Lockheed Martin's business in Syracuse today announced that it will hire up to 500 new engineers in 2005 to satisfy its staffing needs. The new engineering jobs are in addition to 750 high tech positions Lockheed Martin previously announced it will need to fill in Owego, NY, should the US101 helicopter win several near-term competitions.

"Our current growth and potential further expansion demonstrates Lockheed Martin's commitment to New York and our belief that the state's elected representatives are focused on cultivating a positive business environment," said Robert B. Coutts, executive vice president of the Corporation's Electronic Systems business area, of which the Owego and Syracuse sites are part.

The Syracuse business announced last October that it had won a $625 million contract for the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) and, as a result, would hire 40 additional employees by the end of the year, as well as another 260 by 2007. According to company officials, those hiring efforts will only serve to staff one of many programs.

"After reviewing all our program requirements, we have concluded that we'll need to intensify our efforts to find even more engineering talent," said Joe Trench, president of Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors' Radar Systems line of business. "We offer many great opportunities supporting high priority national defense programs that will provide rewarding challenges to qualified engineers."

New hires planned for 2005 will also support a $413 million contract for the Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) radar program won in 2003, as well as several other programs. The engineers will support new business pursuits and replace engineers expected to leave the business through retirement or normal attrition.

To step up its recruiting efforts, Lockheed Martin is expanding its regional and national advertising, along with its college recruiting, and will host more engineering job fairs locally in 2005. The Corporation is touting employee benefits like 100 percent tuition reimbursement; a 401(k) savings plan with company match and a pension plan; health club reimbursement; and flexible work schedules. It's also offering its current employees up to $3,000 in cash bonuses for each of their contacts who qualify for the Corporate Employee Referral program and come to work for Lockheed Martin.

Lockheed Martin-Syracuse's next Engineering Job Fair will be held on Tuesday, January 18, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Holiday Inn- Electronics Parkway, in Liverpool.

In March, Lockheed Martin's Owego business announced plans for a new 176,000-square-foot facility and up to 750 new jobs in connection with the US101 helicopter program. Lockheed Martin leads Team US101, which is competing for the U.S. Navy's Presidential helicopter replacement program and intends to pursue a U.S. Air Force helicopter program in 2005. Hiring related to the US101 program would span engineering, technical and manufacturing specialties.

Individuals interested in employment opportunities with Lockheed Martin can review available positions in a variety of engineering specialties on http://www.lockheedmartin.com/careers; view future hiring events at http://www.lockheedmartinevents.com/; or sign up to be notified by e-mail about future hiring events at: http://www.lockheedmartinevents.com/subscribe.asp.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.

For additional information, visit our Web site:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ms2

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin