Defense Contractor
A defense contractor is a company that provides products or services to the Department of Defense or other government agencies. Many defense contractors require security clearances for employees who work on classified programs.
Quick Facts
| Definition | Company with government defense contracts |
| Clearance | May or may not require FCL depending on contracts |
| Size | From small businesses to major corporations |
| Work | Weapons, IT, services, logistics, R&D |
Types of Defense Contractors
Prime Contractors
Large companies with direct government contracts:
- Major aerospace/defense corporations
- Large IT integrators
- Primary system developers
- Direct contract holders
Subcontractors
Companies supporting prime contractors:
- Specialized component suppliers
- Technical service providers
- Small businesses
- Niche capability providers
Classifications by Size
| Category | Employees | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Large | 1000+ | Multiple contracts, established FCL |
| Mid-size | 100-1000 | Growing programs, regional presence |
| Small | Under 100 | Often subcontractors, specialized |
Working for Defense Contractors
Advantages:
- Competitive salaries
- Interesting technical work
- Job mobility within sector
- Clearance portability
Considerations:
- Contract-dependent work
- May require relocation
- Security restrictions
- Program changes affect employment
Cleared vs. Uncleared Work
Not all defense contractor work requires clearance[1]:
Cleared positions:
- Classified program work
- Access to sensitive facilities
- Intelligence support
- Weapons development
Uncleared positions:
- Administrative support
- Unclassified research
- Commercial products
- General corporate functions
Many companies have both cleared and uncleared work.
Facility Clearance Requirements
For classified work, companies need FCL[2]:
- Demonstrates ability to protect classified information
- Required before sponsoring employee clearances
- Different levels match contract requirements
- DCSA oversight and inspections
Major Sectors
Defense contractors operate in many areas:
| Sector | Examples of Work |
|---|---|
| Aerospace | Aircraft, spacecraft, missiles |
| Shipbuilding | Naval vessels, submarines |
| Ground systems | Vehicles, weapons systems |
| C4ISR | Communications, intelligence systems |
| Cybersecurity | Network defense, secure systems |
| IT services | Systems integration, support |
| Logistics | Supply chain, maintenance |
Getting Hired
With existing clearance:
- Highly competitive
- Faster onboarding
- Access to more positions
Without clearance:
- Must be clearable
- Company sponsors investigation
- Longer hiring process
- Start on uncleared work while processing
Geographic Hubs
Defense contractor concentrations:
- Northern Virginia / D.C. metro
- Southern California
- Texas (Dallas, San Antonio)
- Colorado Springs
- Huntsville, Alabama
- Boston area
- Seattle area
Career Paths
Common progression:
- Entry-level technical role
- Senior individual contributor
- Technical lead or management
- Program management
- Executive leadership
Clearance level often increases with seniority.
Related
References
- ^ DoD 5220.22-M: National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM). Department of Defense. Accessed 2026-01-08.
- ^ Facility Clearances. Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. Accessed 2026-01-10.