Technical Program Manager

3M; Maplewood (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

3M in Maplewood, MN, is seeking a Technical Program Manager for EBO to drive NPI and sustaining programs from development to mass production. You will lead a cross‑functional team of engineers, including Product Engineering, Supplier Quality Engineering, Test Engineering and DFx, to ensure readiness and scalable production.

You will be the primary technical escalation point for ferrule production processes, driving root cause analysis and resolution to keep programs on schedule and quality

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher completed and verified prior to start.
• Seven (7) years of combined experience in product engineering, process engineering, manufacturing engineering, or technical program management within a hardware/optics manufacturing environment.
• Five (5) years of demonstrated experience leading or directly supporting new product introduction (NPI) programs from development through mass production.
• Five (5) years of hands‑on experience with root cause analysis and corrective action processes (e.g., 8D, DMAIC, fishbone/Ishikawa analysis) in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Three (3) years of experience working directly with contract manufacturers (CMs) or external manufacturing partners on process qualification, technical issue resolution, or production ramp activities.

Responsibilities

• Technical lead for manufacturing operations at Vendor(s)
• Drive contract manufacturer preparation for pre‑production builds
• Serve as the primary technical authority and escalation point for ferrule production processes, driving deep root cause analysis and hands‑on problem‑solving to ensure effective, permanent closure.
• Provide technical leadership and direction to a cross‑functional team of engineers throughout new product introduction (NPI) and sustaining production phases.
• Own the technical readiness assessment of contract manufacturers, ensuring processes, tooling, and quality systems are fully capable of supporting hyperscale volume production.
• Drive technical decision‑making on process design, yield improvement, and manufacturability, partnering closely with DFx and process engineering to optimize production outcomes.
• Lead technical deep‑dives and root cause investigations for critical production issues, ensuring corrective and preventive actions are technically sound and sustainable at scale.
• Guide engineering teams in resolving complex, cross‑disciplinary technical challenges spanning product design, process engineering, and manufacturing execution.
• Evaluate new process technologies, equipment, and methods to improve ferrule production quality, throughput, and cost‑efficiency.
• Collaborate with contract manufacturers' technical teams to troubleshoot production issues on‑site or remotely, ensuring rapid and effective resolution.
• Ensure technical solutions align with 3M quality standards, reliability requirements, and applicable regulatory guidelines.
• Communicate technical risks, findings, and recommendations clearly to engineering leadership and cross‑functional stakeholders to support informed decision‑making.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers on the team, fostering strong problem‑solving capability and technical rigor.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Root cause analysis

NPI programs

Technical program management

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Master's degree preferred

Tools

8D

DMAIC

Ishikawa analysis

Job description

Job Description:

Job Title: Technical Program Manager

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 the Technical Program Manager for EBO, you will drive the technical and operational success of new product introduction (NPI) and sustaining programs from development through hyperscale volume production. You will lead and align a cross‑functional team of engineers‑including Product Engineering, Supplier Quality Engineering, Test Engineering, and DFx‑to ensure contract manufacturers are fully prepared to meet production readiness and scale requirements.

You will serve as the primary technical escalation point for issues related to ferrule production processes, driving root cause analysis and resolution to keep programs on schedule and quality targets intact. Your ability to manage complexity, anticipate risk, and coordinate across engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain functions will directly enable seamless transitions from NPI into mass production‑ensuring 3M continues to deliver reliable, high‑quality products at scale.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical lead for manufacturing operations at Vendor(s)
• Drive contract manufacturer preparation for pre‑production builds
• Serve as the primary technical authority and escalation point for all issues related to ferrule production processes, driving deep root cause analysis and hands‑on problem‑solving to ensure effective, permanent closure.
• Provide technical leadership and direction to a cross‑functional team of engineers (Product Engineering, Supplier Quality Engineering, Test Engineering, DFx, and others) throughout new product introduction (NPI) and sustaining production phases.
• Own the technical readiness assessment of contract manufacturers, ensuring processes, tooling, and quality systems are fully capable of supporting hyperscale volume production.
• Drive technical decision‑making on process design, yield improvement, and manufacturability, partnering closely with DFx and process engineering to optimize production outcomes.
• Lead technical deep‑dives and root cause investigations for critical production issues, ensuring corrective and preventive actions are technically sound and sustainable at scale.
• Guide engineering teams in resolving complex, cross‑disciplinary technical challenges spanning product design, process engineering, and manufacturing execution.
• Evaluate new process technologies, equipment, and methods to improve ferrule production quality, throughput, and cost‑efficiency.
• Collaborate with contract manufacturers' technical teams to troubleshoot production issues on‑site or remotely, ensuring rapid and effective resolution.
• Ensure technical solutions align with 3M quality standards, reliability requirements, and applicable regulatory guidelines.
• Communicate technical risks, findings, and recommendations clearly to engineering leadership and cross‑functional stakeholders to support informed decision‑making.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers on the team, fostering strong problem‑solving capability and technical rigor.

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 (completed and verified prior to start)
• Seven (7) years of combined experience in product engineering, process engineering, manufacturing engineering, or technical program management within a hardware/optics manufacturing environment.
• Five (5) years of demonstrated experience leading or directly supporting new product introduction (NPI) programs from development through mass production.
• Five (5) years of hands‑on experience with root cause analysis and corrective action processes (e.g., 8D, DMAIC, fishbone/Ishikawa analysis) in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Three (3) years of experience working directly with contract manufacturers (CMs) or external manufacturing partners on process qualification, technical issue resolution, or production ramp activities.

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

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, or related technical field.
• Experience with fiber optic components, connectors, or ferrule manufacturing processes specifically.
• Background in high‑volume, hyperscale, or precision manufacturing environments (e.g., semiconductor, optics, electronics, or medical device m