Product Engineering Specialist

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

Job summary

3M Company in Maplewood, MN is seeking a Product Engineering Specialist to collaborate with global teams and drive product development from concept to launch. You will work with marketing, manufacturing, quality, and development teams to solve problems, implement improvements, and deliver high-quality consumer products.

This on-site role requires strong technical depth, cross-functional leadership, and a track record of continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a science or engineering discipline.
• Three (3) years of manufacturing and/or laboratory experience in a private, public, government or military environment.
• Experience with product lifecycle management (PLM) systems is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical product support, continuous improvement, and lifecycle management of Home Improvement products.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to execute product changes, cost improvements, and quality enhancements.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) programs and transition concepts into launches.
• Collaborate with plants, suppliers, and partners to deliver high-quality products efficiently.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for product/manufacturing issues.
• Influence product development speed, quality, and execution.

Skills

Cross-functional teamwork

Problem solving

Communication

Attention to detail

Leadership without authority

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in science or engineering

Tools

PLM systems

Job description

Job Description:

Product Engineering 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 Product Engineering Specialist, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative people around the world.

This role offers a unique opportunity to make a visible impact across the 3M Consumer Business Group Home Improvement business. As a Product Engineering Specialist, you will influence how products are designed, manufactured, launched, and experienced by consumers around the world. You’ll work alongside marketing, manufacturing, quality, and development teams to solve meaningful problems, lead important initiatives, and help shape the future of some of 3M’s most recognized consumer brands. Your technical expertise, attention to detail, and passion for continuous improvement will directly contribute to business growth, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction. This is an ideal role for someone who enjoys combining technical depth, business impact, and cross-functional leadership to make great products even better.

Here, you will make an impact by:

• Leading technical product support, continuous improvement, and lifecycle management of Home Improvement products to ensure exceptional product quality, performance, and consumer satisfaction.
• Partnering with cross-functional teams to successfully execute product changes, cost improvements, quality enhancements, and product line extensions.
• Supporting New Product Introduction NPI programs by helping transition innovative concepts into successful commercial launches.
• Collaborating with manufacturing plants, suppliers, and business partners to deliver high-quality products efficiently and reliably.
• Driving resolution of product and manufacturing challenges through root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Influencing how products are designed, manufactured, tested, and delivered by identifying opportunities to improve product development speed, effectiveness, and execution.

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)
• Three (3) years of manufacturing and/or laboratory experience in a private, public, government or military environment.

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

• Passion for understanding how consumer products are designed, manufactured, launched, and supported throughout their lifecycle.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage technical documentation, specifications, testing records, and change management activities.
• Experience working effectively on cross-functional teams that include marketing, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, regulatory, and sales partners.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects, influence stakeholders, and drive alignment without direct authority.
• Experience with product claims substantiation, product testing, technical documentation, or Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a desire to challenge existing processes and identify opportunities to improve speed, quality, efficiency, and consumer experience.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, including experience identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical information into actionable recommendations for diverse audiences.

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 25% domestic or international

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.

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/.

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.

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.

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