Polymer Mechanics & Characterization Specialist

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

Job summary

3M seeks a Polymer Mechanics & Characterization Specialist at the Maplewood, MN site to generate high‑quality experimental data and calibrated material models for predictive simulations of adhesives and tapes.

You will operate rheometers, DMAs, DSC, TGA, and DIC systems, and collaborate across teams to ensure strategies meet application needs while maintaining rigorous safety and documentation standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Polymer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related science field.
• Three (3) years of hands‑on polymer characterization and experimental mechanics experience in relevant environments.

Responsibilities

• Perform hands‑on mechanical, rheological, and thermal characterization of adhesives and polymers to generate high‑quality data.
• Design, develop, and document test methods for model calibration and simulation workflows.
• Develop calibrated material models from experimental data for deployment in enterprise tools.
• Analyze large datasets using Python, MATLAB, and related tools to fit model parameters and assess data quality.
• Collaborate with product developers, simulation experts, and customers to align strategies with requirements.

Skills

Polymer characterization

Experimental mechanics

Materials testing

Python

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tools

Rheometer

DMA

DSC

TGA

DIC

Job description

Job Description:

Polymer Mechanics & Characterization 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 Polymer Mechanics & Characterization Specialist within 3M’s Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative people around the world.

You will serve as a technical expert in the generation of high-quality experimental data and development of calibrated material models that enable predictive simulation of adhesives, tapes, and adhesive joints. The data and material models developed in this role will become foundational assets within 3M’s Digital Materials Hub, where they are leveraged across product development, manufacturing, and customer-facing simulation activities.

Here, you will make an impact by:

• Performing hands‑on mechanical, rheological, thermal, and multi‑axial characterization of adhesives, pressure‑sensitive tapes, structural polymers, composites, and adhesive joints to generate high‑quality experimental datasets for finite element analysis (FEA) material model development
• Operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and improving laboratory instrumentation including rheometers, dynamic mechanical analyzers (DMA), thermal analysis equipment (DSC, TMA, TGA), and universal test machines (load frames) with digital image correlation (DIC) systems
• Designing, developing, validating, and documenting experimental test methods that provide reliable, repeatable data for constitutive model calibration and simulation workflows
• Developing calibrated material models from experimental data and supporting their deployment within 3M’s Digital Materials Hub for enterprise‑wide reuse and adoption
• Applying polymer mechanics principles to characterize linear and nonlinear material behavior including viscoelasticity, hyperelasticity, damage, failure, and time‑dependent responses
• Processing, analyzing, and visualizing large experimental datasets using Python, MATLAB, and other digital tools to fit model parameters, assess data quality, and communicate results effectively
• Collaborating closely with product developers, simulation experts, materials scientists, and customers to ensure characterization strategies align with application requirements and simulation objectives
• Training and supporting other researchers and engineers on instrumentation operation, experimental best practices, and characterization workflows
• Continuously evaluating and implementing emerging characterization methods and technologies, including advanced rheological techniques, full‑field deformation measurement methods, and next‑generation experimental mechanics approaches
• Communicating technical findings and recommendations clearly to multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders
• Balancing laboratory, analysis, and collaboration activities across multiple concurrent programs supporting diverse businesses and applications
• Operating with a high degree of technical independence while maintaining rigorous safety, quality, and documentation standards in a fast‑paced R&D environment

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 Materials Science, Polymer Science, Polymer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related science field (completed and verified prior to start)
• Three (3) years of hands‑on experience in polymer characterization, experimental mechanics, materials testing, or related laboratory‑based work in an academic, private, public, government, or military environment

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

• Master's degree or higher (completed and verified prior to start) in Engineering, Reliability Engineering, Quality Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related discipline from an accredited institution.
• Experience with reliability modeling, accelerated life testing, Weibull analysis, reliability growth analysis, and life‑data modeling.
• Experience leading FMEA, fault‑tree analysis, risk assessments, and Design for Reliability initiatives.
• Experience developing qualification programs for electromechanical, automation, robotics, industrial equipment, or power‑system products.
• Experience with statistical software and methodologies including Minitab, JMP, DOE, SPC, and process capability analysis.
• Experience with regulatory, product safety, UL, CE, IEC, or similar compliance standards.
• Experience with supplier quality, manufacturing quality systems, and production qualification activities.
• Demonstrated experience operating and interpreting data from mechanical, rheological, and/or thermal characterization instrumentation
• Experience processing and analyzing experimental datasets using scientific computing and data analysis tools

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 or 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).

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 $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 09/29/2026 To 10/29/2026 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 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.