Manufacturing Technology Engineer (Inspection & Converting)

3M; Minnesota; On-site; USD 98,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

3M is seeking a Manufacturing Technology Engineer specializing in Inspection and Converting to advance automated vision and measurement systems at our Maplewood, MN campus. You will design, deploy, and support fully automated slitters using upstream inspection data to optimize recipes, defect avoidance, and process control.

You will translate data into actionable converting strategies, collaborate with manufacturing, controls, and quality teams, and drive scalable deployment across platforms

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field.
• Master’s degree or higher is a plus.
• Experience with automated inspection or slitting systems is ideal.

Responsibilities

• Design, integrate, commission, and support smart slitting and converting systems.
• Translate inspection data into converting strategies and control opportunities.
• Develop automated inspection solutions using vision, AI, data analytics.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deploy robust technology solutions.
• Provide on-site production support and travel as needed to sites.
• Drive standardization and scalable deployment across platforms.

Skills

Machine vision

Automation systems

Data analytics

Process optimization

Upstream inspection data

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

PLCs

HMIs

Vision hardware

Industrial networking

Job description

Manufacturing Technology Engineer (Inspection & Converting)

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 Automated Inspection and Measurement group develops, integrates, deploys, and supports advanced vision, inspection, measurement, and automation systems across 3M manufacturing operations. The group applies machine vision and automated inspection technologies to factory automation, roll-good defect detection, surface inspection, and measurement applications that improve productivity, yield, quality, and plant performance. Through fundamental technology development, application engineering, system integration, and long-term support, the team enables digital manufacturing capabilities across multiple 3M divisions and serves as a corporate leader in practical, scalable deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies.

Responsibilities

• Design, integrate, commission, and support smart slitting and converting systems, with an emphasis on fully automated slitters that leverage upstream web inspection data for recipe management, cut planning, defect avoidance, and dynamic process control.
• Translate upstream inspection data into actionable converting strategies, including roll mapping, defect classification, cut optimization, process parameter selection, and closed-loop control opportunities.
• Develop and implement automated inspection solutions using technologies such as optics, machine vision, image processing, data analytics, and AI/machine learning to improve product quality, yield, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including manufacturing, process engineering, controls engineering, quality, operations, and equipment suppliers, to solve complex manufacturing challenges and deploy robust technology solutions.
• Support smart converting and inspection systems in production environments, including troubleshooting, performance optimization, system upgrades, operator training, documentation, and ongoing reliability improvements.
• Provide technical support for manufacturing sites, including travel to production locations and participation in on-call support as needed to ensure system uptime and operational continuity.
• Identify opportunities to standardize and scale smart converting technologies across manufacturing platforms, driving repeatable deployment models and continuous improvement.

Your Skills And Expertise

To set you up for success in this role from day one, 3M requires (at a minimum) the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related technical discipline (completed and verified prior to start).

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

• Advanced technical expertise equivalent to a master’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Optical Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience with converting technologies, including roll-good handling, slitting, rewinding, automated slitting, web handling, and related converting processes.
• Three (3) or more years of professional experience developing, implementing, commissioning, or supporting automated inspection, machine vision, smart converting, or automated slitting systems.
• Experience applying process engineering principles in a manufacturing, industrial, or production environment, including troubleshooting, process optimization, equipment commissioning, and continuous improvement.
• Experience working with upstream inspection data, roll maps, defect classification, recipe management, cut planning, or data-driven converting workflows.
• Familiarity with automated manufacturing systems, including PLCs, HMIs, motion control, sensors, machine vision hardware, industrial networking, and manufacturing data systems.
• Demonstrated knowledge in one or more of the following areas: image processing, signal processing, optics, lighting, camera selection, opto-mechanical design, software development, electronics, or industrial networking.
• Experience defining technical requirements, developing project plans, managing priorities, and contributing to technology roadmaps or strategic planning.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong interpersonal, networking, and leadership skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and drive alignment across teams.

Work Location

• Work Location: This role follows an on-site working model, requiring the employees to work onsite 4 days at the 3M Center, Maplewood, MN.

Travel: May include up to 25% US & international, primarily to 3M manufacturing locations.

Relocation Assistance: May be authorized.

Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without current or future employer-sponsored visa sponsorship (including H1B, STEM OPT extensions, etc.).

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.

Applicable to US applicants only: The expected compensation range for this position is $98,964 - $120,957, 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/.

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 www.3M.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @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.