Research Engineer II

Suntory Global Spirits • KY

79d

About The Position

Suntory Global Spirits is a world leader in premium spirits with beloved iconic brands, rooted in more than 200 years of heritage and craftsmanship. Our values are deep-rooted, and we aspire to live our purpose to ‘Inspire the Brilliance of Life’ in everything we do. Our ambition is to become the World’s Most Admired Premium Spirits Company. We want to be Most Admired not only for our incredible brands, but also for the brilliant experiences we foster, the ways in which we bring people together, the impactful marketing and innovation we deliver, and for the positive impact we have on the world around us. When you’re on our team, you can build a career of personal and professional growth across functions, business units and geographies. At Suntory Global Spirits, our employees work together to Unleash Their Spirit and realize their full potential each and every day. The spirits and RTD (Ready-to-Drink) beverage industry is evolving rapidly, driven by changing consumer preferences, emerging technologies, and a growing demand for innovation. At Suntory Global Spirits, we are proud to be at the forefront of this transformation, crafting premium products that inspire and delight. As part of the Data & Research team, the Research Engineer II plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of our RTD and spirits portfolio through research initiatives. This role offers the opportunity to explore and develop scientific solutions that provide sustainable competitive advantages, influencing product innovation, quality, and efficiency across the business. You’ll lead and contribute to research projects that span experimental design, ingredient and process exploration, and technology evaluation—partnering closely with cross-functional teams including Product Development, Sensory, Operations, and Marketing. Your work will help uncover insights and opportunities that drive the next generation of consumer-driven products. This position is ideal for someone who thrives in a collaborative, data-driven environment and is passionate about applying research to real-world challenges. It offers broad exposure to strategic innovation, cross-functional collaboration, and the chance to make a lasting impact on the future of Suntory Global Spirits.

Requirements

• M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Food Science, or a related field preferred, with 2+ years of relevant experience.
• B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Food Science, or a related field required, with 4+ years of relevant experience.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in the food and/or beverage industry.
• Highly self-motivated and proactive self-starter, comfortable working independently in a fast-paced, dynamic, and sometimes unstructured environment, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience partnering across R&D, Marketing, Product Development, Regulatory, Operations, Procurement, Engineering, and external suppliers.
• Experience supporting research initiatives in RTDs and/or distilled spirits is a strong plus.
• Strong experimental design and data analysis capabilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and related tools for data analysis, visualization, and reporting.
• Familiarity with laboratory environments, pilot plant, and manufacturing environments, including equipment functionality and process design at manufacturing scale.
• Understanding AI technologies and their potential applications in product and process research is a plus.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with a commitment to timely follow-up and openness to feedback.
• Ability to work effectively in a global, cross-cultural organization across time zones and regions.
• Ability to travel globally to partner in project work with internal and external clients—travel approx. 10–30%, with half in local Kentucky operations and Chicago/New York corporate offices.
• Must be able to consume limited quantities of alcoholic beverage samples for research evaluation purposes.
• Physically fit for work in lab and pilot plant environments, including standing, moving, and lifting up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting research initiatives in RTDs and/or distilled spirits is a strong plus.
• Understanding AI technologies and their potential applications in product and process research is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead, plan and execute longer-term, data-driven research initiatives focused on Ready-to-Drink (RTD) beverages and spirits, translating business and operational needs into product solutions that deliver sustainable competitive advantage through process innovation.
• Accountable for the technical development and implementation of research as part of a cross-functional team, ensuring alignment with cost, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Plan and execute experiments using established laboratory, pilot plant, and operations methods; interpret results and translate findings into actionable solutions.
• Apply prior scientific work to experimental design and outcomes.
• Follow best practices and Standard Operating Procedures and recommend improvements to processes and protocols.
• Work closely with Engineering, Procurement, Fermentation, Distillation, Warehousing and other operations team members to incorporate considerations of available liquid assets and plant capabilities into the work output.
• Share learnings and new scientific developments with global technical partners to support adaptation and adoption across Suntory Global Spirits sites and initiatives.
• Serve as a direct R&D resource for projects of low to moderate complexity, including cost reduction and process optimization initiatives, working closely with key business partners to define process requirements and deliver product and process solutions.
• Partner with external suppliers and development companies as required to extend solution possibilities and identify, evaluate, and implement new enabling technologies, processes, and raw materials that support product and process innovation.
• Demonstrate a solid technical and business understanding of the competitive set, supplier base, adjacent categories, emerging technologies, and on/off-premise practices and trends.
• Develop process design and operating specifications, and provide input on ingredient and in-process specifications for new or revised solutions as required.
• Mentor junior team members, including Assistant Scientists, supporting their development and contributions to project execution.
• Contribute to the SGS R&D Intellectual Property (IP) Team by supporting the development of an IP structure that safeguards innovations and fosters long-term growth and competitive advantage.
• Work effectively in a global, cross-cultural environment, collaborating with colleagues and partners across regions to drive innovation and share learnings.

Benefits

• Equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, military veteran status and all other characteristics, attributes or choices protected by law.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Master's degree