
For communications/digital marketing:
- Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or PR
- Portfolio of writing samples, campaigns, or content projects
- Experience in corporate communications, agency PR, or digital marketing
- Clearance eligibility (US citizenship; many comms roles require at least Secret)
- Knowledge of the defense industry is a significant advantage
For business development:
- Military background (especially program offices, requirements development, or defense attaché roles) is the most common path
- Engineering degree + MBA is the classic civilian BD profile
- Understanding of federal acquisition process (FAR, RFP/RFI procedures)
- Active clearance strongly preferred
- Demonstrated ability to build relationships and win business
For government affairs:
- Law degree, political science background, or Capitol Hill experience
- Understanding of the defense authorization and appropriations process
- Network of congressional contacts
- Lobbying registration and compliance knowledge
Search for Lockheed Martin positions on Zero G Talent or explore all space industry jobs to find related roles at other defense contractors.
What the day-to-day looks like
The daily experience in Lockheed Martin marketing varies dramatically by function.
A communications specialist might spend Monday drafting a press release about a successful Orion test, Tuesday editing social media posts, Wednesday briefing a reporter for a planned feature story, Thursday reviewing internal newsletter content, and Friday preparing talking points for an executive media appearance. The pace is steady, with occasional crises (a program failure, a congressional hearing) that demand rapid response.
A business development manager might spend Monday in a classified briefing about a new DoD requirements document, Tuesday traveling to meet a program office at Wright-Patterson AFB, Wednesday drafting a white paper positioning Lockheed Martin's capabilities against a competitor's, Thursday reviewing a draft RFP with the capture team, and Friday on a call with international partners about a foreign military sale. BD work is relationship-driven and requires significant travel (20-40% for some roles).
A digital marketing manager might spend Monday reviewing website analytics and campaign performance, Tuesday producing content for the Lockheed Martin YouTube channel, Wednesday coordinating with vendors on an air show booth design, Thursday building a LinkedIn campaign targeting engineering talent (recruiting marketing overlaps with HR), and Friday writing an internal case study about a successful capture that will become external marketing content after security review.
The work culture in Lockheed Martin's communications and marketing groups tends to be more collaborative and less hierarchical than the engineering side. Teams are smaller, and individual contributors often have direct access to senior leadership for messaging approvals.
Marketing at Lockheed Martin vs. other defense companies
| Company | Marketing Team Size (est.) | BD Strength | Comms/Digital Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lockheed Martin | 800+ (incl. BD) | Strong (largest defense contractor) | Strong |
| Northrop Grumman | 600+ | Strong (space, bombers) | Strong (B-21 campaign was notable) |
| Raytheon (RTX) | 700+ | Strong (missiles, sensors) | Moderate |
| Boeing Defense | 500+ | Strong (fighters, satellites) | Strong (commercial heritage) |
| General Dynamics | 400+ | Strong (submarines, IT) | Moderate |
| L3Harris | 350+ | Moderate | Growing post-merger |
Lockheed Martin's marketing and BD organization is the largest in defense because the company holds the largest portfolio of programs. This creates more opportunities for marketing professionals but also means more internal competition for high-profile assignments.
FAQ
Does Lockheed Martin hire marketing people?
Yes, across communications, digital marketing, business development, government affairs, and technical marketing. Lockheed Martin employs several hundred people in marketing-related functions. Most positions are based at the Arlington, Virginia headquarters or at division headquarters in Fort Worth, Littleton, Orlando, or Moorestown.
What degree do you need for marketing at Lockheed Martin?
Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or PR degrees work for corporate comms and digital marketing roles. Business development roles typically require engineering or business degrees, often with an MBA. Government affairs roles benefit from law or political science backgrounds. Technical marketing roles need engineering degrees with strong writing skills.
How much does Lockheed Martin pay for marketing roles?
Entry-level marketing coordinators earn $55,000-$72,000. Mid-career communications managers earn $90,000-$140,000. Business development managers and directors earn $115,000-$195,000. VP-level positions pay $200,000-$400,000+ in total compensation. BD consistently pays the most due to its direct revenue impact.
Do marketing jobs at Lockheed Martin require clearance?
Many do. Communications specialists who handle program-specific messaging typically need at least Secret clearance. Business development professionals working classified programs need TS/SCI. Some corporate-level digital marketing and brand roles may not require clearance, but they're the exception rather than the rule.
Is defense marketing a good career?
Defense marketing offers stability, competitive pay, and intellectually stimulating work for people who enjoy the intersection of technology, policy, and business. The career ceiling is high in business development (BD VPs are among the highest-paid non-executive roles in defense). The tradeoff is that the work is less creative than consumer marketing and more constrained by regulations and security requirements.
