Solutions Architect

3M Company; Sacramento (CA); Remote; USD 165,000 - 201,000; Full time

Job summary

3M Company seeks a Solutions Architect to lead technical engagement with hyperscale datacenters and to translate complex AI/optics requirements into actionable input for product teams. You will shape the AI/datacenter roadmap and support sales, engineering and marketing with in-depth technical context.

The role requires 5 years of relevant experience in hyperscale environments and a strong background in optical interconnects, CPO technologies, and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Optical/Photonics Engineering, Computer Engineering, or other technical field (completed and verified prior to start)
• Five (5) years of experience working with hyperscale datacenter customers, AI architectures, optical interconnect, or co-packaged optics (CPO) technologies in a private, public, government or military environment
• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical/Photonics Engineering, or a related technical field from an accredited institution
• Direct experience engaging with XPU, compute, or switch vendors on system architecture and optical interconnect integration for AI/ML infrastructure
• Skills include strong technical communication, customer focused, self-starting, relationship building, innovation, collaboration

Responsibilities

• Leading technical engagement with hyperscale datacenter customers and compute/networking silicon vendors.
• Translating roadmaps and architecture requirements into actionable input for 3M product and technology teams.
• Determining how AI datacenter trends should shape 3M’s EBO program roadmap.
• Providing deep technical context on customer architectures, use cases, and integration requirements to sales, applications engineering and product teams.
• Building conceptual demos and supporting technical marketing initiatives for hyperscale audiences.

Skills

Hyperscale datacenters

AI architectures

Optical interconnect

Co-packaged optics

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/ Optical/ Computer Engineering

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

Job Description:

Solutions Architect

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 diversity 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 Solutions Architect, 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:

• Leading technical engagement with hyperscale datacenter customers and compute/networking silicon vendors, establishing new contacts and building lasting relationships.
• Implementing trusted, side-by-side technical partnerships, translating their roadmaps and architecture requirements into actionable input for 3M product and technology teams.
• Determining how emerging AI datacenter trends should shape the technology roadmap for 3M’s EBO program and communicating these insights to the broader datacenter team.
• Supporting sales, applications engineering, and product development teams by providing deep technical context on customer architectures, use cases, and integration requirements.
• Building conceptual demos and supporting technical marketing initiatives that showcase 3M EBO capabilities to hyperscale and datacenter audiences.

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 Electrical Engineering, Optical/Photonics Engineering, Computer Engineering, or other technical field (completed and verified prior to start)
• Five (5) years of experience working with hyperscale datacenter customers, AI architectures, optical interconnect, or co-packaged optics (CPO) technologies in a private, public, government or military environment

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

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical/Photonics Engineering, or a related technical field from an accredited institution
• Direct experience engaging with XPU, compute, or switch vendors on system architecture and optical interconnect integration for AI/ML infrastructure
• Skills include strong technical communication, customer focused, self-starting, relationship building, innovation, collaboration

Work location:

Remote, Bay Area CA.

Travel: May include up to 30% domestic and international travel

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 $164,612 – $201,193, 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 10/07/2026 To 11/06/2026 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.

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