Ammo Makers: Zach Thompson, Remington, Brings Curiosity and Strength to Every Challenge

Zach Thompson, Sr. Engineer at Remington, has a habit of turning curiosity into his next challenge.

He’s usually busy with something, whether it’s making knives, 3D printing his own firearm parts, gardening or crafting wine. About six years ago, he added strongman competitions to the mix, effectively tacking ‘pulling an airplane’ and ‘carrying 1,000-pound yokes’ onto his list of free time pursuits.

To prepare for the annual Arkansas’s Strongest competition, Zach builds strength at a commercial gym near his home, trains at a CrossFit gym in Little Rock and picks up the rest by “playing around with stuff” in his garage or at his wife’s family’s cattle farm.

Lucky for Remington, Zach brings that same curiosity and drive to the business. Whether he’s preparing for Arkansas’s Strongest competitions or implementing improvements on the factory floor, the mindset is the same: apply strength, discipline and precision to achieve the best possible outcome.

As an engineer supporting shotshell production, Zach focuses on lead forming, loading and packing. His work spans from designing process improvements and updating technical documentation to troubleshooting issues in real time and supporting the teams on the floor. 

Zach thrives in the uncertainty, eagerly tackling problems that don’t come with a roadmap. In his five years with Remington, his responsibilities have scaled from small, targeted improvements to larger capital projects, including major equipment upgrades and new production capabilities.

But no matter the size of the project, his best moments deliver immediate results.

“To roll something out that immediately shows itself in its improvement – where everything is better right away – is great. It’s fantastic. That is what I want to do every day,” he said. 

That immediate impact keeps him energized.

As much as he loves efficiency, his job is equally about quality and precision. Working with ammunition, the margin for error is razor thin, and Zach never loses sight of that.

“We’re making a product that people trust with their lives,” he said. “We have a responsibility to ensure our products do what they are designed to do.”



Even the smallest variations in materials, design or internal geometry have a meaningful impact on performance. That reality demands constant attention to detail and an appreciation for the engineers whose work laid the foundation for what is produced today.

“There’s a legacy in this work,” he said. “I spend a lot of time looking at prints that are decades old – sometimes 50, 75 or even 100 years old – and the work still makes sense today. The engineers who created them got it right the first time.

That’s the standard I try to hold myself to. I want the decisions I make now to stand the test of time so the engineers who come after me can focus on moving things forward rather than fixing my mistakes.”

That commitment to building for the future extends beyond equipment and processes. Zach recognizes success isn’t measured solely in outputs or efficiency gains. When 

asked what he’s most proud of, he doesn’t point to a record lift or a complex project, he points to the people. Specifically, the interns he has mentored.

“I had a really good internship experience, so ensuring everyone I mentor has a just as good, if not better, experience is a debt I owe,” he said.

That belief shapes his approach, namely interns aren’t just handed busy work. They’re given meaningful engineering challenges that allow them to apply fundamentals, build confidence and see tangible results.

For Zach, developing the next generation of engineers is another way of contributing to a legacy that will outlast any single project. And that long-term perspective is rooted in something deeper: a lifelong connection to the brand.

Growing up in South Arkansas, nearly every early hunting experience Zach had involved Remington. His first deer, his first bird and even his time on a shooting

team were all connected to the products he now helps manufacture.

So when he first visited the Lonoke plant, it felt like more than just a workplace.

“It was like looking at Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory,” he said.

Years into his career, that wonder evolved into pride. Every day, he contributes to a brand that played a role in his story, improving the products hunters and shooters rely on while helping carry forward a legacy that began long ago.

Whether Zach is lifting 1,000-pound yokes or advancing the processes behind some of America’s most trusted ammunition, he’s helping build a strong legacy.