Packaging Process Engineer

Sazerac Company • Louisville, KY

23h • Onsite

About The Position

Join a team shaping the future of world-class packaging operations. As a Packaging Engineer, you will lead and support capital project initiatives across multiple sites, specializing in High-Speed Bottling, Secondary Packaging, Finished Goods Storage, and Pallet Handling Systems. This role provides technical leadership in developing efficient, high-quality production processes while ensuring compliance with industry and regulatory standards. Partnering with cross-functional teams, you will drive innovation in packaging and finished goods storage and help build capabilities within Sazerac’s Global Engineering agenda. You will also develop, write, and approve Company Functional Design Standards and perform gap analyses across all locations. Mentoring junior engineers and supporting professional growth are key aspects of this role.

Requirements

• Strong knowledge of engineering within high-speed bottling systems
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Strong organizational and time management abilities
• Ability to collaborate effectively with remote teams
• Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Experience leading capital improvement, change management, and process improvement initiatives
• Willingness to travel up to 50%

Nice To Haves

• Degree in Process, Systems, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering (or related field)
• 3–5 years of engineering experience, ideally within hygienic process industries (brewing, distilling, food, pharmaceutical, or health & beauty)
• Project management or continuous improvement certification (PMP, PfMP, PgMP, Lean Six Sigma, etc.)
• Experience developing technical documentation and company standards
• Experience in distilled spirits packaging environments

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for High-Speed Bottling, Secondary Packaging, Finished Goods Storage, and Pallet Handling Systems.
• Assess existing bottling plants, identify performance gaps, and develop world-class solutions to address them.
• Design and run process simulations and conduct risk assessments to eliminate system constraints and limitations.
• Develop and write Functional Design Specifications (FDS) for systems, equipment, and methods.
• Create Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and competitive bid evaluation tools to identify key execution partners.
• Provide engineering and technical expertise to operations and other engineering disciplines across the organization.
• Support capital projects at Sazerac locations as part of the Strategic Operations Engineering Team (travel required).
• Drive continuous improvement, growth, efficiency, and cost savings through standardized engineering processes and best practices.
• Participate in the Performance Development System (PDS) process, using feedback and learnings to improve outcomes.
• Collaborate with operations leadership to develop long-term improvement strategies and capital project plans.
• Develop project budgets, monitor progress, report status, and resolve obstacles to keep projects on track.
• Support capacity planning and inventory accuracy initiatives by streamlining and documenting planning processes.
• Ensure systems meet OSHA, EPA, and TTB regulatory requirements and take corrective action when needed.
• Troubleshoot operational issues and coordinate resolutions to meet quality, cost, and delivery expectations.

Benefits

• Competitive Pay
• Comprehensive Benefits from Day One including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Family Coverage: Options to cover family members, including domestic partners.
• 401(k) Plan: Immediate access to a matching 401(k) plan.
• Flexible Time Away: Enjoy paid time off (PTO), holidays, and parental leave.
• Mental Health and Wellness: Access to mental health care and wellness incentive programs.
• Educational Support: Benefit from tuition reimbursement and our scholarship program for dependents of Sazerac team members.
• Fun Extras: Enjoy branded apparel, fun events, and a team member bottle purchase program.
• Training and Development: Opportunities for professional growth and development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level