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Since 2005, Waterjet West has been the premier supplier of high-precision abrasive CNC waterjet cutting services for San Marcos, San Diego, Riverside, Orange County, Los Angeles, and Nation Wide for light weight / smaller parts. Utilizing three state-of-the-art OMAX CNC waterjets, we specialize in delivering tight tolerances for a wide range of industries. We are Southern California’s dedicated experts in precision manufacturing, rapid prototyping, and high-volume production.

About the owners

Alicia and Joe Gormican purchased Waterjet West in April 2023, bringing a renewed focus on advanced engineering, quality control, and operational excellence.

Joe, a UC Berkeley graduate, brings over 20 years of expertise in high-volume manufacturing with custom automation equipment. Having managed production teams in strictly regulated USDA and FDA environments, he instills a culture of uncompromised quality on the shop floor. His extensive background in Lean Six Sigma methodologies—including his role as an Operational Excellence Site Lead at Zoetis—ensures that Waterjet West operates with maximum efficiency, translating to faster lead times and no-defect parts for our clients.

 

A lifelong metal fabricator and mechanical innovator, Joe possesses a rare ability to troubleshoot, optimize, or rebuild any piece of machinery, from standard autos to multimillion-dollar automation systems. Prior to Waterjet West, he founded and operated Trick Tuners, a high-performance dyno and tuning shop where he mastered complex control systems and built a reputation for top-tier EFI tunes. His deep understanding of CNC machinery was further cemented when he engineered and built a custom CNC plasma cutter to cut designs into beer keg fire pits for a side business called Hotkeg—skills that directly elevate our high-precision waterjet capabilities today.

When they aren’t optimizing the shop floor, Joe and his family are avid adventurers who can be found rock climbing, rock crawling in their Jeep, wake foiling on the Colorado River, or ripping through the Glamis sand dunes.

Our Team

Jonathan : Director of Operations / EH&S

  • Jonathan brings an exceptional blend of precision management and hands-on problem-solving to Waterjet West. An Army Veteran with a degree from UC Berkeley and a Master’s in Public Health from CSUSM, he spent over 11 years managing Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) teams in highly regulated, FDA-compliant biotech companies. This background translates directly into our rigorous approach to safety, quality control, and operational excellence on our shop floor. Jonathan is also a natural mechanic who can tackle any complex challenge; whether he’s optimizing our facility or doing custom fabrications on his Jeep Gladiator, his mechanical aptitude ensures our operations run flawlessly.

 Tammy: Sales Manager

  • Tammy brings over 20 years of strategic sales experience across multiple industries, with a proven track record of managing multimillion-dollar accounts. As the published author of the book Principled Selling, she is dedicated to a customer-first approach, ensuring that our clients receive transparent, expert guidance and long-lasting partnerships.

Tanner: Sr. Waterjet Operator / Machinist

  • As a skilled welder, fabricator, and machinist, Tanner brings a decade of specialized experience to the shop floor. He is our go-to expert for complex, high-precision waterjet projects that require out-of-the-box thinking. His deep, intrinsic understanding of our machinery sets him apart: Tanner can completely rebuild a waterjet pump in just one hour—a highly technical task that takes most operators four to eight hours. This unmatched expertise drastically minimizes our downtime and ensures your projects stay on schedule.

Will: Waterjet Operator / Machinist III

  • Will brings a unique combination of business acumen and heavy-duty mechanical expertise to the team. Holding a Business degree from St. Mary’s College, he also has over five years of hands-on automotive and diesel mechanic experience. He is a highly capable TIG welder and fabricator, and is currently advancing his technical skill set by pursuing specialized welding certifications at CSUSM. Will’s versatility and mechanical precision make him an invaluable asset to our production team.

Calibration and Preventative Maintenance

  • We calibrate the waterjet at the start of every job! Typically within +/-0.002".
  • Garnet Abrasive media is analyzed to determine the particle size distribution for the highest quality cuts.
  • Tilt-a-Jet taper compensation on multiple waterjets to eliminate taper for precise 90° edges on material as thick as 6"
  • Nozzle and other critical parts are monitored and replaced prior to failure to allow high precision cuts.

Our Certifications and Systems

  • ITAR certified
  • AS9100d / ISO9001:2015 Certified in March 2026. Certificate 0240581-00
  • Quality Systems, Incoming Inspection, FAI, Final Inspection, Document Control, Calibration program
  • NIST 800 Cybersecurity expected 2026
  • Lean Six Sigma Methodologies

Our Services

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Who we work with

Business to Business

  • We routinely work with >$1BB Aerospace and Spacecraft companies, small machine shops, and many manufacturing companies.
  • Supplying production parts from single rush items to high voume contract manufacturing
  • Reverse Engineering Services
  • Offering secondary processing for coatings and machining through our partner network.
  • Rush jobs can be as fast as 1 day.

Business to Consumer

  • We can cut any flat shape in any material. We can use a CAD file, part trace, or the part itself to replicate anything.
  • From custom automotive parts, to signs and metal art, to commissioned art projects, we can help complete your project.

Contact us to discuss your manufacturing requirements or project!
760-471-2600