California is the undisputed capital of American aerospace, defense, and commercial space, employing 560,000+ workers — more than any other state — and generating over $150 billion in annual aerospace output. Home to Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, Northrop Grumman's B-21 program, and SpaceX's Hawthorne factory, California offers unmatched career depth across every segment of the industry.
From stealth fighter manufacturers to commercial space pioneers, California hosts the most complete aerospace and defense ecosystem in the United States.
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works facility in Palmdale is the most famous advanced aircraft development site in the world, producing the F-22, F-35, and classified next-generation stealth programs. Lockheed employs over 26,000 people in California, making it the state's largest aerospace employer by headcount.
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman builds the B-21 Raider stealth bomber — the USAF's next-generation long-range strike aircraft — and operates major satellite and systems engineering campuses across Southern California. Northrop employs over 20,000 workers in California and is one of the state's top five aerospace employers.
SpaceX
SpaceX designs and manufactures its Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Dragon spacecraft in Hawthorne and launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base. SpaceX employs over 13,000 people in California and operates one of the most active rocket production and launch programs on earth — completing over 90 launches in 2023 alone.
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