Peterson Space Force Base jobs in 2026: SPACECOM, civilian roles, contractor positions, and Colorado Springs living
Peterson Space Force Base sits at the center of America's military space enterprise. Located on the eastern edge of Colorado Springs, the base hosts U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) headquarters, multiple Space Force units, and a dense ecosystem of defense contractors who support every aspect of space operations — from satellite command and control to missile warning to space domain awareness. For civilians and contractors looking for space-focused careers, Peterson SFB and the broader Colorado Springs area represent the single highest concentration of space jobs in the United States outside of the Washington, D.C., corridor.
This guide covers the types of jobs available at and around Peterson SFB, how to apply, what they pay, and what living in Colorado Springs is actually like in 2026.
What makes Peterson SFB unique
Peterson SFB is not just another military installation — it is the nerve center for U.S. military space operations. The base hosts:
U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM): The combatant command responsible for all military operations in space. SPACECOM plans, coordinates, and executes space operations ranging from satellite communications to space domain awareness to potential offensive and defensive space operations. The headquarters staff includes military, civilian, and contractor personnel spanning operations, intelligence, plans, and logistics.
Space Operations Command (SpOC): The Space Force's field command responsible for organizing, training, and equipping space forces. SpOC units at Peterson manage operational squadrons that run satellite systems, provide missile warning, and conduct space surveillance.
North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD): The binational U.S.-Canadian command that provides aerospace warning and defense. While NORAD's underground operations center is at nearby Cheyenne Mountain, its headquarters is at Peterson SFB.
Combined Force Space Component Command (CFSCC): Directs space forces supporting USSPACECOM operations, including the Combined Space Operations Center (CSpOC) at nearby Schriever SFB.
21st Space Wing / Space Delta units: Multiple operational units conduct missile warning, space surveillance, satellite command and control, and cyber operations from Peterson and nearby installations.
Types of jobs at Peterson SFB
Employment at and around Peterson SFB falls into three categories: federal civilian, military, and defense contractor.
Federal civilian positions
Federal civilians are government employees hired through the USAJobs system. These positions carry General Schedule (GS) or equivalent pay grades, federal benefits, and significant job security.
| Role Category | Typical GS Grade | 2026 Salary (Colorado) | Clearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space Operations Analyst | GS-11 to GS-13 | $82,000–$128,000 | TS/SCI |
| Intelligence Analyst | GS-12 to GS-14 | $97,000–$155,000 | TS/SCI + Poly |
| IT Specialist / Cybersecurity | GS-11 to GS-13 | $82,000–$128,000 | Secret to TS |
| Engineer (Systems, SW, EE) | GS-12 to GS-14 | $97,000–$155,000 | Secret to TS/SCI |
| Program Analyst | GS-11 to GS-13 | $82,000–$128,000 | Secret to TS |
| Contract Specialist | GS-11 to GS-12 | $82,000–$116,000 | Secret |
| Administrative / Support | GS-7 to GS-9 | $56,000–$76,000 | Secret |
How to apply: All federal civilian positions are posted on usajobs.gov. Search for "Peterson" or "Space Force" and filter by location (Colorado Springs, CO). The federal hiring process is notoriously slow — expect 2 to 6 months from application to start date.
Federal resumes are not like private-sector resumes. They must be detailed (often 4–6 pages), include specific accomplishments with quantified results, reference the job announcement number, and explicitly address every qualification listed in the posting. Use the USAJOBS resume builder or follow the federal resume format precisely. A private-sector one-page resume will be screened out automatically.
Defense contractor positions
Defense contractors provide the majority of technical and support workforce at Peterson SFB. Major contractors with significant presence include:
| Contractor | Primary Role at Peterson | Typical Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Northrop Grumman | Space systems, SDA, satellite ops | Orbital analysts, systems engineers, SW engineers |
| Lockheed Martin | Missile warning, GPS, space control | Systems engineers, program managers, analysts |
| L3Harris | Space sensors, ground systems | RF engineers, SW developers, test engineers |
| Raytheon (RTX) | Missile defense, C2 systems | Systems engineers, integration specialists |
| Parsons | CSpOC operations support | Orbital analysts, operations specialists |
| SAIC | IT services, enterprise systems | Network engineers, database admins, cyber analysts |
| Booz Allen Hamilton | Strategy, analytics, consulting | Management consultants, data scientists |
| Leidos | IT, intelligence support | Software developers, intel analysts |
Contractor salaries in the Colorado Springs area are generally competitive with other defense hubs, while benefiting from a lower cost of living compared to D.C., Los Angeles, or the San Francisco Bay Area. For specifics on contractor pay, see Northrop Grumman systems engineer salary in 2026.
Military positions
Active-duty Space Force Guardians and Air Force Airmen are assigned to Peterson SFB through the military assignment process. Key career fields stationed at Peterson include:
- 1C6 — Space Operations (Orbital Analyst): The backbone of space surveillance operations. For more on this career field, see Orbital analyst in 2026.
- 17S — Space Operations Officer: Officers leading space operations squadrons
- 5C0 — Command and Control Operations: Battle management and communications
- 17X — Intelligence Officer: Space intelligence and threat analysis
- 3D0/1D7 — Cyber Operations: Securing space systems and networks
The broader Colorado Springs space ecosystem
Peterson SFB does not exist in isolation. Colorado Springs hosts the densest concentration of military space installations in the world:
Schriever Space Force Base (20 miles east) — Home to GPS operations, the CSpOC, and multiple satellite operations squadrons. Many contractor and civilian positions exist here alongside Peterson roles.
Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station (5 miles southwest) — The iconic underground facility that houses the NORAD/USSPACECOM alternate command center. Highly classified work with stringent clearance requirements.
