Packaging Engineer Intern (Hybrid) – Pet Nutrition

Colgate-Palmolive Company; Topeka (KS); Hybrid; USD 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company matching

Parental leave

Paid vacation

Job summary

Hill's Pet Nutrition, part of Colgate-Palmolive, seeks a Packaging Engineering Intern/Co-op in Topeka, KS. You will support development, qualification, and implementation of packaging for pet foods, collaborating across Product Development, Marketing, Design, and Supply Chain to meet cost, performance, and manufacturability goals.

The role emphasizes cross-functional teamwork, documentation, and testing as you help ensure product integrity and display appeal during shipping and handling.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree program in a closely related technical field
• Minimum GPA 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional, team-oriented environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word); familiarity with CAD or packaging-related software is a plus

Responsibilities

• Assist packaging engineers in driving packaging projects to closure from concept through commercialization
• Support LCA (Life cycle assessment) on packaging solutions and provide recommendations
• Cross-functional collaboration: Work with Product Development, Marketing, Design, Supply Chain, and other functional groups to identify and develop packaging technologies
• Prepare and present clear technical summaries, packaging concepts, test results, and business impact to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Packaging development, scale-up, and technology transfer: support development through pilot and manufacturing scale-up
• Monitor and conduct package testing (e.g., stability, transit, drop, compression, sealing) and analyze data
• Case/cube information, cost estimates, and savings estimates

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical field

Tools

CAD

Packaging software

Job description

Hill's Pet Nutrition, part of Colgate-Palmolive, seeks a Packaging Engineering Intern/Co-op in Topeka, KS. You will support development, qualification, and implementation of packaging for pet foods, collaborating across Product Development, Marketing, Design, and Supply Chain to meet cost, performance, and manufacturability goals.

The role emphasizes cross-functional teamwork, documentation, and testing as you help ensure product integrity and display appeal during shipping and handling.