Electronics Assembler Jobs in Tucson, AZ
The certification that matters most for this job in Tucson is not issued by Arizona. It is IPC-A-610, the industry acceptability standard for electronic assemblies, and J-STD-001 for soldering. Raytheon builds guided weapons on the south side campus where solder joints are inspected against that standard and every board is traceable. Universal Avionics builds flight deck systems to the same discipline. Leonardo Electronics builds laser diodes here, and Texas Instruments runs analog semiconductor operations descended from the old Burr-Brown plant. Tucson's electronics work is small-batch, high-consequence, and export-controlled. It rewards people who can solder a fine-pitch part and then honestly document what they did.
Current Electronics Assembler Openings in Tucson, AZ
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Top Tucson Employers Hiring Electronics Assemblers
Electronics assembly openings in Tucson are concentrated in defense, avionics, photonics, and semiconductors. Staffing agencies fill some of them as temp-to-hire.
- Raytheon RTX - circuit card assembly, cable and harness build, and electronic subassembly on missile programs. ITAR limits these roles to US persons and many require a clearance.
- Universal Avionics - avionics box build, backplane and harness assembly for flight deck systems.
- Texas Instruments - assembly and test operations supporting analog semiconductor production.
- Leonardo Electronics - laser diode and photonics assembly work, a legacy of the DILAS operation in Tucson.
- Roche Tissue Diagnostics - electromechanical instrument assembly at Oro Valley and the Marana site on Tangerine Road.
- Sion Power - battery module and pack assembly with electrical connection work at the East Elvira Road plant.
Electronics Assembler Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level electronics assembler: roughly 17 to 21 dollars per hour, about 35,000 to 44,000 dollars a year
- Experienced assembler with IPC certification: roughly 22 to 28 dollars per hour, about 46,000 to 58,000 dollars a year
- Senior assembler, IPC trainer, or rework specialist: roughly 29 to 36 dollars per hour, about 60,000 to 75,000 dollars a year
These figures are estimates and vary by employer, shift, and experience. Defense electronics assembly at Raytheon typically pays above general electromechanical assembly. Certified IPC specialists and trainers sit at the top of the local range, as do rework technicians who can handle fine-pitch and ball grid array parts. Second and third shifts add a differential, and larger employers offer medical coverage, a 401k match, tuition reimbursement, and paid time off.
How to Become an Electronics Assembler in Tucson
Arizona does not license electronics assemblers. A high school diploma or GED, a background check, and a drug screen are the baseline. Vision that supports close-up work and steady hands matter more than any degree, and many Tucson employers hire with no experience and train.
The credentials that raise your pay are IPC-A-610 acceptability of electronic assemblies and J-STD-001 soldering. Some employers certify you internally after hire, and Raytheon and Universal Avionics both run their own solder training. Pima Community College's continuing education arm offers manufacturing and instrumentation training, and its Advanced Manufacturing Building at the Downtown Campus houses an optics and photonics lab built in partnership with Optics Valley, which is directly relevant to the laser and photonics employers in town. The MSSC Certified Production Technician credential and OSHA 10 are useful additions. For anything at Raytheon, ITAR export control rules mean US person status is required, and clearances are sponsored after hire rather than obtained on your own.
What the Job Involves
You work at a bench in an electrostatic-safe area, wearing a grounding strap, often under a magnifier or microscope. You populate and solder circuit boards, build cable and wire harnesses, crimp connectors, apply conformal coating, and assemble electromechanical units. You inspect your own work against IPC criteria before it moves. Rework, meaning removing and replacing a bad component without damaging the board, is a separate and better-paid skill. Every step is signed. In defense and medical device plants, the traveler that follows the unit is a legal document. Shifts run eight, ten, or twelve hours, seated or standing, and overtime shows up when a program approaches a delivery date.
Skills Employers Look For
- Hand soldering, including surface mount and fine-pitch components
- IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001 knowledge, or willingness to certify quickly
- Wire harness build, crimping, and connector pinning from a wiring diagram
- Reading schematics, assembly drawings, and bills of material
- Electrostatic discharge control and cleanroom or controlled-area protocol
- Steady hands, close-up vision, and patience with repetitive precision work
- Accurate documentation and a willingness to flag your own defects
Career Path and Advancement
Electronics assembly is one of the better on-ramps in Tucson because the skills compound. Assemblers move to higher assembly grades, then to rework specialist or IPC trainer, then commonly into test technician, quality inspection, or process technician work. From there, a Pima Community College or University of Arizona degree earned on tuition reimbursement opens manufacturing or test engineering. A Raytheon-sponsored clearance combined with IPC certification is close to a guaranteed job across every defense employer in Southern Arizona, and Universal Avionics, Leonardo Electronics, and Sargent all draw from the same pool.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson roles share the bench, the standards, or the next step up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need IPC certification to get hired as an electronics assembler in Tucson?
Not to be hired at entry level. Raytheon, Universal Avionics, and Roche all train and certify assemblers after hire. Arriving with IPC-A-610 or J-STD-001 already in hand moves you past the base rate and shortens the wait for higher grades. Arizona issues no state license for electronics assembly work.
Do you need a security clearance for electronics assembly at Raytheon?
ITAR export control rules limit most Raytheon Tucson roles 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 independently. Electronics assembly roles at Roche, Sion Power, Leonardo Electronics, and Texas Instruments generally require no clearance.
Is soldering experience required for entry level roles?
Often not. Many Tucson employers hire assemblers with no soldering background and put them through internal training, because it is easier to teach solder than to teach documentation discipline. If you can demonstrate hand soldering on a fine-pitch part, you will be considered for a higher starting grade and for rework work, which pays meaningfully more.
Which Tucson employer pays electronics assemblers the most?
Raytheon generally sits at the top of the local range for defense electronics assembly, with Texas Instruments competitive in semiconductor operations. Universal Avionics and Leonardo Electronics fall in the middle, and general electromechanical assembly at contract manufacturers pays less at entry. Rework specialists and IPC trainers earn the highest hourly estimates at any of them.
Is electronics assembly bad for your eyes or hands in the long run?
The work is close-up and repetitive, and Tucson employers manage that with magnification, microscope stations, adjustable benches, and rotation between tasks. Fume extraction is standard at solder stations. Assemblers who want off the bench commonly move into inspection, test technician work, or process technician roles, all of which use the same product knowledge with less repetitive strain.
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