Technologist / Maintenance Engineer

3M; United States; On-site; USD 99,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

3M in Knoxville, IA is seeking a Controls/Systems Engineer to diagnose and troubleshoot control system issues, lead improvement projects, and train maintenance staff. This on-site role may require up to 10% domestic travel and relocation authorization.

You will work with Allen Bradley PLCs, PLC control systems, and packing robots on automated production lines, develop strategies to upgrade legacy platforms, and ensure accurate plant electrical documentation and P&IDs.

Qualifications

• Associates degree or higher in Electrical/Automation/Controls or equivalent technology program.
• Three years of manufacturing experience in a private, public, government or military environment.
• Experience with PLC/control systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily technical assistance to maintenance, process and production personnel in diagnosing, troubleshooting and determining root cause failures.
• Develop and implement strategies to maintain, upgrade or replace legacy platforms.
• Lead cross functional teams to recommend, initiate and complete control system improvement projects.
• Provide control system theory and programming training to maintenance craft person, control system technologists and control system engineers.
• Support corporate, division and plant engineering groups with the planning and installation of capital projects.
• Ensure accuracy of plant electrical documentation including elementary drawings, process flow diagrams and P&ID drawings.
• Willingness to be on-call and work different shifts to provide coverage.

Skills

PLC control systems

Allen Bradley PLCs

Packing robots

Education

Electrical/Automation/Controls degree

Job description

Job Title

Controls/Systems 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.

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

• Provides daily technical assistance to maintenance, process and production personnel in diagnosing, troubleshooting and determining root cause failures.
• Develops and implements strategies to maintain, upgrade or replace legacy platforms.
• Leads cross functional teams to recommend, initiate and complete control system improvement projects.
• Provides control system theory and programming training to maintenance craft person, control system technologists and control system engineers.
• Supports corporate, division and plant engineering groups with the planning and installation of capital projects.
• Ensures accuracy of plant electrical documentation including elementary drawings, process flow diagrams and P&ID drawings.
• Willingness to be on-call and work different shifts to provide coverage.
• Other duties as assigned.

Your Skills and Expertise

• Associates degree or higher in Electrical/Automation/Controls or equivalent technology program (completed and verified prior to start)
• Three (3) years of manufacturing experience in a private, public, government or military environment
• Experience with PLC/control systems experience
• Experience with Allen Bradley PLC's
• Experience with packing robots and automated production lines

Work location

Work location: Knoxville, IA

Travel: May include up to 10% domestic 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 $98,964 - $120,957, 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 09/10/2026 To 10/10/2026 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.

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

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.