Lockheed Martin Resume Keywords & ATS Tips

Lockheed Martin, like most large defense contractors, runs its applications through Workday. That means the same core rules apply as with any Workday-based ATS: clean formatting, exact keyword matches from the job posting, and structured section headers. But defense and aerospace roles also carry a specific layer of keywords and compliance terms that generic resume advice doesn't cover—clearance status, ITAR/export-control language, program and platform experience, and specific engineering standards.

This guide covers both layers: the general Workday-ATS formatting rules, and the defense-sector-specific keywords that actually move the needle on a Lockheed Martin application.

In this guide:

• How to format a resume for Lockheed Martin's Workday ATS
• Security clearance language: what to say and what not to overstate
• Keyword categories specific to defense/aerospace roles
• Example bullet points by common Lockheed Martin role type
• Mistakes that specifically hurt defense-sector applications

Formatting for a Workday-Based ATS

• Single-column layout. Workday's parser reads more reliably top-to-bottom in one column; multi-column resumes risk scrambled field extraction.
• Standard section headers. "Experience," "Education," "Skills," "Certifications"—not creative alternatives.
• Plain text contact info in the body, not a header/footer or icon-based row.
• .docx or text-based PDF. Avoid image-exported or scanned files entirely.
• Consistent date formats. "June 2021 - Present," not abbreviated or inconsistent formats across roles.

Before you apply, it's worth confirming your file parses cleanly with a free ATS checker—this catches the formatting issues above before Workday ever sees them.

Security Clearance Language: What to Say (and Not Overstate)

Clearance status is one of the most heavily keyword-searched fields for defense contractor recruiters. Get the terminology precise:

• If you currently hold a clearance: State the level and status clearly: "Active DoD Secret Clearance" or "Active Top Secret/SCI, granted [year]." Include whether it's active or needs reinstatement.
• If your clearance has lapsed: Say so honestly: "Former Secret Clearance (inactive since 2022, eligible for reinstatement)." Recruiters specifically search for reinstatement-eligible candidates, since it's often faster than a fresh investigation.
• If you've never held a clearance: Don't imply otherwise. It's fine to state "Eligible for clearance sponsorship" if you meet basic citizenship and background requirements—many entry-level defense roles sponsor clearances.
• Never state a clearance level you don't actually hold. This is verified during the background/security process, and a mismatch here is a serious credibility problem, not just an ATS keyword issue.

Keyword Categories Specific to Defense & Aerospace Roles

Compliance & Regulatory

• ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations)
• EAR (Export Administration Regulations)
• DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement)
• NIST 800-171 / CMMC (for cybersecurity and IT roles)

Engineering & Technical

• Systems engineering, MBSE (model-based systems engineering)
• Specific standards: MIL-STD, AS9100, DO-178C (avionics software)
• Program/platform names relevant to your actual experience (only if truthfully applicable)
• Tools: CATIA, MATLAB, DOORS, Cameo, SAP

Program Management

• EVMS (Earned Value Management System)
• IMS (Integrated Master Schedule)
• PMP certification, if held
• Risk management, milestone tracking, government contract experience

Pull the exact terms from the specific job posting rather than listing every keyword above—Workday's matching weights exact phrase matches from the posting more heavily than a generic keyword dump.

Example Bullet Points by Role Type

Systems Engineer

• Developed system-level requirements for a $40M avionics subsystem using MBSE tools (Cameo, DOORS), ensuring compliance with DO-178C
• Led integration testing across 3 subsystems, reducing defect escape rate to production by 22%

Program Manager

• Managed a $65M government contract program using EVMS, maintaining schedule performance index above 0.95 for 18 consecutive months
• Coordinated cross-functional teams of 40+ engineers across 3 sites to deliver a major milestone review on schedule

Software Engineer (Defense)

• Developed embedded software compliant with DO-178C Level A safety standards for a flight control subsystem
• Reduced code review cycle time by 30% by introducing automated static analysis into the CI pipeline

Need role-specific examples beyond defense-sector wording? See the general software engineer resume example and adapt the compliance and clearance language above into it.

Mistakes That Specifically Hurt Defense-Sector Applications

• Omitting clearance status entirely when you have one. This is one of the first fields defense recruiters search for. Leaving it out means you may not surface at all in a clearance-filtered search.
• Using classified program names or details you're not authorized to disclose. Reference the type of work and unclassified outcomes, not specifics that could violate a nondisclosure agreement.
• Generic engineering resumes with no compliance/standards language. Even strong technical experience can score lower without the specific regulatory and standards vocabulary this sector searches for.
• Overstating citizenship or work-authorization status. Many defense roles require U.S. citizenship due to ITAR; be accurate about your status rather than vague.

Next Step

A Lockheed Martin application needs both layers right: clean Workday-safe formatting, and the specific clearance, compliance, and standards vocabulary this sector's recruiters search for. Get the formatting checked first, since a parsing failure means none of the keyword work matters.

Run your resume through a free ATS checker, confirm it parses cleanly, then match it against the specific posting with the job match score tool before you submit.