Defense Electronics Technician Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Defense electronics technicians in Tucson test, troubleshoot, solder and repair the electronics inside military aircraft and aerospace systems. Celestica's ITAR repair station, L3Harris's EA-37B line and the 162nd Wing at Morris Air National Guard Base all hire them. Current openings are below, followed by pay and training.
Current Electronics Technician Openings in Tucson, AZ
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Defense Electronics Technician Work in Tucson
Most of this work sits in a tight ring around Tucson International Airport and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on the south and southeast sides. Celestica runs an FAA repair station in Tucson that repairs, overhauls and tests aircraft electronic devices and legacy electro-mechanical systems, and its postings describe the site as a US ITAR facility. L3Harris maintains EA-37B and Gulfstream G550 aircraft in Tucson and at Davis-Monthan, and its technicians test and repair the avionics and mission systems on those jets. The 162nd Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard, next to the airport on East Perimeter Way, hires full-time federal technicians to maintain the integrated electronic systems on its aircraft.
Raytheon (RTX), whose missile design and production plant sits south of the airport off Aerospace Parkway, is the region's largest private employer at about 14,050 workers, according to HUD's 2024 Tucson market analysis. Its careers site blocks automated reading, so it is not listed below, but its job search is worth checking directly. What sets Tucson apart is how much of this work is clearance-gated and tied to aircraft that fly out of the city itself.
Top Tucson Employers Hiring Defense Electronics Technicians
These Tucson employers have posted electronics technician work on their own careers sites:
- Celestica - FAA Electronics Engineering Technicians on first and second shift, plus a Quartz Electronic Tester and Troubleshooter, at its Tucson ITAR repair station.
- L3Harris - avionics technicians and mission systems specialists for the EA-37B and G550 fleet in Tucson and at Davis-Monthan; U.S. citizenship and an interim Secret clearance are required before hire.
- 162nd Wing, Arizona Air National Guard - Electronic Integrated Systems Mechanic technicians at Morris ANGB; Guard membership is a condition of the job.
Defense Electronics Technician Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level: roughly $22 to $27 an hour.
- Experienced (5 or more years, component-level troubleshooting): roughly $27 to $35 an hour.
- Senior, cleared or federal technician: roughly $35 to $50 an hour.
Federal data put Tucson's electrical and electronic engineering technicians at a median of about $32.81 an hour, and the 162nd Wing's most recent Electronic Integrated Systems Mechanic opening paid $41 to $50.39 an hour. Clearance, years of component-level troubleshooting and shift work move pay most. These are estimates that vary by employer and experience.
How to Become a Defense Electronics Technician in Tucson
Arizona has no state license for electronics technicians. Employers set the bar instead: Celestica asks for 5 to 10 years of technical experience with at least 4 years of component-level troubleshooting, and L3Harris asks for a high school diploma plus 6 years of avionics work, or 2 years of post-secondary education plus 2 years of experience. Pima Community College's Avionics Technician Certificate, a one-semester program at the Aviation Technology Center on South Park Avenue at the airport, is the most direct local training, and the Automated Industrial Technology certificate at the Downtown Campus covers electronic systems and troubleshooting. Military electronics experience is the other common route, and many defense roles require U.S. citizenship and a clearance the employer sponsors.
What the Job Involves
The day is diagnosis at the bench or on the flight line. You read schematics, trace signals, swap or rework components, hand-solder, and run the unit through its test procedure before signing the paperwork. On the aircraft side that means pre-flight and post-flight checks, wiring and harness repair, and quick turnarounds when a jet has a discrepancy before launch.
Skills Employers Look For
- Component-level troubleshooting with schematics and test equipment
- Hand soldering and rework to written workmanship standards
- Careful documentation for FAA repair station and military records
- Avionics and wiring harness experience for flight line roles
- U.S. citizenship and eligibility for a Secret clearance
- Willingness to work second shift or travel when the program requires it
Career Path and Advancement
In Tucson the ladder usually starts in electronic assembly or testing, moves to technician and then to the experienced, component-level grade that Celestica and L3Harris post for. From there technicians become leads, move into test engineering support, or cross over to federal technician jobs with the 162nd Wing. A clearance earned at one employer carries to the others around the airport.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the closest alternatives for electronics technicians:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a security clearance for defense electronics jobs in Tucson?
Many of them, yes. L3Harris requires U.S. citizenship and at least an interim Secret clearance before hire for its Tucson avionics technicians. Celestica's Tucson postings describe an ITAR facility and check export-control eligibility after an offer rather than requiring a clearance up front.
Is there an Arizona license for electronics technicians?
No. Arizona does not license electronics technicians. Employers look at experience, soldering and troubleshooting skill, and for aircraft work they may prefer an FAA A&P certificate, which is a federal credential.
How much do defense electronics technicians make in Tucson?
Expect roughly $22 to $27 an hour starting out and $27 to $35 with experience. Senior, cleared and federal technician roles reach $35 to $50 an hour; the 162nd Wing's latest opening paid $41 to $50.39. These are estimates that vary by employer and experience.
Where can I train for electronics work in Tucson?
Pima Community College's Avionics Technician Certificate at the Aviation Technology Center near the airport is the most direct option. The Automated Industrial Technology certificate at the Downtown Campus covers electronic systems and troubleshooting, and military electronics training is the other common route.
Which Tucson employers hire the most electronics technicians?
Raytheon is the largest defense employer in Tucson, though its careers site has to be checked directly. Among employers with readable postings, Celestica and L3Harris have both posted Tucson electronics and avionics technician jobs this fall, and the 162nd Wing hires federal electronics technicians.
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