Aerospace Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Aerospace work in Tucson runs from the missile plant south of the airport to jet hangars at Tucson International and Pinal Airpark. Bombardier, L3Harris, Celestica and World View are posting Tucson jobs now, and Raytheon remains the metro's largest private employer. Current openings are below.
Current Aerospace Openings in Tucson, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Aerospace Work in Tucson
Raytheon, now part of RTX, builds missiles at its plant south of Tucson International Airport and is the metro's largest private employer, with about 14,050 local jobs in HUD's December 2024 market analysis. Around it, Aerospace Parkway links the airport district toward I-19 and I-10, and Pima County is planning an aerospace and defense research park of nearly 2,000 acres along it. Aircraft maintenance clusters at the airport, where Bombardier runs a business-jet service center and Pima Community College trains mechanics, and out at Pinal Airpark northwest of Marana, where Ascent Aviation Services overhauls and stores airliners.
Much of the work is defense work. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Wing keep military aircraft in town, and contractors such as L3Harris staff maintenance and avionics crews around them. Expect U.S. citizenship rules, export-control screening at ITAR facilities like Celestica's, and security clearances on many postings.
Top Tucson Employers Hiring Aerospace Workers
These Tucson-area employers have posted aerospace work on their own careers sites:
- Bombardier - the Learjet business-jet service center at Tucson International Airport, hiring experienced A&P technicians.
- Ascent Aviation Services - airliner maintenance and storage at Pinal Airpark and on South Park Avenue, with sheet metal, teardown, NDT, A&P and apprentice roles.
- L3Harris - aircraft maintenance and avionics technicians in Tucson, including mission systems work at Davis-Monthan; Secret clearance required.
- Celestica - aerospace manufacturing at its Tucson ITAR facility, hiring first article inspectors, production cell leads and FAA electronics technicians.
- World View - the stratospheric balloon maker, now part of Ondas Sentinel, hiring test and manufacturing engineers and balloon manufacturing technicians.
- Paragon Space Development - the Tucson-headquartered space life-support company, hiring engineers who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Aerospace Salaries in Tucson
- Entry (apprentice, assembler, production technician): roughly $18.50 to $25 an hour.
- Skilled (A&P mechanic, avionics technician, inspector): roughly $26 to $38 an hour.
- Engineer or senior specialist: roughly $80,000 to $125,000 a year, more for leads and managers.
These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. Ascent's Structures Apprentice Program starts at $18.50 an hour, World View posts $30 to $38 an hour for a product engineering technician and $80,000 to $100,000 for a test engineer, and BLS put the mean for Tucson aerospace engineers at $112,850 in May 2023. Certifications, clearances and shift premiums move pay up within each band.
How to Get Into Aerospace in Tucson
For hands-on work, Pima Community College's Aviation Technology Center at 7211 S. Park Ave., beside the airport, runs a 16-month Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics certificate, a one-semester Avionics Technician certificate, Aircraft Structural Repair and Nondestructive Testing. High school juniors and seniors can start there through Pima JTED's Aviation Technology program. For engineering, the University of Arizona's Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering offers bachelor's degrees in both fields, and Pima's Pre-Engineering associate degree at West Campus is the transfer route. Arizona has no state license for aerospace work. Aircraft maintenance runs on the FAA mechanic certificate, and defense employers add citizenship and clearance requirements.
What the Job Involves
The work depends on the shop. Production staff assemble, wire and inspect parts against drawings and quality plans. Maintenance technicians strip, repair and inspect aircraft in a hangar and sign off every task in the records. Engineers write test plans, run unit and system tests, chase down failures and keep production lines moving. Most of it is on-site and documentation-heavy.
Skills Employers Look For
- Blueprint, schematic and technical-manual reading
- Hand and power tool skill, plus soldering or sheet metal work
- Careful documentation and comfort with quality systems
- Troubleshooting mechanical, electrical and integrated systems
- U.S. citizenship and clearance eligibility for defense roles
- An FAA A&P certificate for aircraft maintenance roles
Career Path and Advancement
A common Tucson path starts as an apprentice or production technician, moves to certified mechanic or avionics technician, then lead, inspector and supervisor. Engineers climb from test or manufacturing engineer to senior engineer and engineering manager, the ladder World View and Celestica post today. Because the MRO shops, manufacturers and defense contractors sit within a short drive of the airport, moving between them is a normal way to advance.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the main aerospace roles in more depth:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do aerospace jobs in Tucson require a security clearance?
Many defense jobs do. L3Harris's Tucson avionics and maintenance postings require U.S. citizenship and a Secret clearance, and Celestica screens for export control at its ITAR facility. Commercial maintenance and space companies often skip the clearance but may still require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
Where can you train for aerospace work in Tucson?
Pima Community College's Aviation Technology Center on South Park Avenue trains A&P mechanics, avionics technicians, structural repair technicians and NDT technicians. Engineers usually come through the University of Arizona's Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.
How much do aerospace jobs pay in Tucson?
Entry production and apprentice roles run roughly $18.50 to $25 an hour, skilled technicians roughly $26 to $38, and engineers roughly $80,000 to $125,000 a year. Clearances, certifications and shift premiums push pay higher.
Do you need a degree to work in aerospace in Tucson?
Not for most hands-on roles. Ascent's Structures Apprentice Program trains new hires, and maintenance and avionics jobs ask for a certificate or experience rather than a degree. Engineering roles require a bachelor's degree.
Which Tucson employers hire the most aerospace workers?
Raytheon is the largest by far, with about 14,050 local jobs in HUD's 2024 count. Bombardier, Ascent Aviation Services, L3Harris, Celestica and World View all post Tucson aerospace jobs on their own careers sites.
Ready to apply? Browse all aerospace jobs in Tucson, AZ on TucsonHIRED and apply today.