Why Defense Contractors Hire Veterans First

Defense contracting companies aren't just "veteran-friendly" as a marketing slogan — hiring veterans is a core business strategy. These companies hold contracts with the Department of Defense, intelligence agencies, and other federal entities. Their customers speak military language, use military systems, and operate in military environments. Veterans don't just fit the culture — they ARE the culture.

The numbers back this up. Major defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and Booz Allen Hamilton each employ tens of thousands of veterans. Many have formal veteran hiring programs, dedicated military recruiters, and SkillBridge partnerships. Some defense contractor positions explicitly require military experience or military system familiarity that civilian candidates simply don't have.

The practical advantages are significant. Your security clearance transfers directly — no need for the company to sponsor a new clearance that could take 6-18 months and cost thousands of dollars. Your familiarity with military processes, regulations, and culture means a shorter ramp-up time. Your understanding of military end-users means you can deliver better products and services. For defense contractors, hiring veterans isn't charity — it's smart business.

The Top Defense Contractors Hiring Veterans

Here's a practical breakdown of the major defense contractors, what they hire veterans for, and what you can expect in terms of compensation and opportunities.

Lockheed Martin — The largest defense contractor in the world, with approximately 25% of their workforce being veterans. They hire across every discipline: engineering, cybersecurity, program management, logistics, IT, and more. Lockheed's "Military Connect" program provides mentorship and networking for veteran employees. Compensation ranges from $65,000 for technical specialists to $180,000+ for senior engineers and program managers.

Booz Allen Hamilton — A consulting and technology firm that's one of the most veteran-dense companies in the defense industry. Booz Allen is particularly strong in cybersecurity, data analytics, and consulting roles. They offer SkillBridge internships and have a dedicated military recruiting team. If you have an active TS/SCI clearance and technical skills, Booz Allen is often one of the highest-paying options, with cybersecurity roles starting at $90,000-$130,000.

Raytheon Technologies (RTX) — Specializes in missiles, defense systems, and aerospace. Strong hiring in engineering, program management, manufacturing, and quality assurance. Their "Hiring Our Heroes" partnership and military skills translator tool help veterans identify matching positions. Engineering roles start at $75,000-$100,000, with senior positions exceeding $150,000.

Northrop Grumman — Major employer in aerospace, cybersecurity, and autonomous systems. Their "Operation IMPACT" veteran hiring initiative is one of the industry's most comprehensive programs. Strong demand for cleared cybersecurity professionals, systems engineers, and program managers. Compensation competitive with industry standards, plus strong benefits packages including education reimbursement.

General Dynamics — Operates across combat systems, information technology, marine systems, and mission systems. General Dynamics IT (GDIT) is one of the largest IT services companies in the defense sector and hires heavily from military IT, cyber, and communications specialties. IT and cybersecurity roles range from $70,000-$140,000+ depending on clearance and experience.

SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation) — Focused on IT modernization, engineering services, and mission support. SAIC has a particularly strong presence in defense IT and has a dedicated "Veterans Support Network." Good fit for military IT specialists, engineers, and program managers.

Leidos — Focused on defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets. Leidos has one of the strongest veteran hiring programs in the industry and frequently appears on "best companies for veterans" lists. Strong in cybersecurity, data science, and engineering roles.

ManTech International — A mid-size defense contractor with a high concentration of cleared professionals. ManTech is particularly strong in cybersecurity, intelligence analysis, and IT services. If you have a TS/SCI clearance and cyber or intelligence experience, ManTech is worth targeting.

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Resume Strategy for Defense Contractor Applications

Defense contractor resumes occupy a middle ground between military resumes and standard civilian resumes. You can use more military context than you would for a commercial company, but you still need to demonstrate your value in civilian business terms.

Keep some military terminology. Unlike a resume for Amazon or Google, your defense contractor resume can include military system names, doctrinal references, and operational context. The hiring manager probably has military experience themselves and understands the language. However, still translate your accomplishments into measurable results — "improved unit readiness" is still too vague even for a defense contractor audience.

Lead with your clearance. Put your security clearance at the top of your resume, right under your name and contact information. For defense contractors, clearance is often the first filter. A resume without a clearance listed may be skipped entirely. Format: "Active TS/SCI Clearance — Current [CI Poly if applicable]." Read our detailed guide on listing security clearances for best practices.

Match the job posting's language precisely. Defense contractor job postings often include specific requirements — "experience with GCSS-Army," "familiarity with NIST 800-53," "knowledge of DoD 8570 requirements." If you have this experience, use the exact same terminology on your resume. The ATS and the hiring manager are both looking for these specific keywords.

Highlight your military system expertise. Your experience with military-specific systems (GCSS-Army, DCGS, CPOF, TBMCS, etc.) is a major selling point for defense contractors because their contracts require people who know these systems. List every military system, platform, and tool you've used — this is one case where military specificity works in your favor.

Show contract-relevant experience. If you can identify the specific contract or program the job posting relates to, tailor your resume to emphasize experience that's directly relevant. A job posting for "INSCOM support" or "CENTCOM J2 support" tells you exactly what kind of experience they need — shape your resume to highlight your most relevant assignments.

