Seeking Packaging Engineer to Redesign 1L Carbonated PET Bottle (Solve CO₂ “Bottle Creep”) Ended

Maison VIVE is a luxury sparkling water brand seeking an experienced PET bottle design engineer to refine our existing 1L PET bottle. Our current custom cylindrical bottle with a champagne-style punt base is experiencing deformation (“bottle creep”) under carbonation pressure. We need structural design improvements that eliminate creep while preserving the punt base aesthetic and minimizing new tooling costs.

Project Background
Bottle Specs: 1.0L PET bottle using an approximately 65g preform. Cylindrical profile with decorative vertical ribs (currently not structurally effective). Champagne-style punt base for a premium look. Carbonation around 4 volumes CO2, similar to premium sparkling waters.
Issue: Approximately 30–35 percent of filled bottles show visible bulging or expansion after carbonation, primarily around the base and lower body.
Constraints: The punt-style base must be retained (no petaloid base unless absolutely unavoidable). Neck finish and bottle height must remain compatible with our existing SIDES siphon closure and dispensing system. Preference is to avoid a new preform mold; solutions should focus on blow mold geometry changes. Minor weight increases or small mold inserts are acceptable, but major new tooling is out of scope.

Deliverables

1. Diagnostic Report: A short memo identifying likely causes of creep (geometry, material distribution, stress points) and the proposed design strategy to address them.
2. Redesign Options: CAD concepts showing a range of solutions, from minimal tweaks (subtle ribs or shape changes) to more robust modifications, while maintaining a premium look and punt base. Each option should include manufacturability notes and any impact on filling or production.
3. Revised CAD Files: After selecting a direction, delivery of updated 3D CAD files (STEP or SolidWorks) plus 2D engineering drawings with critical dimensions, tolerances, and specifications suitable for blow mold quoting.
4. Test Plan and Acceptance Criteria: A simple validation plan outlining carbonation level, storage conditions, duration, and clear pass/fail criteria (for example, no visible creep or paneling beyond a defined threshold).
5. Support During Handoff: Availability for one to two calls with our bottle manufacturer to explain design intent and support initial sample runs.

Success Criteria
The redesigned bottle must eliminate visible creep under normal carbonation, handling, and shelf-life conditions, while preserving the tall cylindrical silhouette and punted base that define our brand. Manufacturing should be feasible via a new blow mold with minimal line or process changes, ideally using the existing preform.

Ideal Candidate
Experience: Proven background designing PET bottles for carbonated beverages such as soda, beer, or sparkling water. Experience with punt or champagne-style bases is strongly preferred.
Technical Skills: Strong 3D CAD capability (SolidWorks, NX, or similar), solid understanding of PET behavior under pressure, and familiarity with blow molding constraints. Ability to reason through stress points and design for manufacturability, with prior production experience.
Design Sensibility: Ability to balance structural performance with a luxury aesthetic, using subtle or internal reinforcements where possible.
Communication: Clear, practical communicator who can document decisions and collaborate with both our team and manufacturing partners.

Timeline
We plan to kick off within one to two weeks. Initial analysis and concept options are expected within 7–10 days of project start, with final CAD and drawings targeted within 3–4 weeks including iterations. This project is time-sensitive due to upcoming pilot runs.

How to Apply
Please submit a brief cover letter outlining relevant experience with carbonated PET bottles, your general approach to reducing creep in a punt-base design, examples or descriptions of past bottle projects if available, confirmation of availability for the timeline, and any initial questions. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to a brief Zoom or message interview. We will be selecting quickly. read less