Liquor Distiller with Engineering Degree - Wilson - Liberty & Plenty Distillery

Description

Pay: From $82,500.00 per year

Job:

Liberty & Plenty Distillery Production Distiller with Engineering Degree

Job Description

Liberty & Plenty Distillery Lead Distiller based in Durham, North Carolina until Move to Wilson, NC Q2 2026.

Final Compensation based on Engineering Education and Experience in Spirits Distilling in a Manufacturing facility.

Summary:

Liberty & Plenty Distillery based in downtown Durham, North Carolina and Wilson, NC, is looking for an organized and detail-oriented, column distilling highly experienced Spirits Distiller with an Engineering Degree, with a positive attitude, strong work ethic, to work with our Spirits Production team. Preference given to those with active Management experience supervising and leading teams.

Distilling production for recipe introduction begins in Durham, NC and will transition full time to Wilson, NC in Q3 2026.

Wilson is a growing, re-vitalized city in Eastern North Carolina, located 45 Minutes East of Raleigh, NC, 2 hours from the Coast of NC and 3.5 hours from the mountains.

Responsibilities include, but not limited to, all aspects of new make whiskey/bourbon/rum/vodka production including grain handling, mashing, fermentation, distillation, blending, bottling as well as some on site analysis and off-site coordination. The distillery also produces gin and other botanical distillates.

This position will be full time schedule and will require some night, weekend shifts or flex shifts as required based on production scheduling with teams.

Responsibilities

• Silo Grain Handling IN/OUT, Milling, Mashing, Fermentation, Distillation on Column Stills, CIP for all production equipment, Proofing, Barreling, Bottling, Warehousing/Rickhouse.
• Ordering, evaluating and tracking all raw material components for the production process.
• Overseeing and executing operation of wet and dry grain on/off systems.
• Operation of pumps, motors, agitators, valves, filter press, CIP and interface with water systems (city & RO) and boiler and chiller, to execute daily mashing operations and tank transfers.
• TTB Reporting Using Production Software.
• SOP Creation and Updating.
• Team Management and Supervision including Scheduling.

Fermentation Management & Lab Analysis

• Record and Track data for multiple in-process fermentations throughout the shift.
• Understand and use aseptic techniques for yeast hydration.
• Experience working and innovating with various yeast and impact on grain and molasses.
• Experience nuancing yeast and temperature on fermentations.
• Run laboratory procedures and record data on progression of batches.

Distillation and Spirit Analysis

• In Durham, NC - Operate a two, manual high-pressure steam-fed stills, 2000Liter Kothe (stripping using kettle & condenser without columns) and a 1000 Liter Vendome (kettle, columns, vodka column, vapor basket with 2 condensers); Industrial rotary evaporator.
• In Wilson, NC - Operate Column Still + Doubler, Single Pass Pot Still
• Trouble shoot issues in process & equipment.
• Sensory evaluation of new make and maturing/matured whiskey components as part of final blends.
• Very detailed data and yield tracking throughout the entire process
• Create entries for online distillery software pertinent to process step record and keeping within TTB regulations.
• Manage alcohol processing flow for blending, storage, dilution, bottling or barreling prep for bottle or barrel within an F-1 designated space.

Cleaning, Sanitation & Safety

• Run CIP (clean in place) procedures with acid, base chemicals and hot water.
• Use best practice aseptic techniques for cleaning and sanitizing of vessels, stills, hoses, pipework, instruments, etc.
• Manage the removal of spent grain and mash.
• Develop and execute a SOP to adhere to the highest standards of cleanliness of the production space and customer facing areas. for all customer facing spaces within the production area and tasting bar area.
• Perform all duties within compliance of safety policy and maintain that safety policy within the scope of OSHA and fire protection standards.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. Degree in (Chemical) Engineering, Chemistry, Hard Sciences, or Brewing & Distilling degree (2 year acceptable experience).
• Experience working in a distillery as an distiller, or head distiller for 5 years which reflects working knowledge of Column distillation, Pot distillation, fermentation, maturation, blending, bottling, proofing/dilution.
• Ability to work early or late hours, including some night and weekend shifts as needed.
• Must be highly organized, project manager with ability to multitask while maintaining high attention to process and production detail.
• A self-starter, problem-starter and innovator with the ability to work independently but also within a team as a positive, innovative team player.
• This is a highly physical job and candidate should have the ability to safely lift, pull, roll and hoist 51 lbs. of grain bags, hoses, barrels of liquids on a hand truck, Lifting will possibility be above shoulder level to load grain into mash/lauter tun from a locking staircase accessed by climbing.
• Able to drive a forklift and pass certification.
• Valid USA Driver's License, reliable transportation and within computing distance of Wilson, NC and Durham, NC.
• Strong work ethic, positive attitude and willingness to work within a startup organization that is involved in distilling, marketing and on/off premise sales.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrable and on-going advanced computer skill set including use of all Microsoft products, One Drive and TTB reporting.
• distilling systems required.
• Experience operating pressurized manual systems, reading gauges, tracking/recording readings.
• Experience with TTB reporting software.
• Strong project management skills and strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrable knowledge and use of various yeast in fermentation, cut points in distillation, dilution, blending and bottling/barreling.
• Writing SOP's.
• Must be 21 years of age and able to work in hot/cold climate changes, high places, wet/slippery floors, loud noise, fumes, gases, irritating substances, dust, exposure to solvents and chemicals and around mechanical and pressured vessels.

Location:

Downtown Durham, North Carolina and end of Q2 2026 Wilson, NC

Job Type

Full time

Equal Opportunity 

** Liberty & Plenty is committed to equal employment opportunity and individuals regardless of their sex, race, color, age, religion, creed, sexual orientation, national origin or citizenship, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics), marital status, gender (including gender identity or gender expression), familial status, military or veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related conditions.

Seniority Level

Mid-Level-Senior Manager as key person with a Start-up Distillery reporting to Owner/Distiller as part of the key management team.

Industry

• Food & Beverages
• Consumer Goods
• Production, Retail, Wholesale, Direct to Consumer via Cellar Door and

Salary:

Salary aligned with skill set -

$82,500 +

Annual Bonus

Benefits Offered:

Health insurance Offered along with Paid Time-Off, Holidays.

Educational reimbursement for IBD coursework.

Job Type: Full-time

Application Question(s):

• How many years of Production Management experience in a Spirits Distillery setting?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Distilling: 5 years (Required)
• Distillery Engineering: 3 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Shift availability: Flexible

• Day Shift (Required)
• Night Shift (Required)
• Overnight Shift (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Wilson, NC Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• Wilson, NC 27893: Relocate within Commuting Distance to production facility before starting work

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Preferred)
• Work Location: In person