I'm from Tucson. There are a number of programming and DBA jobs in Phoenix. I constantly get contacted to do contract work in the area. I don't know how many startups are based in the area. I'd look into attending a Refresh Phoenix meeting or goto a startupdrinks. Though it looks the the startupdrinks site just sends you to other local groups.
There seems to be a limited number of really good hackers in town and of the ones I associate with they all seem to be extremely busy at the moment.
The real issue is that Phoenix still isn't the tech hot bed everyone thought we might become, so attracting and keeping talent in town is extremely difficult.
I know I have left town twice for opportunities I just couldn't locate in town, though I always seem to come back.
http://www.refreshphoenix.org/
http://phoenix.startupdrinks.com/