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.

Information at a Glance
Job Title:  Controls Engineer
Travel Required?:  Travel - up to 10% of time
Posting Start Date:  6/22/26
On-site

No Relocation Assistance Offered
Job Number #173979 - 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.

 

Welcome to the powerhouse of global oral care product production. Our Morristown, Tennessee production plant is the high-velocity manufacturing engine behind Colgate-Palmolive's globally recognized, clinically trusted toothpaste and mouthwash brands. We don't just package products - we engineer everyday health essentials at a global scale.

As a Project & Controls Engineer in our state of the art production facility, you are the digital architect of our automated future. You will design, deploy, and optimize the advanced plant-floor control networks, robotics, and industrial information systems that keep our production lines moving flawlessly, safely, and efficiently. Balancing cutting-edge automation engineering with high-impact capital expense project management, you will bring complex capital projects from blueprint to reality; ensuring our flagship plant remains a world class center of manufacturing excellence.

 

Key Responsibilities

Automation & Controls Engineering

  • System Design & Optimization: Spec, program, test, and commission plant-floor control systems, advanced instrumentation, and business network interfaces to drive peak asset utilization.

  • Continuous Improvement Leadership: Spearhead engineering initiatives that maximize reliability, eliminate operational waste, elevate product quality, and champion world-class safety standards.

  • Global Technology Transfer: Act as the plant’s automation ambassador, partnering with global technology teams to seamlessly scale and implement new capital projects and state-of-the-art controls processes.

  • OT Cybersecurity & Maintenance: Proactively patch and update mission-critical manufacturing equipment to remediate vulnerabilities and protect our plant's operational technology infrastructure.

 

Capital Project Management & Budgeting

  • Capital expense & operational expense Ownership: Lead multiple engineering projects across varying scopes and timelines. Drive strict adherence to project schedules, scope definitions, and cost controls while preparing and managing elements of the team's budget.

  • Vendor & Resource Integration: Direct and collaborate with key internal teams and elite external partners, including specialized software integrators and hardware support vendors.

  • Technical Documentation & Compliance: Maintain precise engineering specifications, validation protocols, and technical procedures that seamlessly align with Quality, Factory Performance & Reliability (FP&R), and EHS standards.

 

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

  • 3+ years in manufacturing/supply chain operations, with 2+ years of dedicated controls, systems engineering, and proportional, integral, and derivative tuning experience

  • Deep expertise in the installation, startup, and programming of Allen-Bradley (ControlLogix) PLCs and the comprehensive Wonderware ecosystem (InTouch, InBatch, Industrial Application Server, InSQL Server, Active Factory, and MES Performance/Operations/Quality)

  • Practical knowledge of electrical power distribution, Motor Controls (VFDs, standard starters), and industrial networking protocols (ControlNet, DeviceNet, Ethernet/IP, Profibus) alongside standard PC network setup and Cisco Switch configuration

  • Proficient in plant-floor database management and web-based architectures (Microsoft SQL Server, InSQL, IIS, Thin Client Architecture) with the ability to build SSRS reports (Microsoft Report Builder, Visual Studio) and manage SAP-to-plant floor interfaces (xMii, VB, goods movement/warehouse transactions)

  • Hands-on troubleshooting familiarity with manufacturing hardware (Load Cells, Mass Flow Meters, temperature/pressure sensors, valves, proximity/photo/servo controls) ideally within a cGMP environment adhering to DSCSA systems, Quality, and EOHS compliance standards.

 

Preferred Qualifications

  • BS in Electrical or Computer Engineering; MS in a technical field or MBA 

  • Prior experience in cGMP manufacturing facility

  • Working knowledge of EOHS and Quality standards


Compensation and Benefits
Salary Range $96,800.00 - $125,000.00 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.

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