Full-Time

CNC Router Operator

Canopy Aerospace & Defense

Canopy Aerospace & Defense

11-50 employees

Develops thermal protection systems for spacecraft

Compensation Overview

$21 - $30/hr

+ 401(k) company match + Discretionary bonuses

No H1B Sponsorship

Cape Canaveral, FL, USA

In Person

US Citizenship Required

Category
Operations & Logistics (1)

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Requirements
  • A high school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) is required.
  • A minimum of two years of experience in a related area is required.
  • Ability to read and interpret complex blueprints, drawings, and work orders.
  • Knowledge of a variety of cutting tools.
  • Ability to work with shop mathematics.
  • Ability to use standard measuring tools, including micrometers and calipers.
  • Professional working proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking English.
  • Ability and willingness to learn and perform cross-functional operations.
  • Ability to work in office, laboratory, and manufacturing environments with occasional exposure to noise, chemicals, dust, industrial equipment, and temperature variations.
  • Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while working at a computer workstation.
  • Frequent use of hands and fingers for data entry, keyboarding, and mouse use.
  • Ability to view computer screens for prolonged periods.
  • Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and via email.
  • Ability to use a computer to complete assignments.
  • The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Responsibilities
  • Set up and operate machines to produce parts using work orders, blueprints, material lists, and specifications.
  • Interpret job instructions such as CNC programs, tool lists, job routing, part drawings, and in-process quality instructions.
  • Locate appropriate tool holders, tools, and fixtures and load them into the machine.
  • Stage and prepare material for cutting.
  • Determine proper tooling and feed rates for each material and job.
  • Ensure that the workpiece and tools are properly cooled.
  • Run the program, take measurements, and make necessary adjustments to produce quality parts.
  • Modify programs in response to problems.
  • Clean and deburr parts before transferring them to the next department.
  • Inspect the first-run piece and check succeeding pieces for conformance to specifications.
  • Keep the work area clean and organized.
  • Support 5-S and adhere to company health, safety, and environmental guidelines.
  • Perform cross-functional operations.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience machining metallics, composites, and plastics.
  • Experience with Multicam CNC routers.
  • Experience with EnRoute CAD/CAM software.
Canopy Aerospace & Defense

Canopy Aerospace & Defense

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Canopy Aerospace & Defense designs, prototypes, and manufactures thermal protection systems for space and hypersonic vehicles. Their heat shields and insulation protect spacecraft from extreme temperatures during flight, with materials tested in real flight conditions to ensure reliability. The company leverages NASA-backed research, real-flight testing, and a focus on reuse and cost efficiency to stand out in a growing NewSpace market. Its goal is to meet rising demand from commercial and government space programs by delivering dependable thermal protection that improves safety and mission economics.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$6.3M

Headquarters

Chicago, Illinois

Founded

2021

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • September 2024 USAF awarded Canopy $2.8 million for hypersonic reentry TPS development.
  • Texas A&M partnered with Canopy on 3D-printed transpiration-cooling reentry materials.
  • November 2025 acquisition expands Canopy into allied naval defense and through-life sustainment work.

What critics are saying

  • Canopy still depends on government qualification cycles; missed 2026 milestones delay commercial revenue.
  • Tods integration across UK and U.S. facilities strains management and distracts aerospace execution.
  • A failed TPS flight test or AS9100 lapse in 2026 destroys credibility and customer trust.

What makes Canopy Aerospace & Defense unique

  • Canopy sells proprietary thermal protection materials for reentry, hypersonics, and reusable spacecraft.
  • November 2025 Tods acquisition added maritime composites, sonar domes, and UK defense relationships.
  • June 2026 QMS readiness work signals manufacturing discipline for high-temperature materials.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Retirement plan participation (eligibility required)

Paid Sick Leave

Paid Vacation

Paid holidays

Discretionary bonuses

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

-18%

2 year growth

0%
Citybiz
Nov 4th, 2025
Canopy Aerospace & Defense Acquires Tods Technology

Canopy Aerospace & Defense, a portfolio company of Trive Capital, is excited to announce the acquisition of Tods Technology Ltd.,... Read More

