New Aerospace and Defense Company expanding in Tucson

A new aerospace and defense manufacturing operation near Tucson International Airport is preparing to double its local workforce, creating roughly two dozen skilled jobs for people who program, operate and inspect the machinery used to make precision parts. Albers Aerospace says it plans to add 25 employees to its Tucson staff, while one company announcement described 24 positions being added over the next three years. The expansion gives Southern Arizona workers another opportunity in advanced manufacturing and strengthens a sector that already includes about 200 aerospace and defense companies in the region.

The McKinney, Texas based company celebrated the opening of its expanded Tucson facility on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Albers has taken over more than 30,000 square feet at 3480 East Brittania Drive, near Palo Verde and Valencia roads. The larger site nearly triples the company’s local square footage, and full operations began in July 2026. The facility is intended to serve as a manufacturing center of excellence while keeping the company close to its customers in the Southwest.

Albers entered the Tucson market by acquiring Parallel Ventures, a local precision machine shop, in early 2025. That purchase gave the company an established workforce and a foothold in a community known for technical manufacturing. Company leaders said they quickly saw a need to expand after arriving in Tucson. The operation produces precision machined components, sheet metal fabrications, complex assemblies and specialized surface treatments for defense and commercial aerospace customers.

The jobs will focus primarily on manufacturing and operations. Planned positions include manufacturing engineers, computer numerical control programmers, machine operators, assembly technicians and inspectors. These workers are responsible for turning digital designs and raw materials into parts that must meet demanding standards for aircraft and advanced weapons systems. Albers officials said the company is seeking employees with strong manufacturing backgrounds, technical knowledge and an interest in skilled trades.

Company founder and Chief Executive Officer John Albers said the growth demonstrates why human expertise remains necessary even as computer assisted manufacturing becomes more common. The work still depends on tradespeople who understand equipment, materials, measurements and production quality. Albers, a retired Marine, also connected the hiring effort to the company’s broader goal of rebuilding the domestic defense manufacturing base. He said trade careers can provide good pay and that older negative perceptions of manufacturing work are changing as employers recognize the need for skilled workers.

The company’s Tucson expansion was marked by a donation of $11,500 to the Pima Community College Foundation for student scholarships. The college is viewed as an important source of the technical workers Albers needs, linking the company’s growth to local education and workforce development. The donation also reflects the company’s effort to build a local pipeline for positions that require programming, machining, assembly and inspection skills rather than relying only on workers recruited from elsewhere.

Local and state leaders joined Albers for the opening. Pima County District 1 Supervisor Rex Scott and U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani attended the event, and Ciscomani presented the company with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition. The project also involved the Arizona Commerce Authority, Pima County, the City of Tucson, PICOR and the Commercial Real Estate Group of Tucson. The expanded facility is expected to increase the regional tax base as well as bring new wages into the local economy.

The Chamber of Southern Arizona estimates that Albers could generate about $36 million in economic impact over the next five years. Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Snell said the company’s decision reflects Tucson’s combination of a skilled workforce, research institutions, military assets and a cooperative business environment. One company statement also cited access to customers and raw materials, transportation infrastructure and the area’s technical workforce as reasons for expanding here.

The hiring comes as Tucson continues to promote itself as a center for aerospace, defense, science and advanced technology. Local leaders have described the region as having one of the nation’s highest concentrations of aerospace and defense workers, ranking fifth in the United States. Mayor Regina Romero said the investment builds on Tucson’s longstanding strengths in aerospace and science while supporting the city’s reputation as “Optics Valley,” a hub for scientific research, aerospace and astronomy. Albers began as a solo operation in 2015 and has expanded through acquisitions in advanced manufacturing and innovation. Its Tucson growth adds another employer to a regional industry that connects technical education, defense work and commercial aerospace production. Job openings are available through Albers Aerospace’s online listings.