Airbus hires across manufacturing, engineering, and support roles, but the path in depends on your background and the specific position

Airbus is a multinational aerospace manufacturer with facilities across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. The company builds commercial aircraft, defense systems, and helicopters, and it staffs those operations with engineers, production workers, quality inspectors, supply chain specialists, and administrative roles. The hiring process and job types vary significantly by location and department — a production technician role in Mobile, Alabama works differently than an engineering position in Toulouse, France.

Most Airbus positions are posted on the company's careers website, which is organized by location, job category, and experience level. Unlike some large manufacturers, Airbus does not have a single centralized process system; each regional office manages its own hiring. This means a job available in Germany may not appear on the U.S. site, and timelines for hiring decisions can vary by six months or more depending on the role and facility.

Key Takeaways

  • Airbus posts jobs on its regional careers websites, not through a single global portal, so you need to check the site for your country or region.
  • Production and manufacturing roles typically require a high school diploma or trade certification and a background check; engineering roles require a degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or related fields.
  • Security clearance is mandatory for defense and military aircraft work and can add two to four months to the hiring timeline.
  • Airbus uses both direct hiring and temporary staffing agencies for entry-level manufacturing positions, so the same job title may have different employment terms depending on the facility.
  • Internship and graduate programs exist but are competitive and usually require enrollment in or recent graduation from an accredited university program.

Where Airbus Posts Open Positions

Airbus maintains separate careers pages for different regions: Airbus.com/careers for North America, Airbus.de for Germany, Airbus.fr for France, and so on. Each site lists positions specific to that region's facilities. If you are looking for work in the United States, the North American site will show openings at the Mobile, Alabama facility and the Wichita, Kansas site, but not positions in Hamburg or Toulouse.

Job listings include the job title, location, department, required qualifications, and a link to explore directly. Most positions remain open for two to four weeks, though some roles — particularly specialized engineering or management positions — may stay posted longer if the company is having difficulty filling them. You can set up job alerts on most regional sites to receive notifications when new positions matching your criteria are posted.

Airbus also hires through staffing agencies for temporary and contract roles, particularly in manufacturing. These positions may not appear on the main careers site; instead, they are posted by the staffing firm itself. If you are interested in entry-level manufacturing work, checking with local temporary staffing agencies that work with Airbus can sometimes surface opportunities faster than the official site.

Education and Experience Requirements by Role Type

Manufacturing and production roles — assembly technician, quality inspector, machinist — typically require a high school diploma or equivalent (GED in the United States) and may prefer trade certification in welding, CNC machining, or electrical work. Some facilities offer on-the-job training for entry-level positions, though competition is high. Previous aerospace or manufacturing experience is not required but is valued.

Engineering positions — structural engineer, systems engineer, software engineer — require a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related field. Many postings also list preferred qualifications such as experience with CATIA (Airbus's primary design software), knowledge of aviation regulations, or prior work in the aerospace industry. A master's degree can improve your chances for senior roles or specialized positions.

Supply chain, logistics, and administrative roles fall between these two categories. Most require some college education or equivalent professional experience, though specific degree requirements vary. Bilingual capability — particularly French and English, or German and English — is often preferred for roles at European facilities.

Security Clearance and Background Investigation

Any position involving defense contracts, military aircraft, or classified information requires a security clearance. In the United States, this is typically a Secret or Top Secret clearance administered by the Department of Defense. In Europe, equivalent national security vetting is required. The clearance process can add two to four months to hiring and involves a detailed background check, financial review, and interviews with references and former employers.

You cannot start work on a classified project until your clearance is granted. If you are hired for a position that requires clearance, Airbus will usually inform you of this requirement during the interview process. The company typically covers the cost of the clearance investigation, but you are responsible for providing accurate information and cooperating fully with investigators. Lying on a security clearance process is a federal crime.

If you have a prior clearance from military service or another defense contractor, you may be able to transfer or reinstate it, which can speed up the process. Mention this in your process or during the interview.

The process and Interview Process

Applications are submitted through the regional careers website. You will need to create an account, upload a resume, and answer screening questions specific to the role. Some positions use automated resume screening, which means your process may be rejected if your resume does not contain certain keywords matching the job description. Using the exact terminology from the job posting — "CATIA," "composite materials," "AS9100 certification" — increases the likelihood your process reaches a human reviewer.

If your process passes screening, you may be contacted for a phone or video interview, typically lasting 20 to 30 minutes. This is usually a behavioral interview focused on your work history and problem-solving approach. For engineering and specialized roles, a second round often includes a technical assessment or problem-solving exercise. Final-round candidates usually interview in person with the hiring manager and sometimes with team members.

The entire process from process to job offer typically takes four to eight weeks for manufacturing roles and eight to twelve weeks for engineering positions. If security clearance is required, add an additional two to four months after the offer is made.

Internship and Graduate Programs

Airbus runs internship programs and graduate recruitment schemes in most regions, but these are competitive and usually limited to students currently enrolled in or recently graduated from accredited university programs. Internships typically last three to six months and are paid. Graduate programs are structured entry-level positions lasting 18 to 24 months, designed to rotate new hires through different departments to build broad experience.

These programs are posted on the same regional careers sites as regular positions, usually under a separate "Students" or "Graduates" section. process important date are often several months before the program start date, so check early in the academic year if you are interested. Competition is high; acceptance rates vary but are typically in the single digits for popular locations.

Salary, Benefits, and Employment Terms

Airbus salary varies significantly by location, role, and experience level. Manufacturing technicians in the United States typically earn between $18 and $28 per hour depending on the facility and shift. Engineers start around $65,000 to $85,000 annually for entry-level positions. European salaries are generally lower in absolute terms but often include more generous benefits and job security.

Benefits packages typically include health insurance, retirement contributions, paid time off, and professional development support. Airbus is a unionized employer at many facilities, particularly in Europe and at the Mobile, Alabama plant, which means wages and benefits are negotiated collectively. If you are hired at a unionized facility, you will likely be required to join the union after a probationary period.

Employment terms also vary: some positions are permanent, while others are contract or temporary roles filled through staffing agencies. Temporary positions may lead to permanent roles, but this is not may provide. Always clarify the employment type before accepting an offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need aerospace experience to work at Airbus?

No. Manufacturing and entry-level positions do not require prior aerospace experience; a high school diploma and willingness to learn are usually sufficient. Engineering roles require a relevant degree but not necessarily aerospace-specific work history. Prior manufacturing or engineering experience is valued but not required for most positions.

How long does it take to hear back after explore?

Initial screening typically takes one to three weeks. If your process advances, you may be contacted for a phone interview within another one to two weeks. The full process from process to offer usually takes four to twelve weeks depending on the role and whether security clearance is involved.

Can I transfer between Airbus locations or countries?

Internal transfers are possible but are treated as new applications. You would need to explore through the careers site for the location where you want to work. Some facilities prioritize internal candidates, but this varies by region and is not may provide. Visa sponsorship for international transfers depends on the country and your citizenship.

What if I do not have a degree but want an engineering role?

Most engineering positions require a bachelor's degree, and this is rarely waived. However, some companies offer apprenticeship or technician programs that can lead to engineering roles over time. Check the careers site for "apprentice" or "technician" positions in your region, which may provide a pathway to engineering work.

Is there a way to explore for multiple positions at once?

You can explore to different positions through the same account, but each process is reviewed separately. explore to many positions at once does not improve your chances; instead, tailor each process to the specific role. Hiring managers can see your process history, and explore to unrelated positions may signal a lack of focus.