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AZ Tech Industries & Careers

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Arizona Telecommunications And Information Council

  • Arizona's Technology Industries
  • Science and Technology Education and Careers
  • Connecting Arizona's Communities

The Arizona technology industry is growing the Arizona economy and creating exciting and high paying technology jobs.

Our amazing industry professionals, engineers, educators, scientists, and even college students are engaged in the development of some of the greatest advancements in science and technology. They are at the forefront in developing technological advancements that will shape the future.

You will find them hard at work:

  • Preparing the next mission to Mars
  • Creating new energy sources
  • Developing new food supplies to feed the hungry
  • Inventing new fuel efficient cars
  • Engineering tiny nano technologies used in electronics, medical devices, and even stain resistant clothing
  • Designing video games or the next generation Internet
  • Developing new technologies to protect the environment
  • Working to prevent and treat disease
  • And more


Arizona's technologies industries include:

  • Optics
  • Information Technology, Telecommunications and eLearning
  • Aerospace and Defense
  • Biosciences
  • Nanotechnology
  • Environmental Technology & Alternative Energy
  • Electronics and Semiconductors

Optics

Optics, the science of light, is a branch of physics. Light allows us to see, but it also transmits sound, measures things, and controls electrical circuits. Optics technologies are used to design lasers and precision measuring equipment, build telescopes, create semiconductors and fiber optics communication systems, and much more.

Optics technologies are found in devices like solar panels, telecommunications equipment, laser pointers, CDs, grocery store scanners, copy machines, automobile headlights, medical equipment, aerospace components, and camera lenses.

Information Technology, Telecom & eLearning

Information Technology (IT), Telecommunications, and eLearning provide innovative tools for management of information, communication and digital learning. Professionals in these fields are involved in everything from computer hardware to writing software, teleservices support, the Internet and online services, website design, e-commerce, telecommunications, computer networking, simulations, on-line education, video and web conferencing, and other related technologies and services.

Next generation computing, mobile phone design, online education, video game programming and social networking are just some of the hot developments in this exciting field.

Aerospace and Defense

Aerospace professionals are involved in air and space travel technologies including defense and space-related manufacturing, research and development. You will find them working on everything from the design, manufacture, maintenance and rehabilitation of commercial and military aircraft, guided missile systems, aircraft engines and propulsion units, to the latest space vehicles such as rockets, moon buggies, robots, the International Space Station, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and even the design of space environments.

Biosciences

Bioscience companies and researchers are working on solutions to some of our biggest challenges and to improve our quality of life. Through bioscience, for example, we are discovering innovations to help us feed the world, develop environmental products such as truly green energy sources, and to prevent and treat diseases.

The biosciences field includes research and discovery of solutions, engineering that builds solutions, information technology that gathers and analyzes data, and services that test and implement these new discoveries. Biomedical engineering applies engineering principles, problem-solving skills, and design concepts to medicine and biology.

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology, the “science of the small,” involves working with matter on an ultra-small scale (one nanometer is one-millionth of a millimeter, compared to a single human hair measuring around 80,000 nanometers in width). Nanoscience crosses many disciplines, especially Information Technology and Biotechnology.

Nanotechnology is being used to create many new materials and devices for applications such as medicine, electronics, biomaterials and energy production. Today you will find nanoparticles in computer hard drives and semiconductors, DNA analysis, solar power materials, robotics, biological materials including genetically engineered pharmaceuticals, sunscreen, and even stain resistant clothing.

Environmental Technology & Alternative Energy

Environmental "green" technologies include innovative products and processes for environmental protection and cleanup, development of sustainable resources, resource recovery, pollution control, watershed management, renewable and alternative energy sources, air, water and waste management and recycling.

Environmental technology professionals also influence regulatory and environmental affairs, provide environmental consulting, and are involved in environmental law.

Electronics and Semiconductors

The electronics and semiconductor industry is the largest technology industry in Arizona. Companies in this sector design and manufacture the memory chips, integrated circuits, microprocessors, and system on a chip (SOC) technology found in virtually every electronic device from computers and cell phones to cars and planes, TVs, iPads, Xbox systems and more.

There are many technical and non technical career paths in these industries, with a wide range of educational requirements. Here are some examples:

  • Scientists
  • Engineers
  • Technicians
  • Assemblers
  • Sales and marketing execs
  • Web developers and graphic designers
  • Researchers
  • Executives
  • Manufacturing
  • Logistics
  • Many More
Many of these careers require a course of study in science and math in K-12 and continuing education at a university, community college or technical or trade school.

To support the development of these industries Arizona has launched initiatives to:

  • Expand high speed (Broadband) Internet to unserved and underserved communities

  • Support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and the development of 21st Century skills in our schools

Gone are the days of smoke signals and dial-up Internet connections. High speed Internet connections are becoming a critical component of the infrastructure for Arizona communities. Just like roads and utilities, it supports education and economic development and enables effective delivery of other essential community and government services, including, police, fire, libraries, and health care.

The State of Arizona is now providing assistance and resources for planning Broadband deployment in unserved and underserved communities.

STEM education provides students with critical thinking and problem-solving skills to prepare them for science and technology careers.

STEM education leads to innovation, high paying jobs, and a vibrant Arizona economy. Many of our state’s fastest-growing occupations require significant skills in math and science.

Initiatives throughout Arizona encourage and support the adoption of STEM education in our schools.

What is STEM Education?

STEM education transforms the teacher-centered classroom into a hands-on, creative learning center where students actively engage in critical thinking, team work, problem-solving, discovery, and exploratory learning.

21st Century Skills—What Employers Are Saying

Basic skills such as reading, writing and math are no longer enough! We need employees with 21st Century skills including:

  • critical thinking and problem solving
  • verbal and written communication skills
  • responsibility and work ethic
  • ability to work collaboratively with others
  • information, communications and technology skills

Key Technology, Telecommunications and Economic Development Organizations

 

 

Environmental Technology & Alternative Energy

 

Environmental "green" technologies include innovative products and processes for environmental protection and cleanup, development of sustainable resources, resource recovery, pollution control, watershed management, renewable and alternative energy sources, air, water and waste management and recycling.

Environmental technology professionals also influence regulatory and environmental affairs, provide environmental consulting, and are involved in environmental law.

Jeremy Babendure, director | 480.250.7764 | jbabendure@aztechcouncil.org | Contact | Participants