Senior Research Engineer – Process Equipment Development

Job Description:

Senior Research Engineer – Process Equipment Development

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 Senior Research Engineer – Process Equipment Development, 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:

• Developing experimental and pilot-scale processes for new and existing applications

• Running complex experimental campaigns and iterating equipment design to optimize cost and performance

• Modifying and reconfiguring existing machinery to adapt to new applications or research directions

• Troubleshooting mechanical, fluidic, and thermal system failures to minimize downtime in the lab

• Collaborating with other researchers and engineers to translate conceptual lab and pilot-scale workflows into functional manufacturing-scale equipment

Your Skills and Expertise 

To set you up for success in this role from day one, we require (at a minimum) the following qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, chemistry, or a material science discipline (completed and verified prior to start)

• Two (2) years of hands-on experience in an industrial or academic R&D environment in a private, public, government or military environment

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

• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, or Materials) or equivalent technical certification in a field requiring high-level equipment aptitude

• Five (5) years of hands-on experience in an industrial or academic R&D environment building, operating, and maintaining custom technical equipment

• Demonstrated expertise in the application of mass, heat, and fluid transport principles

• Expertise in specifying and integrating specialized components like mass flow controllers, transducers, and heating elements

• Direct experience with high-pressure vessels and gas handling systems

• Familiarity with sol-gel chemistry, ceramic processing, or advanced drying/solidification techniques

• Demonstrated ability to interpret and create CAD models and basic understanding of process controls schemes

• Strong "tinkerer" mindset with a proven track record of modifying off-the-shelf tools for custom research needs

• Experience with basic automation and data acquisition tools

Work location:

• 3M Center, Maplewood, MN

Travel: May include up to 10% domestic/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. 

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Applicable to US Applicants Only:The expected compensation range for this position is $124,127 - $151,710, 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 06/05/2026 To 07/05/2026 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.

Please note: your application may not be considered if you do not provide your education and work history, either by: 1) uploading a resume, or 2) entering the information into the application fields directly.

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