Defense AI/ML

Lockheed Martin AI Sales Engineer Careers and Salary

Lockheed Martin is the world's largest defense contractor and a major player in AI and machine learning for national security applications. The company's AI efforts span autonomous systems, predictive maintenance for military platforms, intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, and decision support systems. AI/ML roles at Lockheed Martin sit at the intersection of defense domain expertise and cutting-edge technology, serving customers across the Department of Defense, intelligence community, and allied nations. The company's scale and contract base provide job stability that most AI startups cannot match.

$140K to $210K

On-Target Earnings

Hybrid (Multiple Locations)

Work Model

30 to 50 SEs (AI focused)

Estimated SE Team Size

AI Products and Platform

Lockheed Martin's AI capabilities include AI-powered predictive maintenance for aircraft, ships, and vehicles; autonomous systems for unmanned platforms; computer vision for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); natural language processing for intelligence analysis; cybersecurity AI for threat detection; and digital twin simulations enhanced with ML. The company also provides AI solutions through its partnership with AWS (using SageMaker and Bedrock on GovCloud) and internal platforms built on classified networks.

Why AI Sales Engineers Join Lockheed Martin

Candidates considering Lockheed Martin for their next AI Sales Engineer role should weigh these factors carefully. Each one reflects real patterns reported by SEs currently working at the company or who have recently interviewed there.

Work on AI applications with direct national security impact, which provides a sense of mission that commercial AI companies rarely offer.
Defense contracts provide exceptional job stability and predictable revenue, even during economic downturns.
Security clearance (TS/SCI) is a career asset that significantly increases your market value and limits competition for cleared positions.
Lockheed Martin's scale and contract base mean exposure to AI problems at a complexity level that few organizations can match.

What the AI Sales Engineer Role Looks Like at Lockheed Martin

AI-focused technical sales and solutions roles at Lockheed Martin (titled variously as Solutions Architect, Technical Sales Engineer, or Capture Engineer) involve helping government customers define AI requirements, designing solutions that meet those requirements within classified environments, and supporting proposals for competitive contract awards. A typical engagement involves understanding a military or intelligence customer's mission needs, designing an AI architecture that works within government security and compliance frameworks, building demonstration prototypes, and presenting solutions to program offices and contracting officers. You would demo predictive maintenance systems for military platforms, walk through computer vision capabilities for ISR applications, explain how AI models can operate in disconnected or contested environments, and help program managers understand the maturity and limitations of AI for specific mission areas. The role requires security clearance and comfort working within the unique constraints of the defense acquisition process.

Technical Skills and Requirements

The following technical skills are expected or strongly preferred for AI Sales Engineer roles at Lockheed Martin. Requirements vary by seniority level and specific team, but these represent the baseline that hiring managers screen for.

Eligibility for and willingness to obtain a security clearance (TS/SCI preferred)
Understanding of ML model development, deployment, and edge computing
Familiarity with defense acquisition processes and government contracting
Experience with computer vision, NLP, or autonomous systems is preferred
Knowledge of cloud platforms in government environments (AWS GovCloud, Azure Gov)

Interview Process for Lockheed Martin AI Sales Engineers

Lockheed Martin interviews for AI technical roles run three to six weeks, not including the security clearance process which can add months. The interview typically includes an HR screen, a technical interview with the hiring team covering AI/ML knowledge and defense domain expertise, a solutions presentation where you design an AI system for a government use case, and a final interview with program leadership. Lockheed Martin evaluates candidates on both technical capability and understanding of the defense customer environment. Candidates with existing security clearances have a significant advantage. The solutions presentation should demonstrate awareness of government-specific constraints like data classification, accreditation requirements, and edge deployment limitations.

Salary and Compensation at Lockheed Martin

$140K to $210K OTE
On-target earnings for AI Sales Engineers at Lockheed Martin

OTE for AI SE-type roles at Lockheed Martin ranges from $140,000 to $210,000, with base salaries between $110,000 and $170,000. Compensation is lower than top-tier tech companies but includes benefits that offset the gap: pension plan, strong 401(k) match, comprehensive health coverage, and exceptional job stability. Annual bonuses range from 5% to 15% of base salary. The security clearance you obtain is itself a valuable career asset, as cleared professionals command premium compensation across the defense and intelligence sector.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lockheed Martin AI SE Roles

These questions reflect the most common topics candidates ask when researching AI Sales Engineer opportunities at Lockheed Martin.

What does an AI Sales Engineer do at Lockheed Martin?

AI-focused SE roles at Lockheed Martin (Solutions Architect or Capture Engineer) involve designing AI solutions for government customers, building demonstration prototypes, and supporting competitive proposals for defense contracts. The work spans predictive maintenance, autonomous systems, computer vision, and intelligence analysis.

What is the salary for AI roles at Lockheed Martin?

OTE ranges from approximately $140,000 to $210,000. Base compensation is lower than top tech companies, but the pension, 401(k) match, and job stability are significant. The security clearance you obtain is itself a valuable career asset worth substantial market premium.

Do I need a security clearance for AI SE roles at Lockheed Martin?

Most AI-focused roles require at least a Secret clearance, with many requiring TS/SCI. You must be eligible for a clearance (typically US citizenship required). Having an active clearance significantly accelerates the hiring process.

How does defense AI SE work differ from commercial AI SE work?

Defense AI involves unique constraints: classified environments, government acquisition processes, edge deployment without cloud connectivity, and strict accreditation requirements. The sales cycle is longer (often years), but contracts are larger and more stable.

Is Lockheed Martin a good place to build an AI career?

Lockheed Martin provides exposure to AI problems at a scale and complexity that few companies can match, plus job stability and a security clearance that permanently increases your market value. The tradeoff is lower cash compensation compared to Silicon Valley and a slower-moving organizational culture.