Composites Technician Jobs in Tucson, AZ

Composites technicians build and repair the lightweight carbon-fiber and fiberglass structures that modern aircraft and aerospace hardware depend on, and Tucson has a steady appetite for the skill: Sargent Aerospace produces composite bearing materials, Ascent Aviation does composite repair at Pinal Airpark, and World View builds composite flight structures for its stratospheric balloons. Pima Community College's Aviation Technology Center teaches the structures and composites fundamentals, and most roles train you up from a high school diploma and good hands.

Current Composites Technician Carbon Fiber Fiberglass Openings in Tucson, AZ

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Top Tucson Employers Hiring Composites Technicians

Composites jobs in Tucson span component manufacturing, aircraft repair, and space hardware. Each link lands on current openings:

• Sargent Aerospace & Defense - hiring composite technicians to manufacture pre-preg material for self-lubricating bearings and components.
• Ascent Aviation Services - the Marana and Pinal Airpark MRO operation hiring techs for aircraft composite repair and structures.
• World View - building composite flight structures for stratospheric-balloon and space systems.
• Bombardier and MHIRJ - business and regional jet composite structures and repair work.
• Paragon Space Development and Howmet - prototype and aerospace composite component fabrication.
• Raytheon / RTX - defense composite structures and assemblies (U.S. citizenship and clearance often required).

Composites Technician Salaries in Tucson

• Entry-level: about $37,000 - $48,000 per year ($18 - $23 per hour)
• Experienced: about $48,000 - $60,000 per year ($23 - $29 per hour)
• Senior / structures / repair / lead: about $60,000 - $75,000 per year ($29 - $36 per hour)

These are estimates that vary by employer and specialty. Aircraft composite repair and complex structures work pay toward the top, defense roles requiring citizenship or a clearance add a premium, and many employers offer shift differentials and overtime. Building experience with advanced materials and repair techniques is the main way to raise pay.

How to Become a Composites Technician in Tucson

Composites work is one of the more accessible aerospace fields to enter. Most roles require only a high school diploma or equivalent and mechanical aptitude, with employers training new hires on layup, bagging, and curing, and Pima Community College's Aviation Technology Center offers structures and composites coursework that gives you a head start. No license is required, though defense programs may require U.S. citizenship and a background check. The key is developing clean, precise hands-on technique with composite materials and learning to follow exacting process specifications.

What the Job Involves

A Tucson composites technician cuts and lays up composite plies, applies vacuum bagging, and cures parts in an autoclave or oven, then bonds, trims, and finishes them and inspects and repairs damaged structures, all while following strict process specifications. The setting shapes the work - Sargent produces composite bearing material on a manufacturing line, Ascent repairs aircraft skins and panels, and World View fabricates balloon flight structures. It is clean, detail-oriented shop work that uses resins and chemicals, so respirators and protective equipment are standard.

Skills Employers Look For

• Composite layup and pre-preg handling
• Vacuum bagging and autoclave or oven curing
• Bonding, trimming, and finishing techniques
• Blueprint and process-specification reading
• Attention to detail and clean hand skills
• Discipline with PPE and chemical safety

Career Path & Advancement

Composites technicians have solid room to grow in Tucson. With experience, technicians move into lead and structures-specialist roles, take on aircraft composite repair, or step into bonded-structures inspection. Some broaden into full aircraft maintenance by earning an FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate at Pima Community College. Because the area hosts component makers, an MRO operation, and a space-hardware builder, composites skills transfer across several employers and applications.

Related Careers in Tucson

If you are exploring hands-on aerospace and manufacturing roles in Tucson, these related guides are worth a look:

• Aircraft Assembler Jobs in Tucson, AZ
• Aircraft Mechanic Jobs in Tucson, AZ
• Aerospace Jobs in Tucson, AZ
• Manufacturing Jobs in Tucson, AZ

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need experience to become a composites technician in Tucson?

Usually not. Most Tucson composites roles require only a high school diploma or equivalent and mechanical aptitude, with employers training new hires on layup, bagging, and curing. Coursework at Pima Community College's Aviation Technology Center or prior hands-on experience helps you start at a higher rate.

How do you train for composites work in Tucson?

Pima Community College's Aviation Technology Center offers structures and composites coursework covering the fundamentals of layup, bonding, and repair. Many technicians combine that training with on-the-job experience, and military or prior manufacturing backgrounds also transfer well into composites roles.

How much do composites technicians make in Tucson?

Entry-level composites technicians in Tucson generally earn about $18 to $23 per hour, experienced technicians roughly $23 to $29 per hour, and senior, structures, repair, or lead roles around $29 to $36 per hour. Aircraft repair and defense work tend to pay toward the top.

What does a composites technician do?

A composites technician builds and repairs carbon-fiber and fiberglass structures by cutting and laying up plies, vacuum bagging, curing parts in an autoclave or oven, and bonding, trimming, and inspecting them. The work follows strict process specifications and uses resins, so protective equipment is standard.

Which Tucson employers hire composites technicians?

Major employers include Sargent Aerospace for composite bearing materials, Ascent Aviation for aircraft composite repair at Pinal Airpark, and World View for balloon flight structures. Bombardier, MHIRJ, Paragon Space Development, Howmet, and Raytheon also hire composites technicians for aircraft, prototype, and defense work.

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