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Skunkworks Jobs (NOW HIRING)

General Application

Paducah, KY · On-site

$70K - $250K/yr

About This Role If you seek high impact and ownership and are excited by fast-paced, intense, Skunkworks-style projects, we encourage you to apply to join our team. If you don't see anything posted ...

General Application

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$70K - $250K/yr

About This Role If you seek high impact and ownership and are excited by fast-paced, intense, Skunkworks-style projects, we encourage you to apply to join our team. If you don't see anything posted ...

General Application

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$70K - $250K/yr

About This Role If you seek high impact and ownership and are excited by fast-paced, intense, Skunkworks-style projects, we encourage you to apply to join our team. If you don't see anything posted ...

General Application

Paducah, KY · On-site

$70K - $250K/yr

About This Role If you seek high impact and ownership and are excited by fast-paced, intense, Skunkworks-style projects, we encourage you to apply to join our team. If you don't see anything posted ...

Join us! Lockheed Martin Skunkworks we're taking innovation to the next level. From designing the most advanced air vehicle to designing aircraft that defies gravity, our engineers live on the ...

Tooling Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$90K - $175K/yr

If you seek high-impact and are excited by fast-paced, intense, Skunkworks-style projects, we encourage you to reach out to join our team. Responsibilities: * Design and develop custom tooling, jigs ...

Chief Technology Officer

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$160 - $180/hr

Startup, skunkworks, or frontier‑technology experience. * Defense, aerospace, or hardened‑systems background. You Will Be Measured By * Speed from concept to functioning hardware. * Quality ...

Showing results 21-40

Skunkworks information

See salary details

$36.5K

$109.4K

$182K

How much do skunkworks jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for skunkworks in the United States is $109,393.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,000.00 and $125,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the requirements to work at Skunkworks?

Skunk Works, a division known for advanced aerospace projects, typically requires candidates to have a strong background in engineering, science, or technology, along with relevant experience in research and development. Security clearances and the ability to work in classified environments are often necessary, along with skills in systems integration, problem-solving, and proficiency with specialized tools or software. Candidates usually need a bachelor's degree or higher in a related field and may undergo rigorous background checks and interviews.

What are the unique challenges and expectations when working on a skunkworks team?

Working on a Skunkworks team typically involves tackling highly confidential, high-impact projects with tight deadlines and shifting priorities, often requiring flexibility and resilience. You will be expected to work in a small, cross-functional group of experts who collaborate intensively to rapidly design, prototype, and iterate solutions. The work environment is usually dynamic and somewhat unconventional, with a strong emphasis on creativity, speed, and results over rigid process. This setting provides unique opportunities to shape industry-leading innovations, but also demands comfort with ambiguity and a willingness to challenge existing norms.

What is a skunkworks?

A Skunkworks job typically refers to working on a highly secretive or innovative project within a company, often with a small, autonomous team. These projects aim to develop breakthrough technologies or products outside the constraints of standard corporate processes. Skunkworks teams prioritize speed, agility, and creative problem-solving to push the boundaries of what is possible. The term originates from Lockheed Martin’s advanced development programs and has since been adopted across various industries.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the skunkworks position, and why are they important?

To thrive in a Skunkworks role, you need advanced technical expertise in engineering or product development, a track record of innovative problem-solving, and experience managing confidential or experimental projects. Familiarity with rapid prototyping tools, CAD software, project management systems, and sometimes specialized security clearances is common. Strong collaboration, adaptability, and creative thinking are crucial soft skills for navigating ambiguity and complex challenges. These capabilities enable effective progress on breakthrough projects in high-stakes, fast-paced environments where pioneering solutions are developed under tight deadlines.

More about Skunkworks jobs
What cities are hiring for Skunkworks jobs? Cities with the most Skunkworks job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Skunkworks jobs? The most popular types of Skunkworks jobs are:
What states have the most Skunkworks jobs? States with the most job openings for Skunkworks jobs include:
Infographic showing various Skunkworks job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $109,393 per year, or $52.6 per hour.

Software Engineer (Automation Framework)

Lockheed Martin

Fort Worth, TX

Full-time

Re-posted 23 days ago


Lockheed Martin rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 391 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

38th of 72 rated aerospace companies


Job description

LockheedMartinAeronautics delivers breakthrough aircraft (F 35, F 22, F 16, AMMM, and SkunkWorks). The Framework Integration Team (FIT) is a software automation team that implements and maintains a cross platform Test Automation Framework that enables rapid, repeatable testing of flight software across multiple airframes. We are looking for a Software Engineer Sr to join our mission!
What You Will Be Doing:
Your responsibilities will support the technology development lifecycle, including:
Design & develop test automation infrastructure (Python driven) that integrates with a C++ codebase and supports simulated, hardware in the loop, and laboratory environments.
Create, maintain, and extend reusable tooling (open source, commercial, and in house) for continuous integration, test execution, and result analysis.
Support virtual development labs and aircraft software build pipelines, ensuring reliable delivery of test artifacts to external software teams.
Lead small software sub teams (2 5 engineers) through sprint planning, daily scrums, sprint reviews, and technical demos.
Collaborate with multi program stakeholders (aircraft, simulation, and systems engineers) to gather requirements, troubleshoot failures, and drive automation improvements.
Document architecture, usage guides, and troubleshooting procedures for internal and external teams.
Participate in inter organizational customer interactions to align automation capabilities with program needs.
Who You Are:
A proactive problem solver who plans, prioritizes, and executes tasks to keep automation projects on schedule.
An effective communicator who can translate complex technical concepts to diverse stakeholders and thrive in frequent inter organizational interactions.
A collaborative leader comfortable guiding small software teams through agile ceremonies while also delivering high quality work independently.
Passionate about aircraft software and test automation, with a strong interest in advancing cross platform testing capabilities.
Experienced with Python, C/C++, Linux, and Windows environments, and eager to expand expertise in CI/CD pipelines and tooling.
U.S.citizen able to obtain and maintain an interim Secret clearance.
What's In It For You:
3 day weekends every weekend!
We offer flexible work schedules to comprehensive benefits investing in your future and security, Learn more about Lockheed Martin's comprehensive benefits package here.
Do you want to be part of a company that empowers employees to think big, lead with a growth mindset, and make the impossible a reality? We provide the resources and give you the flexibility to enable inspiration and focus -if you have the passion and courage to dream big, work hard, and have fun doing what you love then we want to build a better tomorrow with you.
At Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, we're taking innovation to the next level. From designing the most advanced air vehicle to designing aircraft that defies gravity, our engineers live on the cutting edge of technology.

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About Lockheed Martin

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

As a global security and aerospace company, the majority of Lockheed Martin's business is with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. federal government agencies.The remaining portion of Lockheed Martin's business is comprised of international government and commercial sales of products, services and platforms.

Industry

Manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Bethesda, MD, US

Year founded

1912