Aircraft Mechanic Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Aircraft mechanic jobs in Tucson cluster around Tucson International Airport and Pinal Airpark, where business jets, airliners and military aircraft come in for maintenance. An FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate is the ticket, and Pima Community College teaches it next to the runway. Current openings are below, followed by who is hiring.
Current Aircraft Mechanic Openings in Tucson, AZ
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Aircraft Mechanic Work in Tucson
Most Tucson aircraft maintenance happens at Tucson International Airport and along South Park Avenue. Bombardier's Tucson Service Centre works on business jets, and Ascent Aviation Services runs heavy maintenance, structures and teardown work in Tucson and at Pinal Airpark northwest of Marana, where retired airliners are also stored and parted out. Military work adds another layer: L3Harris flight operations in Tucson hire A&P mechanics, and the 162nd Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard flies F-16s from Morris Air National Guard Base next to the airport.
That mix gives Tucson mechanics choices most cities do not offer: corporate jets with sign-on bonuses, airliner structures work, or clearance-required defense flight programs. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on the southeast side, home of the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group boneyard, flew its final A-10 sorties in July 2026 and still employs about 3,000 civilians.
Top Tucson Employers Hiring Aircraft Mechanics
These Tucson-area employers have posted aircraft mechanic roles on their own careers sites:
- Bombardier - the Tucson Service Centre at the airport, hiring experienced A&P technicians for business jet maintenance, with shift premiums and a sign-on bonus.
- Ascent Aviation Services - airliner maintenance, storage and teardown at Pinal Airpark and on South Park Avenue, with entry sheet metal, NDT and a paid structures apprenticeship.
- L3Harris - flight operations in Tucson hiring A&P mechanics for special-mission aircraft, some roles requiring a Secret clearance.
- 162nd Wing, Arizona Air National Guard - federal technician aircraft mechanic jobs at Morris Air National Guard Base, open to Guard members.
Aircraft Mechanic Salaries in Tucson
- Entry or apprentice: roughly $18.50 to $24 an hour.
- Certified A&P mechanic: roughly $26 to $36 an hour.
- Lead, inspector or federal technician: roughly $38 to $50 an hour.
Ascent's structures apprenticeship starts at $18.50 an hour, and Guard aircraft mechanic jobs around Tucson have posted $39 to $58 an hour at the senior and supervisor grades. Ratings, inspection authority, shift premiums and clearances move pay the most, and Bombardier advertises up to a $5,000 sign-on bonus. These are estimates that vary by employer and experience.
How to Become an Aircraft Mechanic in Tucson
The FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate is a federal credential; Arizona has no state license for aircraft mechanics. You qualify either through an FAA Part 147 school or through documented experience, 18 months for one rating or 30 months for both, then pass the knowledge, oral and practical tests. Pima Community College's Aviation Technology Center at 7211 S. Park Ave. teaches the Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Certificate in 16 months full time or 28 months part time, at an estimated $14,439.50 in-state for 2025-26, plus Structural Repair, Avionics and NDT certificates. High school juniors and seniors can start through Pima JTED's Aviation Technology program at the same center.
What the Job Involves
Aircraft mechanics inspect, troubleshoot and repair engines, hydraulics, landing gear, flight controls and airframe structures, working from maintenance manuals and signing off every task in the records. Shifts often run nights, weekends or 12 hours, and the work happens in hangars and on the ramp.
Skills Employers Look For
- FAA A&P certificate, or eligibility to test
- Mechanical troubleshooting
- Reading maintenance manuals and drawings
- Accurate logbook and work order documentation
- Sheet metal and structures repair
- Willingness to work nights and weekends
- U.S. citizenship and clearance eligibility for defense work
Career Path and Advancement
Many Tucson mechanics start in structures or teardown at Ascent or as an entry A&P, then add ratings and type experience to move into lead, inspector and supervisor roles at the business jet, airline and defense shops. Inspection Authorization, avionics and NDT specialties open more doors, and Guard technician jobs offer a federal career track at Morris.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the closest alternatives for aircraft mechanics:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be an aircraft mechanic in Tucson?
You need the FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate for most mechanic jobs. It is federal; Arizona issues no aircraft mechanic license. Some entry structures and teardown jobs hire before you are certified.
How long does it take to get an A&P certificate in Tucson?
Pima Community College's Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Certificate takes 16 months full time or 28 months part time. Without school, the FAA requires 30 months of documented experience to test for both ratings.
How much do aircraft mechanics make in Tucson?
Entry and apprentice roles typically pay about $18.50 to $24 an hour, certified A&P mechanics about $26 to $36, and leads, inspectors and federal technicians roughly $38 to $50. Shift premiums and sign-on bonuses add to that.
How much does Pima's A&P program cost?
Pima estimates the Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Certificate at $14,439.50 for Arizona residents in 2025-26. That covers tuition, differential tuition, course fees, licensing fees and semester fees.
Can you become an aircraft mechanic without the A&P in Tucson?
Yes, at the entry level. Ascent Aviation Services runs a 12-month paid structures apprenticeship starting at $18.50 an hour, and sheet metal and teardown jobs can lead to the A&P with added certification.
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