Assembler Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Assembly is the single largest entry point into Tucson's manufacturing economy, and the reason is the missile plant. Raytheon's Tucson campus builds guided weapons that are assembled by hand under a traveler, torque wrench by torque wrench, and every unit is serialized and traceable. That standard has spread outward. Roche Tissue Diagnostics assembles cancer-detection instruments in Oro Valley and Marana to FDA device rules. Sion Power stacks battery cells by hand on East Elvira Road. Sargent Aerospace and Defense builds hydraulic actuators for aircraft and submarines. If you can follow a written procedure exactly, sign your name to it, and do it again the same way tomorrow, Tucson has work for you.
Current Assembler Openings in Tucson, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Top Tucson Employers Hiring Assemblers
Assembly openings in Tucson cluster around defense, medical devices, batteries, and aerospace components. Staffing agencies fill many of them first, so temp-to-hire is a normal path in.
- Raytheon RTX - mechanical and electronic assemblers on missile and effector programs. ITAR rules limit these roles to US persons, and many require a clearance the company sponsors.
- Roche Tissue Diagnostics - instrument assemblers and reagent production associates at the Oro Valley campus and the Tangerine Road building in Marana.
- Sion Power - cell technicians and assembly associates building lithium metal batteries in a dry room environment.
- Sargent Aerospace and Defense - hydraulic and bearing assembly, plus subassembly work feeding the OEM line.
- Universal Avionics - avionics box build and cable assembly for flight deck systems.
- Ascent Aviation Services - interior and structural assembly work at the Marana and Tucson International maintenance operations.
Assembler Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level assembler: roughly 17 to 20 dollars per hour, about 35,000 to 42,000 dollars a year
- Experienced assembler with two or more years: roughly 21 to 26 dollars per hour, about 44,000 to 54,000 dollars a year
- Lead assembler or cell lead: roughly 27 to 34 dollars per hour, about 56,000 to 71,000 dollars a year
These figures are estimates and vary by employer, shift, and experience. Cleared defense assembly at Raytheon typically pays several dollars above a general packaging or light assembly role. Second and third shifts usually add a differential. Full-time positions at the larger plants normally include medical coverage, a 401k match, paid time off, and tuition reimbursement.
How to Become an Assembler in Tucson
Arizona issues no license for assembly work. A high school diploma or GED, a clean background check, and a passed drug screen are the practical requirements at every major Tucson plant. Many people start through a staffing agency on a temp-to-hire contract and convert after 90 days.
To move past the entry rate faster, get a credential. Pima Community College's Advanced Manufacturing Building at the Downtown Campus houses machine tool, welding, robotics and automation, and CAD programs, and PCC continuing education offers manufacturing and instrumentation training. The MSSC Certified Production Technician credential covers safety, quality, and manufacturing processes and is recognized across the industry. For electronic assembly, IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001 soldering certifications are what Raytheon and Universal Avionics actually look for on a resume. OSHA 10 and a forklift certification round out the list. If you want defense work, know that ITAR restricts most Raytheon and Sargent roles to US persons.
What the Job Involves
You are handed a kit of parts, a work instruction, and a traveler. You perform your operation in sequence, verify it against the print, and sign or badge off the step. Some assembly is mechanical, torquing fasteners and fitting housings. Some is electronic, soldering, crimping, and building wire harnesses under a magnifier. At Roche and Sion Power you gown up, and Sion's dry room has humidity limits that dictate what you can wear. At Raytheon you work in electrostatic-safe areas with grounding straps. Shifts are commonly eight, ten, or twelve hours, standing, with mandatory overtime when a program is behind. Errors are traceable to the person who signed the step, which is why calm, methodical people last in this job.
Skills Employers Look For
- Reading work instructions, travelers, and mechanical drawings without shortcuts
- Hand tool and torque wrench proficiency
- Soldering and harness building for electronic assembly roles
- Manual dexterity and steady close-up vision
- Accurate documentation and willingness to stop the line rather than pass a defect
- Electrostatic discharge and cleanroom protocol discipline
- Dependability across rotating shifts and overtime
Career Path and Advancement
In Tucson the assembler track is a real ladder, not a dead end. Assemblers typically move to a higher assembly grade in one to two years, then to cell lead or trainer. From there the common jumps are into quality inspection, where your build knowledge is directly useful, into process technician work, or into CNC machining after a PCC certificate. Raytheon and Roche both promote internally and reimburse tuition, and a number of Tucson production supervisors started on the assembly floor. Picking up a clearance at Raytheon also makes you portable across every defense employer in Southern Arizona.
Related Careers in Tucson
Assembly overlaps with several other Tucson production roles worth comparing before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need experience to get an assembler job in Tucson?
Usually no. Most Tucson plants hire entry level assemblers with a high school diploma or GED and train on the line. A large share of openings run through staffing agencies as temp-to-hire, converting to permanent after about 90 days. Prior experience, an IPC soldering certificate, or an MSSC Certified Production Technician credential moves you past the base rate faster.
Does an assembler at Raytheon need a security clearance?
Not always, but many roles do. ITAR rules limit most Raytheon Tucson assembly positions to US persons regardless of clearance. Some programs additionally require a Secret clearance, which Raytheon sponsors after you are hired rather than something you obtain in advance. Roche, Sion Power, and Universal Avionics assembly roles generally require no clearance.
What is the difference between an assembler and a machine operator in Tucson?
An assembler builds a product by hand from a kit of parts, following a written traveler. A machine operator loads material into equipment, runs a program or cycle, and monitors output. Assembly work rewards dexterity and documentation discipline. Operator work rewards setup skill and comfort with machinery. Pay estimates for the two overlap heavily at entry level.
Do Tucson assembler jobs have night shifts and overtime?
Yes. Raytheon, Roche Tissue Diagnostics, and Sion Power all run multiple shifts, and swing or graveyard typically carries a differential of roughly one to three dollars per hour. Mandatory overtime is common when a defense program approaches a delivery milestone or a device line is behind schedule. Twelve-hour shifts with rotating days off appear frequently.
How long does it take to move up from entry level assembler?
Most Tucson employers use graded assembly levels, and moving from grade one to grade two typically takes one to two years of clean work. Lead or trainer roles usually come after three to five years. Adding a Pima Community College certificate, an IPC soldering credential, or an inspection qualification shortens that timeline considerably and opens the jump into quality or process technician work.
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