Project Engineer

Colgate; Morristown (TN); On-site; USD 97,000 - 137,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

Disability coverage

401(k) with company match

Vacation/PTO days

Paid holidays

Paid sick leave

Job summary

Colgate-Palmolive in Morristown, Tennessee, is seeking a Project Engineer to lead capital projects for our state-of-the-art Oral Care production facility. You will drive scope definition, feasibility, construction, startup, and handover while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.

You will own the CEB process, manage vendor bids, and collaborate with Controls, Reliability, and EOHS teams to deliver on-time, under-budget installations that enhance bottlenecked operations and equipment

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Industrial, or Electrical Engineering.
• 4+ years of hands-on engineering in a high-speed cGMP manufacturing environment.
• Proven track record of capital equipment installations, line upgrades, and factory modifications from concept to startup.
• Proficiency with CAD software such as AutoCAD.

Responsibilities

• Direct capital projects from scope to startup and handover.
• Own the Capital Expenditure budget process and monitor expenditures.
• Develop detailed project execution plans and resolve bottlenecks on the factory floor.
• Study product specs to design solutions and specify high-speed processing/packaging machinery.
• Lead testing to confirm equipment reliability and FDA/cGMP compliance.
• Collaborate with Controls, Reliability, and Safety teams to integrate automation.

Skills

Engineering experience

Capital equipment installations

Line upgrades

Factory modifications

Education

BS in Mechanical/Industrial/Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

SAP

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.

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

Posting Start Date: 8/11/26

On-site

Relocation Assistance Offered Within Country

Job Number#175405 - Morristown, Tennessee, 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.

Are you ready

to take full ownership of high impact engineering initiatives and shape the future of high-speed manufacturing? As a Project Engineer, you will be the driving force behind the design, execution, and commissioning of multi million dollar capital projects across our state of the art Oral Care product production facility. Seated within the Making division of our world renowned toothpastes and mouthwash rinses, you will be the Engineer conceptualizing the future of our manufacturing capabilities.

Your Day to Day and The Future

Direct capital projects from initial scope definition and technical feasibility studies through construction, startup, and operational handover.

Own the Capital Expenditure Budget (CEB) process administer contractor contracts, monitor expenditures, and maintain strict cost control to deliver projects on time and under budget.

Develop detailed project execution plans, sequence critical path milestones, and resolve operational bottlenecks on the factory floor.

Study product specifications and performance targets to design technical solutions, specify high-speed processing/packaging machinery, and execute layout studies.

Lead rigorous testing protocols to confirm equipment reliability, product performance, and full compliance with FDA/cGMP and quality standards.

Partner with Controls, Reliability, and Safety teams to integrate advanced utility systems, line automation, and digital manufacturing tools into plant workflows.

Manage RFP/RFQ bidding processes, evaluate technical vendor proposals, and supervise external contractors on-site to enforce strict performance and safety standards.

Champion Environmental, Occupational Health, and Safety (EOHS) rules across all project sites, keeping every build compliant with OSHA and internal zero-incident safety standards.

Track and report real-time project metrics, capital spending trends, and risk management plans to executive plant leadership.

You’ll need to have:

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Industrial, or Electrical Engineering (or related engineering discipline).

4+ years of hands‑on engineering experience inside a high-speed cGMP manufacturing environment (CPG, Pharma, Food & Beverage, Personal Care, or related industry).

Proven track record of managing capital equipment installations, line upgrades, and factory modifications from initial concept through startup.

Practical working knowledge of cGMP standards, validation protocols including Design Qualification, Installation Qualification, Operational Qualification, Performance Qualification, and EOHS/OSHA safety regulations.

Proficiency in CAD software such as AutoCAD or related products.

Even better if you have:

Experience with capital budget tracking software such as SAP.

Active Project Management Professional certification.

Hands‑on experience with high-speed automated packaging, hygienic design, or liquid processing systems.

Experience managing external engineering firms and construction contractors on active production floors.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range $96,800.00 - $137,000.00 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 .