Innovation Engineer - Packaging

Colgate; Piscataway Township (NJ); Hybrid; USD 97,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

Colgate-Palmolive, a global leader in consumer products, is seeking a Packaging Engineer in the Global Oral Care Packaging group. The role develops and manages packaging initiatives on a worldwide scale, driving consumer-focused innovation, cost efficiency, and sustainable solutions across multiple teams including Global Marketing, Product Development, and Supply Chain.

You will lead technology development, qualification, and implementation, collaborating with cross-functional partners to meet

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Lead the creation and management of global oral care package innovations.
• Identify and explore new packaging concepts with Global Marketing and Consumer Insights.
• Enhance product development by contributing design expertise focused on user experience.
• Solve technical packaging challenges and standardize solutions for global implementation.
• Advocate for ergonomics in packaging design and in-use experience.
• Apply understanding of technical packaging elements to drive innovation.
• Inform decisions by analyzing packaging financials and total delivered cost.
• Manage project timelines independently for fastest time-to-market.
• Manage project funding and budgets with clear investment rationales.
• Cultivate a network with packaging material suppliers for new solutions.

Skills

Packaging development

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in packaging/industrial design/engineering

Tools

Packaging materials & technologies

Job description

Established in 1806 as a small soap and candle business in New York City, Colgate-Palmolive is now a truly global company with products sold in over 200 countries and territories under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom's of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, Haci Sakir, Suavitel, PCA SKIN, EltaMD, Filorga and Hello as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet.

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading consumer products company that serves hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide with brands and products across four core businesses – Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. We are committed to offering products that make lives healthier and more enjoyable, and programs that enrich communities around the world.

Every day millions of people trust our products to care for themselves and the ones they love. Our goal is to use our technology to create products that will continue to improve the quality of life for our consumers wherever they live.

A career at Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.

Job Title: Innovation Engineer - Packaging

Travel Required?: Travel - up to 10% of time

Posting Start Date: 7/2/26

Hybrid

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.

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.