Packaging Engineer - Wet Business - Conway, AR

About Us

Westrock Coffee is a vertically integrated coffee and beverage company, recognized for high-quality products and innovative packaging solutions across both liquid and dry formats. Our Wet Business encompasses a growing portfolio of ready-to-drink coffee and beverage products across canned, glass bottle, and PET multiserve formats requiring world-class packaging execution. We are seeking an experienced Packaging Engineer to join our team and lead packaging development across these rigid and semi-rigid beverage formats.

Position Overview

The Packaging Engineer -- Wet Business will be responsible for the design, development, and implementation of primary packaging solutions for Westrock Coffee's wet beverage segment. This role covers three primary packaging formats: aluminum cans, glass bottles, and PET multiserve bottles. The engineer will apply deep knowledge of material science, filling and closure technologies, and high-speed beverage manufacturing processes to deliver packaging that preserves product quality and shelf stability and meets quality and regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

Packaging Design & Development

• Design and develop primary packaging solutions for the Wet Business, including aluminum cans, glass bottles, and PET multiserve bottles, ensuring product integrity and shelf stability.
• Conduct material selection and testing to identify optimal can substrates, glass formulations, PET resins, and closure systems for beverage applications, balancing performance and cost.
• Develop and maintain detailed specifications for cans, glass bottles, PET bottles, closures, labels, and related components.
• Evaluate and improve existing packaging designs for cost-effectiveness, performance, and manufacturability.
• Participate in the scale-up process from prototype to full production, ensuring smooth transitions and minimal disruption to operations across canning, bottling, and PET filling lines.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Supplier Management

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Product Development, Quality Assurance, Supply Chain, and Production to bring new packaging designs to market efficiently.
• Work closely with can suppliers, glass manufacturers, PET converters, and closure/label suppliers to ensure high-quality materials, on-time delivery, and compliance with Westrock Coffee specifications.
• Troubleshoot and resolve packaging-related issues arising in the production process, including seam integrity, glass defects, PET bottle performance, closure torque, and label application.
• Stay current with industry trends, technologies, and regulations related to can, glass, and PET beverage packaging and food contact materials.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in packaging engineering, with hands-on experience across aluminum cans, glass bottles, and PET multiserve bottle formats.
• Demonstrated experience in packaging design, material qualification, and manufacturing process support within beverage, food, or consumer goods industries.
• Strong knowledge of can seaming, glass bottle filling and capping, PET stretch blow molding, closure systems, and beverage line sealing technologies.
• Familiarity with high-speed beverage packaging machinery, converting processes, and quality management systems (e.g., SPC, FMEA, PPAP).
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Effective communicator with the ability to work cross-functionally and with external suppliers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with hot-fill, cold-fill, aseptic, or retort processing for ready-to-drink coffee and beverage products.
• Familiarity with can lining/coating technologies, glass lightweighting, and PET barrier enhancement for shelf-stable beverages.
• Knowledge of food safety standards and regulations pertaining to food contact packaging materials (e.g., FDA, EU food contact regulations).
• Proficiency with CAD software and packaging design tools.
• Certified Packaging Professional (CPP) or similar credential is a plus.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development within a vertically integrated organization.
• A collaborative and innovative work environment committed to quality and continuous improvement.
• The opportunity to shape packaging strategy for a growing Wet Business portfolio within a dynamic coffee company.