Aerospace Jobs in Tucson, AZ

Tucson is ranked among the top 10 U.S. metros for aerospace manufacturing, and the anchor is Raytheon (now part of RTX), whose Tucson headquarters is the region's largest private employer and the place where missiles like StormBreaker and the country's missile-defense interceptors are actually built. Around it sits a dense cluster - Ascent Aviation Services, MHIRJ and Bombardier, Honeywell, Sargent Aerospace, Meggitt, Universal Avionics, and the near-space startup World View. One thing to know going in: much of this work is defense-related, so U.S. citizenship and the ability to hold a security clearance are common requirements.

Current Aerospace Openings in Tucson, AZ

Top Tucson Employers Hiring Aerospace Workers

Aerospace and defense roles in Tucson span assembly and avionics through engineering. Each link lands on that employer's current openings:

• Raytheon / RTX - the Tucson headquarters for missiles and defense, hiring assemblers, test technicians, quality inspectors, and engineers (many roles require a clearance).
• Ascent Aviation Services - heavy maintenance, repair, and overhaul plus aircraft storage at Marana's Pinal Airpark and Tucson International Airport.
• MHIRJ / Bombardier - regional-jet MRO and avionics work at Tucson International Airport, a steadily expanding local operation.
• Sargent Aerospace & Defense - a precision-components maker (part of RBC Bearings) hiring manufacturing engineers, machinists, and assemblers.
• Honeywell and Meggitt - avionics and aerospace components, much of it in the Oro Valley corridor north of the city.
• Universal Avionics and World View - avionics systems and high-altitude near-space platforms built locally.

Aerospace Salaries in Tucson

• Entry (assembler / production technician): about $40,000 - $55,000 per year ($19 - $26 per hour)
• Skilled (avionics tech, A&P mechanic, quality inspector): about $55,000 - $80,000 per year ($26 - $38 per hour)
• Engineer / senior specialist: about $85,000 - $130,000+ per year ($41 - $62 per hour)

These are estimates that vary by employer, role, and clearance level. Defense work that requires a security clearance often pays a premium, and large employers like RTX add benefits including health insurance, 401(k) match, and the Employee Scholar Program that helps pay for further schooling.

How to Get Into Aerospace in Tucson

There are two main local on-ramps. For hands-on roles, Pima Community College's Aviation Technology Center at Tucson International Airport trains A&P mechanics, avionics technicians, and nondestructive testing specialists, and Pima's machining and manufacturing programs feed assembly and fabrication jobs. For engineering, the University of Arizona's College of Engineering supplies aerospace, mechanical, and electrical graduates straight into RTX, Sargent, and the rest of the cluster. Many entry assembly and technician jobs require only a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, but because so much Tucson aerospace work is defense-related, expect U.S. citizenship requirements and background checks for a security clearance.

What the Job Involves

Aerospace work in Tucson ranges widely: building and testing missile and defense systems at Raytheon, overhauling regional jets at MHIRJ or Ascent, soldering and assembling avionics in Oro Valley, machining precision parts at Sargent, or designing systems as an engineer. Much of it is onsite, detail-driven, and held to strict quality standards like AS9100, and on the defense side it can take place in secured, clearance-controlled facilities.

Skills Employers Look For

• U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a security clearance for defense roles
• Mechanical and technical aptitude, with blueprint and schematic reading
• Precision and comfort with quality systems like AS9100
• Soldering, assembly, or machining skills for production roles
• An engineering degree for design and manufacturing-engineering roles
• Reliability for shift work in production environments

Career Path & Advancement

Tucson's aerospace sector rewards people who keep building skills. A common path runs from assembler or technician to lead, inspector, or manufacturing engineer, while A&P and avionics techs can move into specialist and supervisory roles. Because RTX, Sargent, and the MRO operators are large and stable, there is room to move up or specialize without leaving town, and employer tuition programs like RTX's Employee Scholar Program make it realistic to add a degree and climb into engineering or program management.

Related Careers in Tucson

If you are weighing aerospace against nearby technical paths, these related guides go deeper:

• Aircraft Mechanic Jobs in Tucson, AZ
• Manufacturing Jobs in Tucson, AZ
• Engineering Jobs in Tucson, AZ
• Cybersecurity Jobs in Tucson, AZ

Frequently Asked Questions

Do aerospace jobs in Tucson require U.S. citizenship or a security clearance?

Many do. Because a large share of Tucson's aerospace work is defense-related, especially at Raytheon/RTX and Sargent Aerospace, employers frequently require U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance. Commercial aviation and MRO roles at companies like MHIRJ and Ascent are less likely to require a clearance.

What training or education do you need for an aerospace job in Tucson?

It depends on the role. Assembly and production jobs often need only a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, hands-on technician roles are served by Pima Community College's Aviation Technology Center and machining programs, and engineering roles require a degree, typically from the University of Arizona's College of Engineering.

How much do aerospace jobs pay in Tucson?

Entry assemblers and production technicians in Tucson generally earn about $19 to $26 per hour, skilled avionics techs, A&P mechanics, and inspectors roughly $26 to $38 per hour, and engineers or senior specialists around $85,000 to $130,000 or more per year. Cleared defense work often pays a premium.

Do you need a college degree to work in aerospace in Tucson?

No, not for many roles. Assembly, production, avionics, and aircraft-maintenance jobs are open to people with a high school diploma plus the right technical certificate or training. A degree is required mainly for engineering and some program-management roles, and employer tuition programs can help you earn one while you work.

Is Tucson a good place to build an aerospace career?

Yes. Tucson ranks among the top 10 U.S. metros for aerospace manufacturing, with an unusually dense cluster of employers led by Raytheon/RTX plus MRO operators, component makers, and avionics firms. That concentration means steady demand and real room to move between companies as you advance.

Ready to start? Browse all aerospace jobs in Tucson, AZ on TucsonHIRED and apply today.