Job Description:
The Role
The Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) is responsible for ensuring that externally supplied materials, components, and services consistently meet Ruger quality, safety, and delivery requirements. This role focuses on prevention over detection, embedding quality early in the supply chain through robust APQP execution, PPAP approval, supplier capability assessments, and continuous improvement activities.
The SQE partners closely with Suppliers, Purchasing, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Advanced Quality to reduce supplier-driven risk, prevent quality escapes, and improve overall Cost of Poor Quality (CoPQ). 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.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead supplier quality activities from sourcing through production lifecycle, emphasizing defect prevention and process capability.
- Conduct supplier audits and capability assessments to validate readiness for production and ongoing compliance with Ruger requirements.
- Drive supplier corrective action using structured root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective/preventive action methodologies.
- Reduce supplier quality incidents, quality notifications, and production disruptions through proactive engagement.
- Lead quality activities during design and development, ensuring Advanced Product (APQP) Quality Planning and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) requirements are met.
- Develop measurement system analysis (MSA), gauge concepts, and validation strategies for new components.
- Act as the liaison between engineering, manufacturing, procurement and suppliers.
- Managing personal workload and cross train where appropriate.
- Act as a technical bridge between onsite manufacturing operations and the supplier base when quality issues involve interaction between supplier components, Ruger manufacturing processes, assembly conditions, or product performance.
Core Competencies / Tasks:
- Strong technical problem-solving and analytical skills
- Proficiency with APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA
- GD&T interpretation and application
- Supplier auditing and capability assessment experience
- Data-driven decision making and trend analysis
- Effective communication across internal and external stakeholders
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
- Strong background driving process improvement through process controls, Poka-yoke and stability improvement.
- Drive supplier non-conformities with the goal of ensuring adherence to the Ruger Supplier Quality
- Drive standardization throughout the Ruger Prescott plant through standard work, benchmarking and establishing process standards.
- Ability to collaborate with design, manufacturing, and supplier teams. Providing technical direction and oversight
Skills and Attributes:
- Excellent program management, organization and follow up skills.
- Excellent problem-solving skills utilizing Structured Methods (6-Sigma, DMAIC, Shainin), Five Why, and Lean methods.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Strong negotiation skills and the ability to influence others at all levels of the organization.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong business acumen and understanding of operational metrics for leadership discussions focused improvement.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- 8 years of manufacturing experience in Operations, Supply Chain, Quality or Supplier Quality.
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing engineering, Industrial Engineering with a strong Quality background is preferred.
- Ability to understand and interpret engineering drawings using Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
- Thorough knowledge in Metrology, CMM’s, Gage R&R, Process Capability and variation reduction.
- Thorough knowledge of core processes in the Supply Chain – Metal Injection Molding, Plastic Molding, Swiss/Screw Machine, CNC Machining, Springs and Stampings, Investment Castings and Forgings.
- Knowledge of our secondary/specialized processes in the Supply Chain – Heat Treatment, Coatings, Black Oxide, Melonite, PVD/DLC, and Anodizing.
- Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Six Sigma Black Belt, or similar credentials preferred.
- Travel will support business requirements up to 50%.
