Materials AI/ML Specialist

National Black MBA Association; Maplewood, Northern (MN, KY); Hybrid; USD 146,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

3M is seeking a Materials AI/ML Specialist in Maplewood, MN, to accelerate new product development in formulation science by applying AI/ML to experimental planning and data analysis.

You will collaborate with product developers, run hands-on testing, and expand capabilities in Bayesian optimization and literature mining, while communicating findings to chemists, engineers and business leaders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 3 years of experience in new product development, formulation, or lab work.
• 2 years using AI/ML or data science tools in experiments.

Responsibilities

• Apply AI/ML methods to guide and accelerate experimental planning for new liquid adhesive and PSA/tape formulations.
• Run hands-on formulation, mechanical, and performance testing to generate data for AI/ML-driven analysis.
• Analyze formulation, process, and performance data using statistical and ML approaches to drive decisions.
• Continuously expand AI/ML capabilities including Bayesian optimization and LLM-assisted literature mining.
• Use and evolve shared digital tools for experiment planning, data analysis, and knowledge capture.
• Share insights across programs to strengthen data-driven development practices.
• Communicate technical findings clearly to chemists, engineers, and business leaders.
• Balance lab time and analytical work across multiple concurrent development programs.

Tools

Python

PyTorch

Scikit-Learn

Pandas

Job description

Job Description:

Materials AI/ML Specialist

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

As a Materials AI/ML Specialist, you will apply artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to accelerate new product development in formulation science. Partnering closely with product developers, you will help modernize how experiments are planned, run, and analyzed - bringing data-driven speed to lab-based innovation. Here, you will make an impact by:

• Applying AI/ML methods (e.g., Bayesian optimization, cheminformatics, active learning, AI hypothesis generation) to guide and accelerate experimental planning for new liquid adhesive and pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA)/tape formulations


• Running hands‑on formulation, mechanical, and performance testing (e.g., overlap shear, DMA, handling strength) to generate high‑quality data for AI/ML‑driven analysis


• Analyzing formulation, process, and performance data using statistical and machine learning approaches to extract insights that drive faster, better technical decisions


• Continuously expanding your AI/ML capabilities - including techniques such as Bayesian optimization and generative AI/LLM‑assisted literature mining - and applying them to live product development challenges


• Using and helping evolve shared digital tools and platforms for experiment planning, data analysis, and knowledge capture


• Sharing insights and learnings across programs to strengthen data‑driven development practices more broadly


• Communicating technical findings clearly to cross‑functional stakeholders, including chemists, engineers, and business leaders


• Balancing lab time and analytical work across multiple concurrent development programs


• Operating with a high degree of independence in a fast‑paced R&D environment, quickly picking up new formulation, testing, and lab safety protocols as needed

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 in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field (completed and verified prior to start)


• Three (3) years of experience in new product development, formulation, or experimental/lab work, in an academic, private, public, government, or military environment


• Two (2) experience using AI/ML or data science tools within your own experimental/lab work (e.g., machine learning, AI hypothesis generation, design of experiments software, statistical modeling, data analysis tools), with a demonstrated desire and aptitude to expand this skill set

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

• Master's degree or higher in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field


• Five (5) or more years of hands‑on new product development or formulation experience


• Hands‑on experience with adhesive, PSA, tape, coating, or polymer formulation and mechanical testing (e.g., overlap shear, DMA, handling strength)


• Familiarity with Bayesian optimization, active learning, surrogate modeling, or other sequential/statistical design‑of‑experiments techniques


• Exposure to large language models (LLMs) or generative AI tools for materials discovery, hypothesis generation, or literature mining


• Working knowledge of Python and common ML/data science libraries (e.g., PyTorch, Scikit‑Learn, Pandas)


• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple teams and stakeholder groups


• Comfortable managing competing priorities across multiple concurrent programs in a fast‑paced, evolving R&D environment


• Curious, fast learner, solid communicator, self‑directed in acquiring new technical skills

Work location:

• This role follows an on‑site working model, requiring the employee to work at least four days a week at the 3M Center in Maplewood, MN

Travel: May include up to 5% domestic travel

Relocation Assistance: May be 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 09/03/2026 To 10/03/2026 Or until filledAll 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.