ADP- Skunkworks -Tool Engineer - Level 3

Lockheed Martin · Palmdale, CA

Apply on Lockheed Martin ↗

Level: Engineer
Team: Manufacturing
Industry: Aerospace & defense
Posted: 30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

An engineer-level manufacturing role at Lockheed Martin (aerospace & defense) in Palmdale, CA.

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Manufacturing Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $111k–$173k.

Median of the low and high ends of 165 live postings that list pay, out of 436 manufacturing engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 435 other live manufacturing postings in California.

Base pay: Not listed in this posting
Experience asked: Not stated

Skills these teams ask for most

Tooling 50%
New product launch 44%
Root cause 37%
Automation 35%
Machining 27%
CATIA / NX 26%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Lockheed Martin
We found 6 people at this company and state: 6 in this kind of role. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Jose → (free)
3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.