The SkillBridge Advantage: Getting In Before You Get Out

If you're still on active duty with 180 days or less until separation, SkillBridge is the single best path into defense contracting. Major defense contractors have established SkillBridge programs specifically because it's an effective way to evaluate and onboard military talent.

Here's how it works in the defense contractor context: you apply for a SkillBridge position at a company like Booz Allen, Lockheed Martin, or Northrop Grumman. If accepted, you work at the company full-time during your last few months of active duty while still receiving your military pay and benefits. The company gets to evaluate you in a real work environment, and you get to evaluate whether the company, role, and culture are right for you. The conversion rate from SkillBridge internship to full-time offer is extremely high at major defense contractors — some report 80-90% conversion rates.

The strategic advantage is significant. By the time your separation date arrives, you can have a full-time job offer, onboarding paperwork completed, and a seamless transition from military pay to civilian salary. No unemployment gap, no anxious job searching — just a direct transition from uniformed service to civilian employment at a company you've already been working at for months.

Apply for SkillBridge programs 6-12 months before your separation date. Competition for slots at top defense contractors is increasing, so early application gives you the best selection of available positions. Your installation's transition office or education center can help with the paperwork and command approval process.

Navigating the Application Process

Defense contractor applications are typically submitted through online applicant tracking systems, similar to any civilian company. But there are a few nuances specific to the defense industry that can improve your success rate.

Apply directly on company career sites. While job aggregators like Indeed and LinkedIn list defense contractor positions, many cleared positions are only posted on the company's own career site. Create accounts on every major defense contractor's career portal and set up job alerts for your target roles.

Use the referral network. Defense contracting is a relationship-heavy industry. If you know veterans who already work at your target company, ask for a referral. Employee referrals typically bypass initial screening and go directly to the hiring manager for review. Many companies pay referral bonuses, so your veteran contacts have a financial incentive to refer qualified candidates.

Follow up persistently. Defense contractor hiring processes can be slow — security verification, contract-specific requirements, and government approval processes add time. Don't assume silence means rejection. Follow up every 1-2 weeks with a brief, professional email to the recruiter or hiring manager expressing continued interest and asking about timeline.

Be prepared for technical interviews. Many defense contractor positions include technical interviews or skills assessments specific to the contract you'd be supporting. If the position involves a specific military system you've used, be prepared to discuss your experience in detail. If it involves technical certifications (cybersecurity, engineering, IT), expect scenario-based questions that test practical knowledge.

Compensation and Benefits: What to Expect

Defense contractor compensation varies significantly by clearance level, technical specialty, location, and company size. Here's a realistic breakdown:

Cleared administrative and support roles: $50,000-$75,000. These are positions like cleared administrative assistants, logistics support specialists, and entry-level analysts. They require a clearance but don't require deep technical expertise.

Technical specialists and analysts: $70,000-$110,000. Systems administrators, intelligence analysts, logistics managers, training developers, and mid-level engineers. This is where most military veterans land initially, especially with 4-8 years of relevant experience.

Senior technical and program management: $100,000-$160,000. Senior engineers, cybersecurity specialists, lead analysts, and program managers. Typically requires 8+ years of experience plus relevant certifications. TS/SCI with CI poly pushes compensation toward the higher end.

Director and VP-level: $150,000-$250,000+. Capture managers, program directors, division managers, and VP-level leaders. These positions typically require 15+ years of combined military and contractor experience, plus demonstrated business development capability.

Beyond base salary, defense contractors typically offer: 401(k) matching (3-6%), health/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, education reimbursement ($5,000-$10,000/year), and paid time off (15-25 days). Some larger contractors also offer stock purchase plans and annual bonuses.

How to Find Defense Contractor Jobs

Defense contractor positions are posted on multiple platforms, and the most effective job search strategy uses all of them simultaneously.

Company career sites: All major defense contractors have dedicated career pages. Many have "military" or "veteran" filters that surface positions specifically tagged for military experience. Create profiles on Lockheed Martin, Booz Allen, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, SAIC, and Leidos career sites — and set up email alerts for your target positions.

ClearanceJobs.com: The premier job board for cleared professionals. If you have an active clearance, your profile on ClearanceJobs will generate recruiter interest. This is the first place most defense contractor recruiters look for cleared candidates.

LinkedIn: Optimize your LinkedIn profile with cleared-friendly keywords and set your profile to "open to work" (visible to recruiters only). Defense contractor recruiters are extremely active on LinkedIn and frequently conduct keyword searches for specific clearance levels and technical skills.

Military-specific job boards: Military.com, Hire Heroes USA, and RecruitMilitary host virtual and in-person career fairs specifically connecting veterans with defense contractors. These events often lead to on-the-spot interviews and expedited hiring processes.

SkillBridge programs: If you're still on active duty, many defense contractors offer SkillBridge internships that can lead directly to full-time employment. This lets you evaluate the company while earning your military pay, and it gives the company a chance to evaluate you in a real work environment.

BMR's resume builder creates resumes tailored for defense contractor applications — balancing military terminology that defense hiring managers expect with the results-driven format that ATS systems need. And our career translation guides show which civilian roles match your military specialty, including defense contractor positions.

Also see top companies hiring veterans.

Related: How veterans actually get hired on LinkedIn and the complete military resume guide for 2026.