Albers Aerospace Tucson Jobs: 24 Defense Manufacturing Roles Coming to the South Side
Published: September 28, 2026 | By TucsonHIRED Team
TUCSON, AZ — A veteran-founded defense contractor has opened a 30,000-square-foot precision manufacturing shop on Tucson's south side, and it plans to grow its local workforce by 24 jobs over the next three years. The Albers Aerospace Tucson jobs will land mostly in operations and manufacturing, which puts machinists, fabricators and assemblers at the front of the line.
CNC machining, sheet metal and complex assemblies for defense and aerospace customers, a short drive from Tucson International Airport.
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📍 Albers Aerospace in Tucson at a Glance
| Company | Albers Aerospace, headquartered in McKinney, Texas |
|---|---|
| Tucson facility | 3480 E. Britannia Drive, near Palo Verde and Valencia roads |
| Size | About 30,000 square feet |
| Operating since | July 2026 |
| New jobs | 24 over three years |
| Job focus | Operations and manufacturing |
| Industry | Aerospace and defense precision manufacturing |
| Economic impact | About $36 million (estimated) |
A Marine Veteran's Defense Company Puts Down Tucson Roots
John Albers, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel, launched Albers Aerospace in 2015 as a one-person operation built on his years as a military acquisition professional. The company had about 10 people by 2018 and roughly 80 by 2021, when it started growing through acquisitions. Today it's headquartered in McKinney, Texas, with precision manufacturing in Grand Prairie, Texas, and Tucson, plus coatings, container and engineering operations in several other states.
The Tucson chapter started with a purchase. In February 2025, Albers acquired Parallel Ventures, a Tucson precision manufacturer that handled CNC milling, CNC turning, electrical discharge machining (EDM), fabrication and assembly for aerospace, defense, commercial aviation and electric vehicle customers. That deal put Albers close to its Southwest customers, and the Britannia Drive facility is the expansion that followed.
The Expansion: 24 Jobs, Phased In Over Three Years
The Chamber of Southern Arizona announced the expansion in August. Albers leased roughly 30,000 square feet on the south side, the facility came online in July, and the company expects to add 24 positions over three years, primarily in operations and manufacturing. The Arizona Commerce Authority, Pima County and the City of Tucson partnered on the project, which carries an estimated $36 million economic impact.
Albers' specialties include precision machining, CNC programming, sheet metal fabrication, complex assemblies, welding and specialized surface treatments for defense and commercial aerospace clients. Explaining the Tucson move, John Albers pointed to customer proximity, raw materials, transportation and what he called "a superior technical workforce."
What It Means for Tucson Job Seekers
Twenty-four jobs over three years is a steady build, not a hiring blitz. Expect openings to post a few at a time as work ramps up. Albers hasn't published a Tucson hiring schedule, so the roles below reflect the kind of work the company does rather than a confirmed list of open positions.
- CNC machinists and set-up machinists: milling and turning parts to tight tolerances. CNC machinist career guide
- Machine operators: running production equipment and checking parts as they come off the machine. Machine operator careers
- Sheet metal workers and fabricators: cutting, forming and building metal components. Sheet metal worker careers and fabricator careers
- Welders: joining metal parts and assemblies to spec. Welder careers
- Assemblers: building complex assemblies from machined and fabricated parts. Assembler careers and aircraft assembler careers
- Quality inspectors: measuring and documenting parts for aerospace customers. Aerospace quality inspector careers
- Shipping, receiving and materials: keeping raw stock and finished parts moving. Shipping and receiving careers
What Defense Manufacturers Look For
If you're aiming at Albers or any shop in Tucson's defense supply chain, these are the things that earn a resume a second look:
- Blueprint and GD&T reading. You'll work from engineering drawings with tight tolerances.
- Precision measuring tools. Calipers, micrometers and height gauges, plus CMM experience for inspectors.
- Aerospace quality systems. Time in an AS9100 environment is a plus, since paperwork and traceability matter as much as the part.
- Specific machines and controls. Name the mills, lathes and controls you've run, and any CAM software you know.
- Export-control eligibility. Defense parts work often falls under ITAR rules that limit some jobs to U.S. persons, a category that includes citizens and permanent residents. Check each posting for its requirements.
On benefits, Albers job postings list medical, dental and vision plans, a 401(k) match, paid time off, 12 paid holidays, company-paid term life insurance, AD&D, short- and long-term disability, and education and certification support. The company also says active-duty service members can connect with it through the DoD SkillBridge program, which is worth knowing for anyone getting ready to leave Davis-Monthan.
Tucson's Defense Supply Chain Keeps Adding Shops
Albers joins a growing list of manufacturers betting on Tucson's aerospace and defense base. Kilgore Manufacturing committed to 30 precision machining jobs, Delta Zee Solutions plans 100 defense engineering and manufacturing roles, and RTX remains the region's anchor employer, as our 2026 aerospace and defense hiring guide lays out. More shops chasing the same skills gives experienced machinists and fabricators more options.
🔎 Search Jobs Now
- Albers Aerospace jobs in Tucson
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- Assembler jobs in Tucson
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- Aerospace jobs in Tucson
Browse the Aerospace & Defense, Manufacturing & Production and Skilled Trades hubs in the TucsonHIRED Career Center for role-by-role guides.
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📢 Employers: Competing for Skilled Hands?
Tucson's precision shops are all chasing the same machinists, welders and inspectors. Post your openings on TucsonHIRED and reach local skilled-trades candidates directly.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many jobs is Albers Aerospace adding in Tucson?
Albers plans to add 24 jobs over three years, primarily in operations and manufacturing.
Where is Albers Aerospace located in Tucson?
The facility is at 3480 E. Britannia Drive on the south side, near Palo Verde and Valencia roads and a short drive from Tucson International Airport.
Is Albers Aerospace hiring in Tucson right now?
Openings post in small batches as the expansion ramps up. Search Albers Aerospace jobs in Tucson and set a job alert so you see new listings as soon as they go up.
What does Albers Aerospace do?
Albers is an aerospace and defense contractor. Its manufacturing work includes precision machining, CNC programming, sheet metal fabrication, complex assemblies, welding and specialized surface treatments for defense and commercial aerospace customers.
Do I need a security clearance to work there?
Albers hasn't said its Tucson manufacturing jobs require one. Defense parts work often comes with export-control rules, though, and some engineering and program roles across the industry do require clearances. Each posting lists its own requirements.
What benefits does Albers Aerospace offer?
Albers job postings list medical, dental and vision plans, a matching 401(k), paid time off, 12 paid holidays, life and disability insurance, and education and certification support.
How much do Albers Aerospace jobs pay in Tucson?
Pay depends on the role and experience. The Albers postings we reviewed included a pay range, so check each listing for the rate.
The south side has been building defense hardware since the Hughes days, and the shops ringing the airport keep multiplying. Albers is the latest arrival, and it's looking for people who can read a print and hold a tolerance.
