Most in-demand defense and aerospace roles
Software Developers, Computer Systems Engineers/Architects and Mechanical Engineers are the roles defense and aerospace employers have the most openings for, out of 30,328 open jobs. Every job on this page is in the United States, taken from the employer’s own career site or job system and checked to still be open.
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Most in-demand defense and aerospace roles
Rebuilt weekly. November 2026 edition.
| # | Role | Open jobs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Software Developers290 employers · Median pay $193k | 2,813 open |
| 2 | Computer Systems Engineers/Architects231 employers · Median pay $172k | 2,108 open |
| 3 | Mechanical Engineers177 employers · Median pay $154k | 1,119 open |
| 4 | Electrical Engineers162 employers · Median pay $154k | 1,029 open |
| 5 | Aerospace Engineers106 employers · Median pay $167k | 780 open |
| 6 | Manufacturing Engineers107 employers · Median pay $150k | 655 open |
| 7 | Project Management Specialists173 employers · Median pay $179k | 631 open |
| 8 | Computer Hardware Engineers96 employers · Median pay $160k | 493 open |
| 9 | Architectural and Engineering Managers116 employers · Median pay $219k | 491 open |
| 10 | Information Security Engineers122 employers · Median pay $160k | 467 open |
| 11 | Electronics Engineers, Except Computer84 employers · Median pay $174k | 394 open |
| 12 | Information Technology Project Managers117 employers · Median pay $193k | 365 open |
| 13 | Validation Engineers79 employers · Median pay $149k | 365 open |
| 14 | Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers94 employers · Median pay $136k | 352 open |
| 15 | Network and Computer Systems Administrators97 employers · Median pay $145k | 345 open |
| 16 | Database Administrators101 employers · Median pay $133k | 344 open |
| 17 | Computer and Information Systems Managers91 employers · Median pay $208k | 306 open |
| 18 | Computer Network Architects86 employers · Median pay $168k | 302 open |
| 19 | Sales Managers110 employers · Median pay $193k | 296 open |
| 20 | Industrial Engineers68 employers · Median pay $159k | 282 open |
| 21 | Data Scientists105 employers · Median pay $127k | 273 open |
| 22 | Information Security Analysts90 employers · Median pay $138k | 263 open |
| 23 | Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products82 employers · Median pay $140k | 256 open |
| 24 | Computer and Information Research Scientists82 employers · Median pay $175k | 253 open |
| 25 | Engineers, All Other67 employers · Median pay $137k | 252 open |
Search all defense and aerospace jobs · Back to defense and aerospace jobs
More defense and aerospace lists
More industries
- US manufacturing34,328
- Financial services28,982
- Healthcare26,927
- Education14,346
- Nonprofits13,697
- Biotech and pharma12,574
- AI8,364
- Construction7,544
- Transportation and logistics5,669
- Space5,418
- Automotive and EV4,186
- Semiconductors3,683
- Retail3,289
- Robotics and automation3,148
- Consumer packaged goods2,663
- Data centers2,554
- Utilities and power2,405
- Clean energy and nuclear2,303
- Telecom1,689
- Real estate1,655
- Tourism and hospitality1,437
- Oil and gas1,102
- Steel, aluminum and metals1,022
- Restaurants953
- TV and streaming941
- Mining and natural resources884
- Airlines and aviation811
- Music663
- Shipbuilding and maritime474
- Casino and gaming441
- Sports235
- Movies and film63
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