Director of Quality chez Ruger

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Job Description:

The Role

The Director of Quality is a key strategic leader, guiding the systems, processes, and culture that protect and enhance Ruger’s reputation for uncompromising quality. This leader will not only set the vision for quality but will also embed assurance processes and zero-defect culture into every phase of our operations — from design and manufacturing and through customer experience. They will drive proactive systems that prevent defects, ensure compliance, and inspire teams to produce best in class quality for Ruger’s consumers.

Responsibilities

• Steward of Quality – Uphold Ruger’s tradition of craftsmanship by ensuring that every firearm meets our exacting standards of safety, reliability, and performance.
• Strategic Visionary – Shape Ruger’s quality strategy for the future, building systems that are not just compliant but world-class, scalable, and innovative.
• Cultural Leader – Inspire our teams to embrace quality as a shared responsibility, fostering a mindset where excellence is built into every decision and every process.
• Voice of the Customer – Champion customer trust by translating feedback and field insights into meaningful improvements that strengthen our products and brand.
• Operational Partner – Work closely with Engineering, Operations, and Product Development to ensure quality is designed in, built in, and sustained across all Ruger facilities.

Position Summary

The Director of Quality is responsible for leading Ruger’s company-wide quality strategy, ensuring that all firearms and related products meet the highest standards of reliability, safety, and performance. This role provides strategic oversight of quality systems, processes, and compliance programs, while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and customer focus across all manufacturing facilities. The Director of Quality will be a key leader in maintaining Ruger’s reputation for excellence, building proactive systems that prevent defects, and aligning quality initiatives with the company’s long-term business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute Ruger’s corporate quality vision and strategy in alignment with business goals.
• Champion a culture of quality excellence and accountability across all levels of the organization.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Product Development to integrate quality into all stages of design, manufacturing, and service.

Quality Systems & Compliance

• Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of quality management systems (QMS) in compliance with ISO 9001, SAAMI standards, and other applicable industry regulations.
• Ensure all Ruger products meet or exceed regulatory, safety, and performance requirements.
• Manage internal and external audits, corrective/preventive actions (CAPA), and risk management processes.

Operational Excellence

• Establish and track key quality metrics (first pass yield, defect rate, returns, customer satisfaction, etc.) and use data-driven insights to drive continuous improvement.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action initiatives to eliminate recurring issues and prevent quality escapes.
• Implement advanced quality planning tools (APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC) to ensure robust product launches and ongoing process control.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the quality organization across multiple facilities.
• Build strong partnerships with cross-functional leaders and serve as a trusted advisor on all quality matters.
• Promote training, knowledge sharing, and professional development opportunities for quality staff.

Customer Focus

• Act as the voice of the customer, ensuring customer feedback is captured, analyzed, and translated into product and process improvements.
• Oversee returns and field performance analysis to drive corrective and preventive actions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or related technical field (Master’s preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in Quality Assurance or Quality Engineering, ideally in firearms, aerospace, automotive, or other high-precision manufacturing industries. Ideal experience working with products that require both precision and rigorous aesthetic/feel requirements.
• Deep knowledge of quality management systems (ISO 9001, AS9100, Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing).
• Proven success in leading quality teams across multiple sites and driving measurable improvements in product and process quality.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with a data-driven mindset.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and collaboration skills.
• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Six Sigma Black Belt, or similar credentials preferred.

The Ideal Leader

The Director of Quality will be a proven leader with the technical expertise to design world-class quality systems and the vision to inspire cultural change. They will balance precision with passion, using data-driven insights while honoring Ruger’s proud tradition of American manufacturing. Above all, they will embody Ruger’s values — integrity, innovation, teamwork, and respect — ensuring that quality is not just measured, but lived.

Why Join Ruger

At Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc., we are proud to be recognized as one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of rugged, reliable firearms for the commercial sporting market. Our legacy is built on quality, safety, and innovation. As Director of Quality, you will play a critical role in shaping the future of Ruger products, ensuring that every firearm we manufacture meets the highest standards of excellence and earns the trust of our customers.