What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Testing position at Colts Manufacturing Company Llc?
Position Overview
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced leader with a mechanical engineering background and expertise in testing, automation, and instrumentation. This role will lead Colt’s growing testing team, currently composed of engineers and technicians, with a focus on expanding capabilities and driving innovation in small arms testing, validation, and data acquisition.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Development
- Managing, mentoring, and growing a high-performing team of engineers and technicians. Fostering a culture of accountability, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
- Manage personnel performance, safety training, and career development.
Testing Strategy & Execution
- Oversee all testing activities for new product development, R&D, and root cause analysis.
- Develop and maintain a master testing schedule aligned with project timelines and priorities.
- Creatively plan and execute test strategies to meet aggressive development schedules.
Test Capability & Infrastructure
- Drive the development and standardization of test procedures and SOPs for technicians.
- Leading the integration of advanced test fixtures, sensors, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems into Colt’s design and development workflows.
- Maintain and calibrate all test equipment and instrumentation to ensure accuracy and reliability.
- Coordinate with external testing labs to outsource specialized or customer-required testing.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Design Engineers, Program Managers, and other departments to align testing with product requirements and development goals.
- Pull in resources from other departments or external partners when needed to meet testing demands.
- Contribute to project planning by assessing testing capacity and resource availability.
- Lead root cause investigations and provide actionable insights to design and manufacturing teams.
Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve testing efficiency, repeatability, and reproducibility.
- Stay current with industry standards, technologies, and best practices in firearms testing.
- Propose and implement enhancements to testing processes and infrastructure.
- Monitor and maintain departmental Budget.
Technical Skills
- Strong understanding of mechanical systems, materials, and testing principles.
- Experience with AC225, MIL-STD, SAAMI, or similar standards.
- Proficiency in data acquisition systems, sensors, and analysis tools (e.g., LabVIEW, MATLAB, Excel, Minitab).
- Familiarity with CAD software (PTC Creo preferred) and technical documentation.
- Experience with calibration protocols and maintenance of laboratory instrumentation.
- Comfortable working in live-fire environments and managing testing logistics.
Education and Experience Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
- 8 years of experience in product testing, validation, or design engineering, preferably in firearms or defense related industries.
- Proven leadership experience managing technical teams. Strong understanding of firearm mechanics, ballistics, and materials science.
- Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
- Knowledge of industry standards and regulatory requirements for firearms.
- Passion for firearms and a commitment to producing high-quality products.
- Proficient knowledge of GD&T.
- Experience in developing products for commercial and government sectors.
- Experience with manual measuring equipment (Micro Height, Calipers, Comparator, etc.).
Software Knowledge
- PTC CREO CAD experience preferred
- CREO Simulation desired
- Windchill - Database Management Software.
- Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
- Inventive Concept desired
- LabView