Senior Packaging Engineer

Colgate • Topeka, KS

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Proactively assesses packaging opportunities from new and emerging suppliers while collaborating with Procurement to evaluate the viability and business impact of proposed concepts.
• 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.
• Employs rapid prototyping to drive a fast "test-and-learn" environment, embracing iterative development and learning from failures to accelerate the innovation pipeline.
• 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.
• Delivers evidence-based recommendations for packaging changes that balance consumer desirability with technical feasibility, cost-efficiency, and end-of-life sustainability trade-offs.

Benefits

• Relocation Assistance Offered Within Country
• medical
• dental
• vision
• basic life insurance
• paid parental leave
• disability coverage
• participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements
• a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior