Application Engineering Specialist - Adhesives

3M; Maplewood (MN); On-site; USD 146,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

3M is seeking an Application Engineering Specialist for Adhesives in Maplewood, MN. The role focuses on supporting new product development, customer solutions, and technical insights across global teams.

You will work closely with product development and marketing to bring innovations to market. The ideal candidate has a strong background in adhesives, hands-on lab experience, and proven collaboration skills to train customers and colleagues worldwide.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher (completed and verified prior to start).
• Two (2) years of Application Engineering experience in a private, public, government or military environment.
• Four (4) years laboratory environment experience in a private, public, government or military environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead voice of customer efforts to support new product development programs.
• Identify and communicate future market trends and product needs for the adhesives business.
• Support liquid adhesive dispensing and spray automation.
• Creating new application demonstration tools.
• Training customers, sales reps, and international colleagues.

Skills

Voice of customer

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Tools

Adhesive dispensing/automation equipment

Adhesive test methods

Job description

Job Description:

Application Engineering Specialist - Adhesives

Collaborate with Innovative 3Mers Around the World

Choosing where to start and grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the company that you choose to work at, and its leaders, will support and guide you. With a wide variety of people, global locations, technologies and products, 3M is a place where you can collaborate with other curious, creative 3Mers.

This position provides an opportunity to transition from other private, public, government or military experience to a 3M career.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role:

The Industrial Adhesives & Tapes Division is seeking an Application Engineering
Specialist to support the growth and execution of 3M’s global Adhesives business by helping bring new products, insights, and customer solutions to market. Work includes engaging with customers and field sales to provide technical expertise including; gaining customer specific needs/opportunities/insights,
performing product and application characterization, application development, and creating technical information. The role requires strong collaboration with product development, product engineering, and marketing and will be heavily focused on New Product Introduction programs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead voice of customer efforts to support new product development programs.
• Identify and communicate future market trends and product needs for the adhesives business.
• Support liquid adhesive dispensing and spray automation.
• Creating new application demonstration tools.
• Training customers, sales reps, and international colleagues.

Your Skills and Expertise

To set you up for success in this role from day one, 3M is looking for candidates who must have the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher (completed and verified prior to start)
• Two (2) years of Application Engineering experience in a private, public, government or military environment
• Four (4) years laboratory environment experience in a private, public, government or military environment

Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Polymer/Plastics Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline from an accredited institution
• Two (2) plus year experience working with adhesives
• Proficient in adhesive test methods and quality systems
• Experience in adhesive dispensing/automation equipment
• Excellent organizational skills
• Strong problem solving / troubleshooting skills
• Strong people skills and ability to influence, collaborate, and work with cross-functional team
• Self-directed and internally motivated with proven leadership skills

Work location:

• This role follows an on-site working model, requiring the employee to work at least four days a week in Maplewood, MN

Travel: May include up to 15% domestic/international

Relocation: Not authorized

Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).

Supporting Your Well-being

3M offers many programs to help you live your best life - both physically and financially. To ensure competitive pay and benefits, 3M regularly benchmarks with other companies that are comparable in size and scope.

Chat with Max

For assistance with searching through our current job openings or for more information about all things 3M, visit Max, our virtual recruiting assistant on 3M.com/careers.

Applicable to US Applicants Only:The expected compensation range for this position is $145,676 - $178,049, which includes base pay plus variable incentive pay, if eligible. This range represents a good faith estimate for this position. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant knowledge, training, skills, work location, and/or experience. In addition, this position may be eligible for a range of benefits (e.g., Medical, Dental & Vision, Health Savings Accounts, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Voluntary Benefits, Paid Absences and Retirement Benefits, etc.). Additional information is available at: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/.

Good Faith Posting Date Range 10/22/2026 To 11/21/2026 Or until filled

All US-based 3M full time employees will need to sign an employee agreement as a condition of employment with 3M. This agreement lays out key terms on using 3M Confidential Information and Trade Secrets. It also has provisions discussing conflicts of interest and how inventions are assigned. Employees that are Job Grade 7 or equivalent and above may also have obligations to not compete against 3M or solicit its employees or customers, both during their employment, and for a period after they leave 3M.

Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at https://www.3M.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m.

Responsibilities of this position include that corporate policies, procedures and security standards are complied with while performing assigned duties.

Safety is a core value at 3M. All employees are expected to contribute to a strong Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) culture by following safety policies, identifying hazards, and engaging in continuous improvement.

Pay & Benefits Overview: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/

3M does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Please note: your application may not be considered if you do not provide your education and work history, either by: 1) uploading a resume, or 2) entering the information into the application fields directly.

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