U.S. Air Force Academy (10 miles north) — While primarily an educational institution, the Academy has research positions and faculty roles related to space science and astronautics.
Space Force Space Systems Command detachments — Various offices supporting space acquisition and development.
The total space-related workforce in the Colorado Springs area — military, civilian, and contractor combined — exceeds 25,000 people, making it the largest space workforce cluster in the country.
The headquarters of U.S. Space Command has been at Peterson SFB since the command was re-established in 2019. There was a proposal to relocate SPACECOM to Huntsville, Alabama, but as of 2026, the headquarters remains at Peterson SFB. This continuity ensures that the Colorado Springs area will remain the epicenter of military space operations for the foreseeable future.
Living in Colorado Springs in 2026
Relocating for a job at Peterson SFB means moving to Colorado Springs — a city of approximately 490,000 people (metro area around 750,000) on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 6,035 feet.
Housing costs
| Housing Type | 2026 Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $450,000–$475,000 | Up from ~$400K in 2022 |
| Median apartment rent (1BR) | $1,350–$1,500/month | Near base: slightly higher |
| Median apartment rent (2BR) | $1,650–$1,850/month | Family-friendly areas |
| Property tax rate | ~0.63% | Among lowest in nation |
Housing in Colorado Springs is significantly more affordable than the D.C. metro area, Southern California, or the San Francisco Bay Area. A systems engineer earning $120,000 can comfortably afford a home in many neighborhoods near the base, which is not the case in comparable defense hubs.
Cost of living comparison
| Category | Colorado Springs | D.C. Metro | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (index 100 = national avg) | 115 | 185 | 240 |
| Groceries | 102 | 108 | 112 |
| Transportation | 98 | 120 | 135 |
| State income tax | 4.4% | 4–5.75% (VA/MD) | Up to 13.3% |
| Overall | 105 | 148 | 166 |
Quality of life
Outdoors: Colorado Springs is a haven for outdoor recreation — Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, and hundreds of miles of trails are minutes away. This is a significant quality-of-life draw for space professionals who value work-life balance.
Climate: 300+ days of sunshine per year, low humidity, mild summers (highs in the 80s-90s F), cold but dry winters. Altitude (6,000+ feet) takes some adjustment.
Education: Strong public school system and multiple higher education institutions (UCCS, Colorado College). The presence of military families drives consistently above-average school funding and quality.
Commute: Traffic is manageable by metro standards. Most neighborhoods are within a 20–30 minute drive of Peterson SFB.
Downsides: Limited public transportation (car is essential), rapidly rising housing costs, altitude-related health adjustments for some people, and the city can feel smaller than major metros for those used to big-city amenities.
How to get hired
For federal civilian positions:
- Create a USAJOBS account and build a federal-format resume
- Search for positions at Peterson SFB and nearby installations
- Apply to positions where you meet the minimum qualifications
- Expect 2–6 months from application to start date
- Be prepared for a lengthy onboarding process including security clearance adjudication
For contractor positions:
- Apply directly through contractor career portals (Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, etc.)
- Search job boards and industry-specific sites like Zero G Talent
- Leverage your security clearance — cleared candidates are in high demand
- Network at local defense industry events (Colorado Springs has an active defense community)
- Expect 2–8 weeks from interview to start date for cleared candidates, longer if clearance sponsorship is needed
For military positions:
- Consult your assignment manager or career field manager about Peterson SFB assignments
- Space Force career fields (1C6, 17S) have the highest probability of Peterson assignment
- Cross-training into space career fields from other branches is possible but competitive
Frequently asked questions
What security clearance do I need for Peterson SFB jobs?
Most positions require at minimum a Secret clearance. The majority of technical and operations roles require Top Secret or TS/SCI. Intelligence positions and some USSPACECOM staff roles require TS/SCI with a polygraph. U.S. citizenship is mandatory for all cleared positions.
Can I work at Peterson SFB remotely?
Very few positions support remote work due to the classified nature of the work and the requirement for SCIF access. Some contractor positions in IT, administrative support, or unclassified program management may offer hybrid arrangements, but on-site presence is the expectation for the vast majority of roles.
How does military BAH compare to actual housing costs?
For 2026, an E-5 with dependents receives approximately $2,058 per month in BAH for the Colorado Springs area. This covers most apartment rentals for a family but may require supplementing for a mortgage. BAH rates have been increasing (5.4% average increase in 2026) but often lag behind actual housing cost increases.
Are there jobs for people without military backgrounds?
Absolutely. Contractors and federal civilians make up a significant portion of the Peterson SFB workforce, and many have no military background. Technical skills, security clearances, and relevant experience are the primary qualifications. The military community is welcoming to civilian professionals who contribute to the mission.
What is the commute like from different parts of Colorado Springs?
Most areas of the city are within a 20–30 minute drive. The base is on the east side, so neighborhoods in Briargate (north), Powers (northeast), and Stetson Hills (east) have the shortest commutes. Living in Manitou Springs or the Broadmoor area (west side) adds 25–35 minutes but offers mountain proximity.
How does the Colorado Springs space job market compare to D.C.?
Colorado Springs has a higher concentration of operational space roles (satellite operations, orbital analysis, missile warning), while D.C. has more policy, acquisition, and strategy positions. Contractor salaries in Colorado Springs are 10–15% lower than D.C. in nominal terms, but 25–40% more affordable after adjusting for cost of living.
Peterson Space Force Base and Colorado Springs represent the heart of American military space operations. Whether you are a federal civilian, defense contractor, or active-duty military member, the area offers a unique combination of mission significance, career growth, and quality of life that few other locations can match. Search for space jobs in Colorado Springs on Zero G Talent to find current openings.
