Business Excellence Packaging Engineer I

About Us:

Trilliant Food & Nutrition is a leading, vertically integrated manufacturer of premium coffees and powdered beverages, proudly headquartered in Little Chute, Wisconsin. With a legacy rooted in quality, innovation, and service, Trilliant delivers branded and private label solutions across retail, foodservice, and e-commerce channels.

Horseshoe Beverage Company, based in Neenah, WI, is a leading ready-to-drink beverage manufacturer dedicated to delivering an exceptional beverage experience. By combining industry-leading talent, cutting-edge equipment, and a vertically integrated supply chain, we drive innovation and consistently deliver the highest quality products to our customers-first and fast.

Our brand portfolio includes Victor Allen's, Dutch Bros beverages and Nurri, our better-for-you protein beverage line. We are passionate about beverages - and about building a team that's just as energized. We invite you to explore opportunities at Trilliant or Horseshoe, to see if your talents and career aspirations may fit with our openings.

Our Core Values:

Diversity and Inclusion at Trilliant and Horseshoe:

We believe talented, great people are the building blocks of our success. We believe in finding the right people, with the right attitude, and providing them with opportunities to excel.

Position Overview:

As a Business Excellence Packaging Engineer I, you will support the development, testing, and optimization of packaging solutions across high-speed food and beverage manufacturing lines. This entry-level role is ideal for early-career professionals or recent graduates with internship or limited industry experience. You will work alongside experienced engineers and cross-functional teams to ensure packaging meets performance, quality, safety, and sustainability standards.

Responsibilities:

* Assist in the design and validation of primary and secondary packaging materials including bottles, cans, cups, film, paperboard, corrugate, and adhesives.

* Support packaging trials and performance testing on high-speed production lines.

* Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to maintain packaging specifications and quality documentation.

* Conduct structured testing protocols (e.g., ISTA, shelf-life studies, line trials) under guidance from senior engineers.

* Contribute to cost savings and sustainability initiatives through material optimization and waste reduction.

* Help troubleshoot packaging-related issues and support root cause analysis and corrective actions.

* Maintain accurate documentation including specifications, trial reports, and change control records.

* Ensure packaging compliance with food safety regulations and internal quality requirements.

Qualifications:

* Education: Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.

* Experience: Internship or 1-3 years of experience in packaging engineering, preferably in a food or beverage manufacturing environment.

* Basic understanding of packaging materials and systems (rigid and flexible formats).

* Exposure to packaging machinery and production environments is a plus.

* Familiarity with packaging design software and testing methodologies.

* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

* Effective communication and teamwork abilities.

* Willingness to work flexible hours or off-shifts to support production and packaging trials.

Hours, Location and Pay:

We offer a competitive base pay rate and comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees. This role works standard business hours Monday - Friday at either our Little Chute, WI or Neenah, WI manufacturing facility. Off-shift hours, including weekends may be needed to support business needs.

Physical and Mental Demands:

* While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, hear, use hands to type data, use a personal computer and telephone. This employee may occasionally have to operate business machines and lift and/move up to 50 pounds.

* Specific vision abilities required in this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

* Mental demands include multi-tasking, decision making, problem solving, comparing, copying, computing, compiling, analyzing, coordinating, and synthesizing data.

* Potential for exposure to chemicals, heights, loud noises, mechanical equipment, wet environments, and other potential hazards exists.

Safety Statement:

At Trilliant and Horseshoe, safety is every employee's first responsibility. We expect all employees to adhere to all safety practices, have the moral courage to stop other individuals from performing unsafe acts, and immediately report unsafe conditions.

Disclosures:

* The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

* Responsible for following food safety/regulatory policies and procedures, executing responsibilities as identified in standard operating procedures, and reporting food safety/regulatory concerns to the Production or Quality Manager.

* Trilliant Food & Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage Company are Drug Free Workplaces. All applicants are subject to a drug screen and background check as a condition of employment.

* Trilliant Food and Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage participate in the E-Verify process.

* EEO/AA including Vets and Disabled

* If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at HR@trilliantfood.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

* Trilliant Food and Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage are Equal Opportunity Employers.

* The principles of the OECD and UN have been taken into consideration and used as guidance in our human rights practices and procedures.