Senior Packaging Engineer

Requisition  - Posted - Supply Chain/Manufacturing - United States - Kansas - Topeka - Hill's Pet Nutrition - Travel - 25% of time - Hybrid

Relocation Assistance Offered Within Country

Job Number #173295 – Topeka, Kansas, United States

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.

• Strategic Innovation Scouting: proactively assess packaging opportunities from new and emerging suppliers while collaborating with Procurement to evaluate viability and business impact of proposed concepts.
• People-Centered Design: partner 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: employ 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: manage the financial components of development by generating accurate Total Delivered Cost (TDC) data and providing rationale for funding required to meet project goals.
• Sustainable Decision Support: deliver evidence-based recommendations for packaging changes that balance consumer desirability with technical feasibility, cost-efficiency, and end-of-life sustainability trade-offs.

• 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.

• 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.

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 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 journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers—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, be treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.

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.