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Rock West Composites

Designs, engineers, and manufactures composite products

CNC Machinist - 1st Shift, 2nd Shift

Full-Time
$30 - $42/hr+ Annual bonus + 401(k) 5% match + Employee stock option program + $2,500 tuition reimbursement
Senior, Expert
San Diego, CA, USA
In Person
No H1B Sponsorship
US Citizenship Required

About the job

Requirements
  • A minimum of 8 years of experience setting up and operating CNC machines, including 3-, 4-, and 5-axis mill machines.
  • Ability to mechanically assemble and disassemble parts and assemblies.
  • Experience with contact and non-contact inspection methods.
  • Ability to manage multiple duties, set priorities, and follow tasks through completion.
  • Ability to work in an environment in which demands and priorities change.
  • High school diploma or equivalent.
  • Must qualify as a U.S. Person under 22 CFR 120 because of International Traffic in Arms Regulations restrictions.
  • Must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future company immigration sponsorship.
  • Must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee under the applicable ITAR definitions.
Responsibilities
  • Set up and operate advanced 3-, 4-, and 5-axis CNC milling machines.
  • Load CNC programs, select and set up tools, load stock, and run programs.
  • Plan machining by reading work orders, blueprints, engineering plans, materials, specifications, drawings, and reference plans; identify surface locations and machining parameters; and interpret geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.
  • Upload mill and lathe programs by entering instructions, zero and reference points, tool registers, offsets, compensation, and conditional switches; calculate basic mathematical, geometric, and trigonometric requirements; and prove part programs.
  • Set up mills and lathes by installing and adjusting chucks, tools, attachments, collets, bushings, cams, gears, stops, and stock pushers; indicate vices; and load stock into the feed mechanism.
  • Verify machine settings by measuring positions, first-run parts, and sample workpieces.
  • Maintain machining specifications through drilling, grooving, cutting, turning, facing, knurling, and thread-chasing operations; take measurements; detect malfunctions; troubleshoot processes; adjust and reprogram controls; sharpen and replace worn tools; and follow quality assurance procedures.
  • Maintain safe operations by following safety procedures and regulations.
  • Maintain equipment by completing preventive maintenance, following manufacturer instructions, troubleshooting malfunctions, and calling for repairs.
  • Document and communicate actions, irregularities, and continuing needs across work shifts.
  • Complete production and quality logs.
  • Maintain job knowledge through educational opportunities and technical publications.
  • Perform hands-on composite, metal fabrication, and assembly assignments as needed.
  • Interface daily with Manufacturing Managers and the Program Manager to establish communication and provide task status.
Desired Qualifications
  • Working knowledge of composites.
  • Processing techniques such as wet lay-up, mold and fixture design, inspection methods, and infusion.
  • Strong time management, organization, self-motivation, attention to detail, and accuracy.

About the company

Rock West Composites provides engineered composite parts using a range of manufacturing processes such as roll-wrapping, filament winding, press curing, bladder molding, resin infusion, and oven curing. Customers can choose the manufacturing method that best fits their application, and Rock West handles design, engineering, and manufacture to deliver quality products at a good value. The company emphasizes on-time shipping and strong post-sale support, with an empowering culture where every employee helps improve the customer experience. The management and sales team average over two decades of experience in composites, and technicians typically have 15+ years of experience. This combination positions Rock West to offer reliable, tailored composite solutions rather than generic, one-size-fits-all offerings. The goal is to design, engineer, and produce high-quality composite solutions that meet customer needs on time, backed by dependable service.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

San Diego, California

Founded

2009

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • August 2026 STRATOPultrusion and SmallSat promotion open new demand from deployables customers.
  • October 2025 R4 radome delivery and April 2026 CERN hardware prove repeatable execution.
  • EOI Space telescope delivery showed Rock West wins complex, high-spec programs on compressed schedules.

What critics are saying

  • RWC still depends on defense and space programs; contract gaps hit utilization fast.
  • Competitors can copy pultrusion formats, compress pricing, and erase STRATO's lead-time advantage.
  • A failed space hardware qualification would damage trust and shut down the STRATO expansion.

What makes Rock West Composites unique

  • August 2026 STRATOPultrusion adds predesigned space-grade pultrusions with four-to-eight-week lead times.
  • Rock West combines ecommerce, flightworthy documentation, and serialized traceability for space buyers.
  • 2023 Performance Plastics assets added machining, forming, bonding, and 80 employees to RWC.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Stock Options

Paid Holidays

Paid Vacation

Tuition Reimbursement

Performance Bonus

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

↑ 19%

1 year growth

↑ 19%

2 year growth

↑ 19%
PR Newswire
Aug 10th, 2026
Rock West Composites partners with DPP Pultrusion to launch space-grade STRATOPultrusion profiles

Rock West Composites has partnered with DPP Pultrusion to expand its space-grade STRATO product line with pultruded solid and hollow profiles. The new STRATOPultrusion range is designed to support next-generation space-grade deployables. The collaboration between the two companies aims to enhance Rock West Composites' ecommerce offerings for space-ready materials. The expanded product line builds on the existing STRATO range, which specialises in space-grade composite solutions.

PR Newswire
Sep 13th, 2023
Rock West Composites Acquires The Assets Of Performance Plastics, Inc.

We are very excited with the addition of PPI's People, Capability and Capacity to Rock West, which will enhance the value we bring to our combined customer base. This will clearly accelerate our strategic growth into the future!. .

PR Newswire
Sep 2nd, 2023
Rock West Composites Delivers Completed Space Telescope Structure To Eoi Space

We leveraged our deep background in stable space structure fabrication to achieve the demanding requirements of this program, and we were able to exceed those demands for our customer. .

Rock West Composites
Nov 21st, 2022
RWC Named Top Workplace 2022! | Rock West Composites

Rock West Composites, Inc. is proud to announce that both its Salt Lake City and San Diego offices have been named Top Workplaces for the second year in a row.

Rock West Composites
Mar 21st, 2022
Rock West Composites, Inc. launches 0.060” and 0.125”

Rock West Composites, Inc. has added 0.060” and 0.125” to the lineup but still offer 0.250” and 0.500” if you require thicker plate.