Senior Packaging Engineer

Job Description

A part of Colgate-Palmolive since 1976, Hill's Pet Nutrition offers the highest-quality pet nutrition available through product lines Prescription Diet and Science Diet. Veterinarians worldwide recommend and feed their own pets Hill's products more than any other brand of pet food.

Available in approximately 80 countries around the world, our extensive line of products includes more than 60 Prescription Diet brand pet foods and more than 50 Science Diet brand pet foods.

We believe all animals should be loved and cared for during their lifetimes. That is why we are proud our pet foods can make a difference in your pet's life.

A career at Hill's Pet Nutrition or 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.

Information at a Glance

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Job Title:

Senior Packaging Engineer

Travel Required?:
Travel - 25% of time

Posting

Start Date:

5/8/26

Hybrid

Relocation Assistance Offered Within Country

Job Number #173295 - Topeka, Kansas, 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.

In this role, you will lead the development of primary and secondary packaging concepts rooted in deep consumer insights to deliver superior, people-centered experiences. You will drive growth and profitability by identifying and expanding opportunities through emerging consumer trends, breakthrough technologies, and innovative methodologies. The primary objective of this position is to navigate the end-to-end development cycle-from identifying opportunity spaces through prototyping and scale-up-ensuring every solution is both consumer-centric and environmentally responsible.

Responsibilities

* Strategic Innovation Scouting:
Proactively assesses packaging opportunities from new and emerging suppliers while collaborating with Procurement to evaluate the viability and business impact of proposed concepts.

* People-Centered Design:
Partners with Marketing and Consumer Insights to prioritize ergonomics and user needs in the design phase, serving as the lead engineer responsible for solving complex technical challenges as projects progress.

* Rapid Prototyping & Iteration:
Employs rapid prototyping to drive a fast "test-and-learn" environment, embracing iterative development and learning from failures to accelerate the innovation pipeline.

* Financial & Cost Modeling:
Manages the financial components of development by generating accurate Total Delivered Cost (TDC) data and providing the rationale for funding required to meet project goals.

* Sustainable Decision Support:
Delivers evidence-based recommendations for packaging changes that balance consumer desirability with technical feasibility, cost-efficiency, and end-of-life sustainability trade-offs.

Required Qualifications

* Bachelor's degree in Packaging, Engineering, Industrial Design, or a related field.

* 5+ years of engineering experience in a global food or fast moving consumer goods company.

* At least two years of specialized experience in packaging development.

* Strong project management skills with a proven ability to independently manage timelines and deliver on multiple deadlines simultaneously.

* Must provide a portfolio containing non-confidential packaging projects showcasing direct experience in the development process.

Preferred Qualifications

* Master's degree in Packaging, Engineering, or Industrial Design.

* Foundational understanding of packaging sustainability concepts, specifically regarding design-to-disposal trade-offs.

* Demonstrated ability to navigate cross-functional teams and find pathways to advance projects despite high levels of uncertainty or ambiguity.

* Deep curiosity and openness to experimenting with new tools, methods, and emerging technologies beyond current industry practices.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range $ - $ 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…