Airbus Aims To Hire 800 in U.S., Including New Positions in Mobile

Airbus announced plans to hire 800 people in the U.S. in 2023, including new jobs at the Mobile site where it’s expanding assembly facilities for its popular A321 family of jetliners.

In an announcement released Tuesday, the company said that the planned U.S. hires are separate from a target of 800 hires this year in Canada. Out of the 800 U.S. jobs, more than 500 will fill new positions, the company said.

“Airbus’ story is one of continued growth in America. After recruiting more than 1,500 employees in 2022, we are maintaining our momentum and hiring at least another 800 across the country in 2023,” said C. Jeffrey Knittel, President and CEO of Airbus Americas. “We are growing a diverse and talented team of individuals dedicated to designing and building the future of sustainable aerospace.”

“Recruitment needs in the U.S. are varied,” said Tuesday’s announcement. “Roles include engineering, IT, procurement, and quality, as well as production and support team members for its A320/A220 manufacturing facilities in Mobile, Alabama, and Airbus Helicopters facilities in Texas and Mississippi among others. … Approximately two-thirds of the jobs will support the company’s rapidly expanding Commercial Aircraft production activities, with the remaining third primarily supporting Airbus Helicopters and Airbus U.S. Space & Defense.”

Airbus manufactures helicopters in Columbus, Miss. And while its Final Assembly Line for A320- and A220-family jets is by far its biggest operation in Mobile, its Space & Defense branch has a presence near Mobile Regional Airport, where it operates a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility.

Airbus has set ambitious targets for the post-pandemic ramp-up of production for its A320-family of airliners. Within a few years, it aims to produce 75 of the aircraft per month, across four facilities in Germany, France, China and the United States. In May 2022 it announced plans to build a new assembly line in Mobile, a project that could mean 1,000 new jobs for the area.

Work has begun on that project. A company representative said Tuesday that plans call for the new assembly line to begin production in the second quarter of 2025. More recently, as reported by Aviation Week, the company announced similar plans to add a second A320 assembly line to its facility in Tianjin, China, doubling production there as well.

Airbus reports that more than 4,600 people work for it in the United States. According to Tuesday’s news release, the company “will allocate one-third of its positions to young graduates and early-career professionals, and will maintain its goal to increase the number of female new hires and promotions.”

Details of current job openings can be found on the Airbus website.

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