Production Supervisor at Rock West Composites in San Diego, CA

Production Supervisor

Location: San Diego, California

Rock West Composites, Inc. has an exciting opportunity for a Production Supervisor.

Rock West Composites, Inc. is an engineering and manufacturing company dedicated to providing innovative solutions for commercial and government customers. This position is located in our San Diego Aircraft facility (Otay Mesa) and reports to the Production Manager.

Position Summary:

The Production Supervisor oversees daily production activities across multiple shifts, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives are met. This role supervises a team of 10+ technicians, supports cross-functional alignment with Manufacturing Engineering and Quality, and leads continuous improvement initiatives. The supervisor also drives employee development, enforces compliance with company standards, and fosters an engaged, high-performing team environment.

Essential Functions:

• Team Leadership and Development
  • Supervise, train, and manage a team of 10+ technicians, including performance management and staffing decisions.
  • Set clear job expectations and manage individual and team performance against production goals.
  • Identify training needs, implement development programs, and maintain skill matrices.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, safety, and engagement through strong leadership and coaching.
  • Inspire, develop, and retain team members to build a strong talent pipeline.
• Production Operations & Process Control
  • Oversee production schedules, workflow, labor allocation, and daily floor activities across assigned work areas.
  • Monitor and optimize labor hours and overtime for efficiency.
  • Ensure compliance with work instructions, travelers, and QMS documentation.
  • Maintain a safe, clean, and organized work environment, promoting 5S and behavior-based safety practices.
  • Ensure adherence to Rock West Composites' Quality System, AS9100 standards, and company policies.
• Quality & Continuous Improvement
  • Ensure product quality and conformance to specifications through proactive monitoring and auditing.
  • Collaborate with Quality Assurance on nonconformance investigations and corrective actions.
  • Lead Lean initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, scrap reduction, and cost savings.
  • Use data to control and improve production processes, reduce waste, and improve throughput.
  • Support root cause analysis and corrective action plans for production issues.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Technical Support
  • Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Program Managers to align production priorities and resolve technical challenges.
  • Provide input on tooling, fixtures, materials, and process improvements.
  • Contribute to work instruction development and feedback for new product introduction.
  • Lead implementation of cost reduction and capital improvement projects, as assigned.
• Metrics & Performance Monitoring
  • Track progress toward department KPIs and enterprise goals using Visual Management tools (KPI boards, Tier meetings).
  • Conduct daily Tier 1 meetings to communicate priorities and performance updates.
  • Establish SMART objectives linked to plant and strategic goals and follow through on execution.

Non-Essential Function:

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or GED required, technical degree or training a plus.
• Minimum 8 years of production supervision experience, preferably in composites or aerospace manufacturing.
• 3+ years of composite fabrication experience.
• Experience managing teams of 10+ technicians in a job-shop or high-mix, low-volume environment.
• Strong understanding of lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement tools.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with ERP/MRP systems a plus.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.

Compensation and Benefits:

• 100% Employer Paid Medical and Dental
• $3,000 Annual Bonus
• 401K - 5% match
• Employee Stocks Option Program
• 9/80 work schedule
• 8- paid Holidays
• PTO: Max. 4-weeks after 5 years of employment
• $2,500 tuition reimbursement

Compensation:

The hourly range for this position falls within $35 and $42. The final compensation will be determined based on experience, skillset, and other factors permitted by law.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Rock West Composites is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the company to provide equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, transitioning status, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, medical condition, mental disability, physical disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. EEO is the law. We also prohibit compensation discrimination under all applicable laws. Certain positions require meeting the U.S. Person definition in 22 CFR 120.62.

ITAR Requirement

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder) as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158, Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the company’s immigration sponsorship now or in the future. Rock West Composites will not offer immigration sponsorship for this position. Rock West Composites will not seek an export authorization for this role. Rock West Composites maintains a Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace. Depending on state law and the nature of the position, candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment may be required to complete a drug screening. Rock West Composites may also conduct drug and alcohol testing based on reasonable suspicion, post-incident, or for safety-sensitive positions as permitted by law.

Accommodation Notice

If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact 858-537-6260.