Aircraft Assembler Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Aircraft assemblers in Tucson build flight hardware, from stratospheric balloon systems to aircraft electronics reworked at an FAA repair station. Some entry roles start with no prior experience, and BLS lists Tucson among the U.S. metros with the highest concentration of aircraft assemblers. Current openings are below, followed by who is hiring and what it pays.
Current Aircraft Assembler Openings in Tucson, AZ
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Aircraft Assembler Work in Tucson
The federal wage survey counted about 160 aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging and systems assemblers in metro Tucson in May 2023, roughly twice the national share for a metro this size. The work is split between new hardware and hardware coming back for repair. World View builds prototype and production stratospheric balloon systems on its Tucson manufacturing floor, while Celestica runs an FAA repair station and ITAR facility in Tucson where technicians assemble, take apart, solder and rework aircraft components and electronics.
Structures work clusters around the airports. Pima Community College trains structural assembly and repair at its Aviation Technology Center at Tucson International Airport, and Ascent Aviation Services lists sheet metal jobs and a structures apprentice program at its sites on South Park Avenue and at Pinal Airpark north of Marana. Defense and export rules shape hiring here: Celestica's Tucson postings note that the site handles export-controlled goods.
Top Tucson Employers Hiring Aircraft Assemblers
These Tucson employers have posted aircraft and aerospace assembly work on their own careers sites:
- World View - the Tucson stratospheric balloon company, now part of Ondas, hiring Balloon Manufacturing Technicians to fabricate and assemble prototype and production balloon systems.
- Celestica - its Tucson aerospace site and FAA repair station hires FAA Production Technical Operators for manual assembly, disassembly, hand soldering and rework of aircraft components, plus production cell leads.
Aircraft Assembler Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level: roughly $18 to $22 an hour.
- Experienced (3 to 5 years): roughly $22 to $30 an hour.
- Lead or technician level: roughly $30 to $38 an hour.
These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. World View posts its Balloon Manufacturing Technician at $19 an hour and its Product Engineering Technician, which asks for 3 or more years building electromechanical and avionics assemblies, at $30 to $38. The federal wage survey put the Tucson mean for aircraft assemblers at $27.62 an hour in May 2023. Shift work, overtime and FAA repair station experience push pay up.
How to Become an Aircraft Assembler in Tucson
No Arizona or FAA license is required to work as an aircraft assembler. Requirements depend on the shop: World View says a willingness to learn matters more than prior experience for its balloon technicians, while Celestica asks for a high school diploma plus some post-secondary coursework and four to five years of relevant experience for its repair station operators. The local training route is Pima Community College's Aircraft Structural Repair Certificate, one semester full time at the Aviation Technology Center, which covers inspection, assembly and repair of aircraft sheet metal and composite structures. High school juniors and seniors can start through Pima JTED's Aviation Technology program at the same campus.
What the Job Involves
Assemblers read work instructions and drawings, then build, fasten, bond, wire and solder parts into assemblies using hand and power tools and measuring equipment. They check their own work in process, record what they did, set up and maintain fixtures, and flag defects early. On a repair line the job also means taking units apart, reworking them and helping return them to service.
Skills Employers Look For
- Reading blueprints, schematics and work instructions
- Hand and power tools, plus shop measuring equipment
- Hand soldering and assembly equipment setup
- Attention to detail and consistent quality
- Clean documentation in a controlled manufacturing system
- Stamina for standing, lifting and occasional overtime or weekend shifts
Career Path and Advancement
In Tucson the ladder usually runs from assembler or production technician to cell lead, the title Celestica uses for its aerospace manufacturing leads, then into inspection or a technician role like World View's product engineering technicians. Assemblers who want aircraft maintenance work add Pima's Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Certificate, 16 months full time at the Aviation Technology Center, and move toward the MRO shops around Tucson International Airport and Pinal Airpark.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the closest alternatives for aircraft assemblers:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need experience to become an aircraft assembler in Tucson?
Not always. World View says a willingness to learn matters more than experience for its balloon manufacturing technicians, who start at $19 an hour. Repair station work at Celestica asks for four to five years of relevant experience, so many people start in general production and move up.
How much do aircraft assemblers make in Tucson?
Entry roles run roughly $18 to $22 an hour, experienced assemblers about $22 to $30, and lead or technician roles about $30 to $38. The federal wage survey put the Tucson mean at $27.62 an hour in May 2023.
Do aircraft assemblers need a license in Arizona?
No. Arizona has no license for assemblers and the FAA does not certify them. FAA certificates apply to mechanics, which is why some assemblers later earn an Airframe and Powerplant certificate at Pima Community College.
Which Tucson employers hire aircraft assemblers?
World View posts balloon manufacturing technician jobs and Celestica posts FAA production technical operator jobs at its Tucson repair station. Ascent Aviation Services also lists sheet metal work and a structures apprentice program at its Tucson and Pinal Airpark sites.
Where can I train for aircraft assembly in Tucson?
Pima Community College's Aircraft Structural Repair Certificate takes one semester full time at the Aviation Technology Center at Tucson International Airport. It covers inspection, assembly and repair of aircraft sheet metal and composite structures in dedicated sheet metal and composites labs.
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