Associate Principal Engineer, Packaging Qualification Lab, L'Oreal Operations

L'oreal Usa; Clark (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Time Off

Perks Shop access (discounts)

Learning and Development opportunities

Employee resource groups

Mental health & wellness programs

Job summary

L’Oréal USA is seeking an Associate Principal Engineer for the Packaging Qualification Lab in Clark, NJ. The role validates packaging for new launches and renovations, manages test plans and supplier communications, and leads lab process improvements.

A strong background in packaging engineering and cosmetics is preferred, with on-site work required and US work authorization. The candidate will drive cross-functional collaboration, perform risk assessments, and mentor peers while delivering

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or relevant scientific field is required
• 5–7+ years of hands-on packaging engineering and qualification experience
• Experience in cosmetics, consumer goods, or related field preferred
• Knowledge of packaging materials, transformation and industrialization processes
• Understanding of chemical and physical reactions
• Strong PC skills: MS Office, PowerPoint; data base systems
• Excellent communication and clear action plans
• Eligible to work in the US; no visa sponsorship
• Onsite work five days a week

Responsibilities

• Validate packaging for new launches, formula renovations, and packaging changes
• Review pre-specifications and define test plans; manage Test Requests in GECO
• Coordinate with suppliers; conduct packaging audits and upskill teams
• Lead quality and sustainable projects within L’Oréal Quality Conception Process
• Standardize lab processes; demonstrate value through results
• Perform risk analysis and make stakeholder recommendations
• Hands-on lab work: filling, evaluation, testing (drop, decoration, sun tests)
• Manage timelines and prioritize testing with cross-functional partners
• Train and onboard new colleagues and partners
• Communicate testing results and propose solutions to business priorities

Skills

Packaging engineering

Cosmetics experience

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Multi-project management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or relevant scientific field

Tools

MS Office

PowerPoint

Database systems

Job description

Associate Principal Engineer, Packaging Qualification Lab, L'Oreal Operations – Clark, New Jersey

Life is too short for a boring career, so build an extraordinary one with us. We believe your career should spark the same thrill and curiosity as your personal interests. Creativity drives everything we do, turning ideas into meaningful impact. With opportunities across brands, markets, and divisions, your growth knows no boundaries.

Who We Are

Join us at L’Oréal, the world's #1 beauty company present in over 150 markets. For over a century, we have been transforming; fueled by data, tech, innovation, and science. Together, we tackle big challenges while making sure we stay committed to making the world a more inclusive and a better place for everyone & our planet.

At L'Oréal Operations, we create innovative, inclusive, and sustainable beauty together with our business partners by designing, developing, sourcing, manufacturing, and distributing over 6 billion products globally every year. We support over 36 brands across four L’Oréal divisions. We are consumer-oriented, and we act responsibly all along the value chain.

The Packaging Qualification labs team is a dynamic, collaborative, professional group that is part of the packaging team. Our mission is to ensure the quality of packaging conception, supplier capability, and consumer experience through risk assessment, testing, and technical expertise. We perform testing in our packaging labs on new launches, formula renovations, and packaging changes to support the business.

We are seeking an Associate Principal Engineer to validate packaging for new launches, formula renovations, and packaging changes based in our Clark, New Jersey Operations Hub for the US.

A Day in the Life:

This role conducts key tasks to validate packaging for new launches, formula renovations, and packaging changes

• Reviews pre-specifications, defines comprehensive test plans, and manages Test Requests (TRs) in GECO while validating testing results across key criteria (e.g., CDC compatibility, helicoidal retention, and decoration adherence vs. metallization).
• Navigates to resolve conflicts, present solutions effectively and become a model to others.
• Manage proactive communication and technical exchanges with external suppliers, conducting packaging audits and driving collaborative upskilling initiatives to ensure quality standards and supplier capability.
• Independently manages quality and sustainable projects while respecting the L’Oreal Quality Conception Process, makes decisions and develops via training/coaching other technical peers
• Increases their sphere of influence within their project/category.
• Drives technical expertise within the team by spearheading upskilling programs, standardizing laboratory processes, and clearly demonstrating the team's added value through impactful results and operational excellence.
• Performs risk analysis based on previous testing, knowledge, and experience and makes recommendations to stakeholders (packaging and development). Uses risk assessment tools to analyze worldwide data.
• Performs hands on lab work including filling, evaluation, and/or packaging test methods such as drop test, decoration testing, sun testing, etc
• Manages project timeline and multiple priorities. Collaborates with stakeholders to prioritize testing and support project timing.
• Adheres to established quality processes and proactively sets clear expectations for all cross-functional partners and stakeholders to ensure seamless collaboration, alignment, and project efficiency.
• Communicates testing results, alerts, and proposes solutions in order to support business priorities and consumer experience
• Leads transversal projects as defined in order to improve lab efficiency, simplification, safety, quality, or agility and to bring value to the metier.
• Participates in training/onboarding of newcomers and partners

Interacts with worldwide community to share results, exchange best practices, and improve worldwide guides and methods

We Are Looking For:

• Education: A completed Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or relevant scientific degree (Chemical Engineering, Packaging Engineering, Chemistry, Material Science) is required
• Experience
  • 5-7+ years of experience in hands on packaging engineering and qualification is required
  • Experience in cosmetics, consumer goods, or related field is preferred
• Knowledge of packaging and raw materials, transformation and industrialization processes
• Understanding of chemical and physical reactions
• Strong PC skills; MS Office, PowerPoint and data base systems
• Excellent communication skills, ability to relate clear results and well-constructed action plans
• Detailed oriented, good organizational skills to manage the documentation, materials and information
• Technical curiosity, Adaptability to change, capacity to challenge, thirst for knowledge, and ability to manage multiple projects
• Authorization to work in the US is required. No visa sponsorship is offered for this role.
• The ability to be onsite, in the office 5 days a week, as this is an essential function of the position (required)

What’s In It For You

• A place for you to leave your comfort zone and grow beyond your potential (here, you’ll be encouraged to try new things and take risks!)
• Real responsibility from day 1, there’s no sitting on the sidelines at L’Oréal
• An environment where people of every ethnicity, social background, age, religion, gender and sexual orientation as well as people with disabilities are accepted, can speak up, will thrive and are celebrated!
• A place where you can contribute to something bigger! Many of our brands have societal /environmental causes to make concrete difference
• Base Salary Range: $90,200 - $128,500 (The actual compensation will depend on a variety of job-related factors which may include geographic location, work experience, education, and skill level)
• Flexible Time Off (Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Vacation Buy Program, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!)
• Access to Company Perks (VIP Access to L’Oréal’s Internal Shop for Discounted Products, Monthly Mobile Allowance)
• Learning and Development Opportunities (Unlimited Access to E-learnings, Lunch & Learn Sessions, Mentorship Programs, & More!)
• Employee Resource Groups (Think Tanks and Innovation Squads)
• Access to Mental Health & Wellness Programs

Don’t meet every single requirement?

At L'Oréal, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and innovative workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with the qualifications listed in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways! You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles!

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse environment. We’re committed to guaranteeing inclusive recruitment processes and advocating for hiring and promoting each candidate in an ethical and equitable way. The Group strictly prohibits discrimination against any applicant for employment because of the individual’s gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, visible and/or invisible disabilities, socio-economic and/or multicultural origins, health conditions, age, religion, or any other characteristics protected by law.