PR Newswire
Nov 4th, 2025
Canopy Aerospace & Defense Acquires Tods Technology, Expanding Global Footprint in Advanced Composites and Acoustic Materials in the Maritime Domain

Canopy Aerospace & Defense acquires Tods Technology, expanding global footprint in advanced composites and acoustic materials in the maritime domain. News provided by. DALLAS and PORTLAND, Dorset, United Kingdom, Nov. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Canopy Aerospace & Defense ("Canopy A&D"), a portfolio company of Trive Capital, is excited to announce the acquisition of Tods Technology Ltd. ("Tods"), a UK-based designer and manufacturer of advanced composite structures and acoustic materials serving the maritime defense industrial base. The addition of Tods represents a significant expansion of Canopy A&D's global footprint and technical capabilities. Tods brings decades of proven expertise in structural composites, sonar domes, acoustic enclosures, and signature-management materials for both surface and subsurface vessels. Dr. Marco Villa, Canopy A&D CEO commented: "Tods' reputation and commitment to their customers' missions are world-class and deeply aligned with our values. Their longstanding partnerships with the Royal Navy and over 25 Navies worldwide expand Canopy A&D's global presence, supporting critical allied defense programs and strengthening supply-chain resilience between the United States and the United Kingdom. We are committed to building on their legacy by investing in infrastructure, equipment, and people to create an immediate synergy we cannot wait to exploit." The acquisition enhances Canopy A&D's ability to deliver advanced materials and engineered solutions across the full lifecycle of maritime defense programs, from design and development through qualification, production, and sustainment. By integrating Tods' composite and acoustic expertise with Canopy A&D's broader materials and manufacturing capabilities, the company strengthens its position as a leading partner to the global maritime defense industrial base - accelerating shipbuilding schedules and advancing mission-critical platform performance. About Tods Technology Tods Technology, based in Portland, Dorset, UK, is a leading designer and manufacturer of advanced composite structures and acoustic materials for naval and aerospace applications. The company's capabilities include the design, testing, and production of sonar domes, acoustic windows, and structural composites for submarine and surface-ship platforms, supported by global through-life services including in-yard installation, maintenance, and repair. About Canopy Aerospace & Defense Canopy Aerospace & Defense manufactures and delivers highly specialized materials with exceptional insulative, absorptive, and signal reducing characteristics to the space and defense markets. The Company assists OEMs from the initial design phase with R&D material and system engineering services to turnkey manufacturing through refurbishment services on reusable platforms. With deep domain expertise and responsive manufacturing, Canopy A&D acts as a seamless "Built-In" extension of its partners, filling critical gaps across long manufacturing chains. The company operates facilities in Los Angeles, Denver, Cape Canaveral, and the United Kingdom. About Trive Capital Trive Capital is a Dallas, Texas based private equity firm with more than $8 billion of regulatory assets under management. Trive focuses on investing equity and debt in what it sees as strategically viable middle-market companies with the potential for transformational upside through operational improvement. SOURCE Canopy A&D

Space.com
May 11th, 2025
How do you keep reusable spacecraft cool during reentry? Make them 'sweat'

A research team from Texas A&M University has partnered with Canopy Aerospace to develop and test a 3D-printed material that releases or "sweats" a coolant gas to protect spacecraft from the intense heat encountered when travelling back to Earth at high speeds.

The Defense Post
Sep 11th, 2024
USAF Funds Hypersonic Thermal Protection System That Sweats

Canopy Aerospace has clinched a $2.8 million US Air Force funding to develop a more resilient hypersonic thermal protection system (TPS) based on transpiration-cooling.

The Defense Post
Sep 11th, 2024
USAF Funds Hypersonic Thermal Protection System That Sweats

Canopy Aerospace has clinched a $2.8 million USAF funding to develop a hypersonic thermal protection system based on transpiration-cooling.