S

Swift Engineering

Designs unmanned systems and aerospace vehicles

Production Supervisor - Composites

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/21/2026
$80k - $95k/yr+ 401(k) match
Senior
Bachelor's, Associate's
San Clemente, CA, USA
In Person
Manufacturing & Production Operations

About the job

Requirements
  • A high school diploma and at least 5 years of experience as a composite technician in aerospace or a similar high-performance composite production environment are required.
  • At least 3 years of team leadership experience in a production environment are required.
  • Experience with operations management, including daily scheduling and building, operating, and maintaining complex facility systems, is required.
  • The role requires standing for long periods; climbing ladders; bending; grasping; sitting; pulling; pushing; stooping; and stretching.
  • The role requires the ability to lift up to 25 pounds unassisted.
  • The role requires the ability to climb ladders and work in tight spaces.
  • The role requires repetitive movement, bending or twisting, and using hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
  • The role requires the ability to walk or stand for at least 8 hours.
  • The role requires the ability to stoop, bend, crawl, and maneuver in tight spaces.
  • The role requires accountability for team training and conformance to health and safety policies and procedures, including proper use of personal protective equipment.
  • The role requires contributing to team members’ training, education, and career development.
  • The role requires being a U.S. person under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) requirements.
Responsibilities
  • Lead production efforts to build, assemble, and integrate multiple large composite assemblies.
  • Set job assignments to meet workflow demands and drive day-to-day and hour-by-hour progress.
  • Provide operational leadership through engagement with the shop floor and support design, manufacturing engineering, and production.
  • Coordinate a team of composite technicians and oversee internal and external builds.
  • Establish and uphold team standards for processes, workmanship, and behavior, ensuring agreed deliverables are met.
  • Track team output against delivery objectives and manage team capacity planning and schedules.
  • Drive improvement projects and work-instruction feedback to reduce touch time, improve quality, or reduce safety risk.
  • Drive basic preventive maintenance across the facility.
Desired Qualifications
  • An associate or bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline is preferred.
  • Experience in a fast-paced production environment at a similarly sized, high-performance organization is preferred.
  • Ability to read, understand, and follow manufacturing instructions and drawings is preferred.
  • Knowledge of safety processes and experience handling hazardous goods and materials are preferred.
  • Ability to align capacity to development and production forecasts is preferred.
  • Ability to manage resources to meet expected test-rate increases is preferred.
  • Experience implementing lean manufacturing techniques is preferred.
  • Proficiency with computers, Microsoft Office, shop-floor management software (ERP/MES), and related programs is preferred.

About the company

Swift Engineering designs and builds high-performance vehicles with 30+ years of experience, specializing in unmanned systems, autonomy, robotics, and advanced composites. It conducts in-house product development and manufacturing, has produced more than 500 vehicles in a 60,000-square-foot facility, and has expanded into aerospace for both manned and unmanned programs. Its Swift020 Unmanned Air System is a winged drone that can take off and land like a quad-rotor and transition to efficient fixed-wing flight without extra launch or recovery equipment, serving markets such as oil and gas, maritime, emergency services, delivery, agriculture, research, surveillance, and defense, and features X-Blade Technology. The company aims to provide end-to-end development and production of high-performance unmanned and manned vehicles across multiple industries, reducing operation time and cost for customers.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$1.6M

Headquarters

San Clemente, California

Founded

1983

Get referred to Swift Engineering

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Swift won NASA SBIR Phase II on July 15, 2025, extending runway.
  • November 12, 2025 ATLA exhibitor status opens Japanese defense and procurement conversations.
  • May 21, 2025 hiring of Fernando Sarmiento expands composites manufacturing capacity.

What critics are saying

  • Revenue depends on NASA and defense awards; one missed renewal starves development.
  • SULE must prove 30-day flight in 2026 or lose credibility.
  • Without government-funded wins, Swift lacks scale against larger defense contractors.

What makes Swift Engineering unique

  • Swift Engineering combines design, manufacturing, and product development under one roof.
  • NASA Phase II funding backs its SULE high-altitude endurance drone platform.
  • ATLA Industry Day 2025 selection signals defense access in Tokyo.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • Family Planning Benefits
  • Fertility Treatment Support

Company News

IMA Network
May 22nd, 2025
Swift Engineering Taps Fernando Sarmiento as Manufacturing Engineer in Companys Composites Unit

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. - May 21, 2025 - Swift Engineering, a leading innovator in advanced solutions for unmanned aviation as well as a range of other critical applications, has appointed Fernando Sarmiento to the position of Manufacturing Engineer.