Innovation Engineer - Packaging

Colgate-Palmolive; Piscataway Township (NJ); On-site; USD 97,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

401(k) retirement plan with matching contributions

Minimum of 15 vacation days and 13 paid holidays

Job summary

Colgate-Palmolive is seeking a Packaging Engineer for their Global Oral Care team in Piscataway Township, New Jersey. This role involves leading innovative packaging initiatives while collaborating with various functional teams.

The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor's degree in packaging, engineering, or related fields and possess over four years of relevant experience. Comprehensive benefits and a competitive salary range of $97,000 to $130,000 are offered, depending on qualifications and experience.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in packaging development.
• Proven track record in developing packaging using a variety of materials and technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creation and management of global oral care package innovations.
• Identify and explore new packaging concepts in collaboration with teams.
• Enhance product development focusing on consumer needs and user experience.
• Solve technical packaging challenges for global implementation.
• Manage project funding and budgets, ensuring timely market delivery.

Skills

Packaging development

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical problem-solving

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in packaging, industrial design, or engineering

Job description

Job Details

No Relocation Assistance Offered.

Job Number #174531 - Piscataway, New Jersey, United States

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.

Position Overview

The Packaging Engineer Global Oral Care develops and manages packaging initiatives on a global scale to drive people‑centric innovation, perceivable superiority, cost efficiency, and sustainability. These initiatives support our global divisional packaging teams. This position is part of the Global Oral Care Packaging group within Colgate‑Palmolive's Global Packaging function.

In this role, you will drive technology development, qualification, and implementation, serving as a critical subject matter expert for oral care packaging. This position requires extensive cross‑functional collaboration with Global Marketing, Product Development, Design, Supply Chain, Procurement, and other global teams.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead the creation and management of global oral care package innovations.
• Identify and explore new packaging concepts in collaboration with Global Marketing and Consumer Insights.
• Enhance product development by contributing design expertise focused on consumer needs and user experience.
• Solve technical packaging challenges and standardize solutions for global implementation.
• Advocate for ergonomics in packaging design, prioritizing the in‑use experience throughout the development lifecycle.
• Apply a solid understanding of technical packaging elements, pushing beyond the current state of the industry to drive innovation.
• Inform development decisions by analyzing packaging financials and cost structures. Present data‑driven insights, including total delivered cost.
• Proactively manage project timelines independently to ensure the fastest possible time‑to‑market.
• Manage project funding and budgets, providing clear rationales for necessary investments.
• Cultivate a strong network with packaging material suppliers to source and implement new global innovation solutions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in packaging, industrial design, engineering, or a related field.
• 4+ years of experience in packaging development.
• Proven track record in developing packaging using a wide variety of materials and technologies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to assess technical complexities and negotiate cross‑functionally to drive a risk‑based approach to packaging implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to build and leverage internal and external partnerships to rapidly identify, develop, and implement new packaging solutions.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate complex technology concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences.

Compensation And Benefits

Salary Range $97,000.00 - $130,000.00 USD.

Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit‑sharing, and long‑term incentives for Executive‑level roles.

Benefits: Salaried employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements. Additional benefits include a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours) and 13 paid holidays (vacation days are prorated based on the employee's hire date within the calendar year). Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws. Detailed information regarding paid sick leave entitlements will be provided to employees upon hiring and may be subject to adjustments based on changes in legislation or company policies.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Our journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.

For additional Colgate terms and conditions, please click here.