Packaging Engineer

Colgate•San Jose, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Are you an innovative engineer eager to transform creative marketing concepts into high-performance, cost-effective packaging solutions? As our Packaging Engineer, you will orchestrate the end-to-end development, validation, and line implementation of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging materials across diverse product categories. Acting as a crucial technical liaison between Marketing, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and external vendors, you will lead industrial trial runs, draft clear technical specifications, drive cost-saving initiatives, and troubleshoot shop-floor quality issues. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment that blends structural design, polymer transformation, and project management, this role is your platform to impact millions of consumers!

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
At least 3 to 5 years of proven experience in packaging development, material testing, and industrial validation within CPG, FMCG, Personal Care, or regulated manufacturing environments.
Strong technical expertise in flexible packaging structures, films, and laminates.
Intermediate English proficiency (written and spoken).

Nice To Haves

Hands-on knowledge of plastic transformation processes (PET, HDPE, PP via injection molding and extrusion-blow molding).
Experience in corrugated board design, structural testing, and folding carton conversion.
Familiarity with printing technologies, label substrates, and pressurized/aerosol containers.
Proficiency in SAP, PLM/Artwork management software (e.g., BEAT, AoDocs), and basic statistical analysis tools.
Strong financial acumen for packaging cost-breakdown analysis and project budget tracking.

Responsibilities

Translate aesthetic marketing briefs into rigorous technical specifications and artworks; manage component creation in PLM/ERP systems (e.g., BEAT, SAP) and maintain accurate mechanical drawings.
Lead industrial trials (eTT) on the factory floor and with contract manufacturers (co-packers); author Master Validation Plans, track performance metrics (line speed, scrap, yield), and manage release protocols with Quality.
Partner with Procurement to evaluate, audit, and develop packaging suppliers; ensure vendors deliver components that strictly meet quality standards and manufacturing deadlines.
Provide technical troubleshooting for packaging line defects, lead root-cause analysis, and spearhead margin improvement projects (Funding the Growth) through material optimization, light-weighting, and sustainable design.
Apply deep technical knowledge in corrugated box structures, flexible laminates (sachets/doypacks), folding cartons, plastic conversion (injection, extrusion blow molding for PET/HDPE/PP), and aerosol/pressurized container technologies.