Director of Research & Development

Walther Arms, Inc.•Fort Smith, AR

100d

About The Position

The Director of Research & Development leads the research and development efforts for the firearms product portfolio and guides a high-performing R&D team based in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The role has full accountability for designing, testing, and launching innovative firearm systems, and is central to strategic growth through technological innovation and operational excellence. The Director provides technical leadership for next-generation firearms platforms; oversees product development, testing, and regulatory compliance; and manages concurrent projects to achieve schedule, cost, and performance targets. The position collaborates across Product Management, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain to support successful launches. It also establishes test protocols and performance-validation standards, maintains drawing-control processes, monitors industry trends and emerging technologies, and promotes continuous improvement. The successful candidate has extensive product design and development experience, a record of taking products from concept through production, and a collaborative, people-focused leadership approach. The role requires a bachelor's or master's degree in Mechanical Engineering and at least 10 years of progressive product design and development experience.

Requirements

Bachelor's or master's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
At least 10 years of progressive experience in product design and development.
Proven experience leading design and R&D teams, with strong people-management and leadership skills.
Ability to develop a deep understanding of firearms systems, ballistics, materials, manufacturing processes, and regulatory standards such as ATF and ITAR.
Strong experience with project management tools and techniques.
Demonstrated ability to bring products from concept through full-scale production.
Exceptional communication, organizational, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Experience in 3-D CAD design, particularly SolidWorks, and other engineering analysis software.
Experience with ANSI-Y-14.5 drawing terms and tolerances.
Experience with DFM in a Lean environment.
A leadership style focused on developing and supporting team members.
A passion for metric-driven results and project management through documentation and KPIs.
A team-focused approach that incorporates feedback across the organization.
Strong interpersonal skills and clear communication at all levels.
Exceptional product life-cycle management skills.
Ability to prioritize and pivot in response to internal and external customer demands.
Strong ethics, integrity, and leadership qualities that inspire trust and confidence.
A history of mentoring, motivating, and developing individuals.
A cultural fit based on engagement, empowerment, and servant leadership.

Nice To Haves

Advanced technical degree or MBA.
PMP certification.
SolidWorks PDM experience.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop the Fort Smith-based R&D team, including recruiting and developing engineering talent and fostering a collaborative, innovative culture.
Oversee the design, development, and testing of firearms and related technologies to meet safety, performance, and regulatory requirements.
Provide technical leadership and vision for next-generation firearms platforms.
Manage concurrent R&D projects using project management methodologies to meet schedule, cost, and performance targets.
Collaborate with Product Management, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain to support smooth product launches.
Establish and maintain test protocols and performance-validation standards for new designs.
Monitor industry trends, competitive products, and emerging technologies.
Promote continuous improvement within the R&D team, with a focus on innovation, efficiency, and product excellence.
Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and international regulations related to firearms development and testing.
Lead the development and maintenance of drawing-control processes.