Senior Packaging Engineer – Sustainable Beverage Packaging

TalkingRain Beverage Company; Town of Preston (WI); On-site; USD 165,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation accrual

Parental leave

Relocation

Onsite gym Preston

401k plan

Medical/Dental/Vision

Job summary

Talking Rain Beverage Company is seeking a Packaging Engineer to lead end-to-end development and commercialization of packaging systems across our co-pack network. You will apply your expertise in PET, rPET, blow molding, and related processes to support performance, sustainability, regulatory, and manufacturing requirements.

Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Quality Design, this on-site role in Preston requires strong project leadership, collaboration with suppliers and internal teams, and a drive

Qualifications

• 8+ years of packaging engineering experience in CPG/beverage manufacturing.
• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering or related field.
• Hands-on experience with rigid packaging systems (PET bottles, preforms, closures).
• Strong knowledge of PET, rPET, blow molding, and related packaging processes.
• Ability to travel up to 40%.
• Clear communicator and cross-functional collaborator.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development and commercialization of packaging systems across co-pack network.
• Apply technical expertise in PET, rPET, blow molding, resin selection, and related packaging processes to support performance, sustainability, regulatory, and manufacturing requirements.
• Support implementation, troubleshooting, and optimization of blow molding and rigid packaging systems, including work tied to the Preston location and co-pack network.
• Lead lab testing, pilot trials, plant trials, line validation, and qualification protocols to confirm packaging performance, manufacturability, shelf life, carbonation retention, durability, and consumer experience.
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate new package designs, alternative materials, process improvements, and substrate qualifications across packaging formats.
• Create, maintain, and improve packaging specifications, standards, SOPs, test methods, and qualification processes, including dimensions, materials, tolerances, and performance requirements.
• Review and approve engineering drawings, dielines, material documentation, and specification sheets in alignment with brand, regulatory, food safety, quality, and co-manufacturer requirements.
• Partner with suppliers, co-manufacturers, R&D, Procurement, Quality, Engineering, and other Supply Chain teams to align technical strategy, resolve issues, and support successful execution.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks related to packaging performance, material behavior, manufacturing variability, quality defects, cost, and scalability.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation in packaging formats, materials, manufacturing processes, sustainability, cost efficiency, and overall packaging performance.
• Follow all food safety, quality, and SQF practices, notifying the appropriate leader of any food safety and/or quality concerns.

Skills

Packaging engineering

PET/rPET knowledge

Process optimization

Cross-functional

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's in Packaging Engineering or related

Tools

Blow molding tooling

Resin selection tools

Job description

Talking Rain Beverage Company is seeking a Packaging Engineer to lead end-to-end development and commercialization of packaging systems across our co-pack network. You will apply your expertise in PET, rPET, blow molding, and related processes to support performance, sustainability, regulatory, and manufacturing requirements.

Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Quality Design, this on-site role in Preston requires strong project leadership, collaboration with suppliers and internal teams, and a drive