Mfg Technology Tooling Eng - Specialist*

3M; Minnesota; On-site; USD 146,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

3M is seeking a Manufacturing Technology Precision Tooling Engineer to join our Precision Tooling team at the Maplewood, MN site. The role focuses on advanced cutting technologies, precision machining, and equipment design to enable production of precision structured surfaces for optical film and display technology applications.

The successful candidate will be a hands-on resource for process engineers, product engineers, R&D, and manufacturing operations, with strong data-driven problem solving

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Science or Engineering required.
• Six years of experience in manufacturing, machining, tooling, or equipment engineering.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead precision structure-generation processes using turning equipment, CNC lathes, milling machines, or similar platforms.
• Support new product commercialization for optical films and precision structures.
• Design, execute, and analyze experiments involving precision machining, tooling, and process equipment.
• Develop and optimize manufacturing processes for precision tooling applications.

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Science or Engineering

Tools

CNC machining

Precision turning

Lathes

Milling machines

Job description

Job Title

Manufacturing Technology Precision Tooling Engineer

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.

Job Description

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

As a Manufacturing Technology Precision Tooling Engineer, You Will Have The Opportunity To Tap Into Your Curiosity And Collaborate With Some Of The Most Innovative People Around The World. Here, You Will Make An Impact By

The Manufacturing Technology Precision Tooling Engineer will join 3M’s Precision Tooling team, which develops and integrates highly precise process equipment into manufacturing. This role will focus on advanced cutting technologies, precision machining, and equipment design to enable the production of precision structured surfaces used in optical film and display technology applications.

The successful candidate will serve as a technical resource for process engineers, product engineers, R&D teams, and manufacturing operations. This position requires hands‑on experience with precision tooling processes, particularly CNC lathes, precision turning equipment, milling machines, or similar machining platforms. The role will support new product commercialization, improve manufacturing capability, and help advance 3M’s precision engineering technologies.

This position is well suited for an engineer with strong technical curiosity, practical machining knowledge, data‑driven problem‑solving skills, and a passion for process and product development.

In This Role, You Will

• Develop and lead precision structure‑generation processes using precision turning equipment, CNC lathes, milling machines, or similar advanced machining platforms.
• Support new product commercialization efforts for optical films and other precision structured surface technologies.
• Design, execute, and analyze experiments involving precision machining, tooling, and process equipment.
• Develop, optimize, and document manufacturing processes for precision tooling applications.
• Apply precision engineering principles to improve dimensional accuracy, surface quality, repeatability, and process capability.
• Troubleshoot tooling, machining, equipment, and process issues in support of manufacturing operations.
• Use data analysis, statistical methods, and process control tools to identify improvement opportunities and implement robust solutions.
• Lead projects that improve process control, equipment performance, productivity, and product quality.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams, including R&D, design, manufacturing, plant engineering, suppliers, consultants, and equipment builders.
• Work with internal and external resources to ensure technical, cost, and schedule requirements are met.
• Support equipment specification, supplier selection, purchase, assembly, checkout, installation, and commissioning.
• Identify equipment upgrades, tooling improvements, and capital investment needs for annual capital planning.
• Contribute to the advancement of 3M technology through process innovation, intellectual property development, and implementation of new capabilities into manufacturing.

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 a Science or Engineering discipline (completed and verified prior to start)
• Six (6) years of experience in a manufacturing, machining, tooling, process engineering, or equipment engineering environment.

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

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Hands‑on experience with CNC machining, precision turning, lathes, milling machines, diamond turning, or other precision material‑removal processes.
• Experience developing or supporting precision tooling, structured surface generation, optical tooling, microreplication tooling, or high‑accuracy manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of precision engineering principles, including dimensional control, surface finish, tool wear, vibration, thermal effects, alignment, and process repeatability.
• Experience with machining process development, tooling design, fixturing, machine setup, process optimization, or equipment commissioning.
• Experience using experimental design, statistical analysis, process capability studies, Six Sigma tools, or other data‑driven problem‑solving methods.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex manufacturing processes and equipment issues in a hands‑on production environment.
• Strong communication, initiative, project management, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to work effectively with manufacturing teams, laboratory teams, suppliers, consultants, and equipment builders.

Work location

• 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 35% domestic/international

Relocation

May be authorized

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

U.S. Export Control

Responsibilities of this position may include direct and/or indirect physical or logical access to information, systems, technologies subjected to the regulations/compliance with U.S. Export Control Laws.

U.S. Export Control laws and U.S. Government Department of Defense contracts and sub‑contracts impose certain restrictions on companies and their ability to share export‑controlled and other technology and services with certain "non‑U.S. persons" (persons who are not U.S. citizens or nationals, lawful permanent residents of the U.S., refugees, "Temporary Residents" (granted Amnesty or Special Agricultural Worker provisions), or persons granted asylum.

To comply with these laws, 3M must help assess candidates' U.S. person status.

The questions asked in this application are intended to assess this and will be used for evaluation purposes only. Failure to provide the necessary information in this regard will result in our inability to consider you further for this particular position.

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.

Compensation & Benefits

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/.

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

Terms

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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Posting Date

Good Faith Posting Date Range 09/08/2026 To 10/08/2026 Or until filled