Senior Manager, Innovation Engineering

Job Description Summary:

This is not a traditional engineering role.

The Senior Manager, Innovation Engineering is a technical entrepreneur, inventor, and hands-on builder responsible for creating breakthrough beverage equipment solutions and experiences. As part of an internal innovation lab focused on Horizon 2 and Horizon 3 opportunities, this role transforms early-stage ideas into compelling prototypes, proof-of-concepts, and demonstrations that help shape future product platforms.

The ideal candidate thrives in ambiguity, enjoys solving complex technical challenges, and is energized by building things that have never existed before. They are equally comfortable working across mechanical systems, fluidics, electronics, software, and industrial design to rapidly bring ideas to life. Success in this role requires creativity, technical versatility, resourcefulness, and a willingness to experiment. This role validates new concepts and enables successful transition of those innovations to platform teams through effective handoff, coaching, and knowledge transfer.

Job Responsibilities

• Invent, develop, and validate new equipment, dispensing, and beverage experience concepts that address future consumer, customer, and business needs.
• Rapidly design, build, and test proof-of-concepts, prototypes, and demonstration systems to evaluate technical feasibility and unlock new opportunities, while balancing creativity, speed, risk, technical feasibility, and business value.
• Apply existing technologies in creative and unexpected ways to solve complex technical and business challenges.
• Design, integrate, and troubleshoot multidisciplinary solutions spanning mechanical systems, fluidics, electronics, controls, software, connectivity, and user interfaces.
• Conduct testing, feasibility assessments and experimentation in the lab and in the field to evaluate concepts, generate insights, and guide innovation investment decisions.
• Partner closely with industrial designers, model builders, software developers, suppliers, and engineering teams to create integrated solutions and accelerate learning.
• Contribute both as a project owner and as a hands-on technical contributor supporting the success of other innovation initiatives across the portfolio.
• Enable successful transition of validated concepts to platform and engineering teams through technical coaching, documentation, demonstrations, and knowledge transfer.
• Identify patentable innovations and collaborate with intellectual property teams to document and protect inventions.

Key Deliverables

• Functional prototypes, proof-of-concepts, and demonstration systems
• Feasibility studies and experimentation results
• Patent disclosures and invention documentation
• Technology transfer packages and engineering handoff documentation
• Cross-functional coaching and knowledge-sharing activities supporting platform teams

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics, Robotics, Product Development, or a related technical discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in engineering, product development, innovation engineering, advanced R&D, or related technical fields.
• Demonstrated ability to design, build, integrate, and validate functional prototypes, proof-of-concepts, and multidisciplinary systems.
• Strong technical foundation spanning multiple engineering disciplines, including dispensing systems, fluidics, mechanical systems, electronics, control systems, sensors, embedded electronics, hardware-software integration, IoT platforms, connected devices, data analytics, and related technologies.
• Familiarity with digital ecosystems, including embedded systems, linux, content management systems.
• Proficiency with CAD software and engineering development tools.
• Experience applying structured testing, experimentation, and root-cause analysis to solve technical challenges.
• Ability to develop and troubleshoot simple software, scripting, or automation solutions to support prototyping, data collection, testing, and demonstration activities.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to navigate ambiguity, take calculated risks, and rapidly turn ideas into tangible solutions.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proven ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams, suppliers, and external partners.

Preferred

• Experience in innovation labs, advanced R&D organizations, startups, or corporate innovation teams.
• Experience in food & beverage, consumer products, medical devices, industrial equipment, or other regulated industries.
• Experience with programming or scripting languages such as Python, Java, JavaScript, C/C++, GitHub, or similar technologies used for rapid prototyping, system integration, and troubleshooting.
• Experience with rapid prototyping methods, fabrication techniques, model making, and 3D printing technologies.

Leadership & Culture Fit

The ideal candidate is:

• An inventor who enjoys creating things that do not yet exist.
• A technical entrepreneur who is comfortable with experimentation, uncertainty, and intelligent risk-taking.
• A hands-on builder who prefers making and testing over theorizing.
• A pragmatic innovator who balances creativity with technical feasibility.
• An Iterative Builder who prioritizes speed of learning over perfection, rapidly building, testing, and refining concepts to generate insights and accelerate progress.
• A collaborative teammate who is equally comfortable owning a project or supporting the success of others.
• A curious learner who continuously explores new technologies, tools, and possibilities.
• An action-oriented problem solver who turns ideas into tangible results.

The Coca-Cola Company will not offer sponsorship for employment status (including, but not limited to, H1-B visa status and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas) for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require The Coca-Cola Company's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.

Skills:

Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk AutoCAD, Automation Engineering, C++ Programming Language, Communication, Computer Science, Connected Devices, Control System (Inactive), Digital Ecosystems, Embedded Electronics, Embedded Systems, Emerging Technologies, Fluidics, Hardware Software Integration, Innovation, Innovation Engineering, Innovation Pipeline Development, Innovative Technologies, Java (Programming Language), JavaScript, Lead Times, Lean Manufacturing, Linux, Materials Handling, Mechatronics {+ 14 more}

Pay Range:

United States of America: 131,000 USD - 153,000 USD

Base pay offered may vary depending on geography, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position, is offered.

Annual Incentive Reference Value Percentage:

15

Annual Incentive reference value is a market-based competitive value for your role. It falls in the middle of the range for your role, indicating performance at target.

Location(s):

United States of America

City/Cities:

Atlanta

Travel Required:

00% - 25%

Relocation Provided:

No

Job Posting End Date:

August 16, 2026

Our Purpose and Growth Culture:

We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what’s possible and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves. We focus on four key behaviors – curious, empowered, inclusive and agile – and value how we work as much as what we achieve. We believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive after 130+ years. Visit Our Purpose and Vision to learn more about these behaviors and how you can bring them to life in your next role at Coca-Cola.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. When we collect your personal information as part of a job application or offer of employment, we do so in accordance with industry standards and best practices and in compliance with applicable privacy laws.