Application Engineering Manager - Aerospace & Defense

3M · Minnesota

Level: Manager
Team: Manufacturing
Base pay: $188k–$230k
Travel: 15%
Degree: Required
Industry: Industrial
Posted: 24 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A management manufacturing role at 3M (industrial) in Minnesota. Of this position include that corporate policies, procedures and security standards are complied with while performing assigned duties.

They ask for: degree required
Tools it names: EHS / safety
Base pay: $188k–$230k
Day to day: about 15% travel · relocation help

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Manufacturing Engineer roles in Minnesota: typical posted base $101k–$155k. This one lists $188k–$230k.

Median of the low and high ends of 22 live postings that list pay, out of 37 manufacturing engineer openings in Minnesota, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Minnesota plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 36 other live manufacturing postings in Minnesota.

Base pay: About 82% above similar roles
Experience asked: Not stated

Skills these teams ask for most

Tooling 46%
Lean 41%
Team leadership 38%
New product launch 30%
✓ EHS / safety 27%
Root cause 24%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

At a glance

Relocation help

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at 3M
We found 3 people at this company and state: 3 in this kind of role. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Christopher → (free)
3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- The posting says about 15% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

Full description from 3MAs posted on their careers site.Show

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

As an Application Engineering Manager, 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 and developing a global team of Application Engineers supporting key Aerospace & Defense accounts and growth initiatives
◆Fostering a customer-centric approach to translating customer needs, market insights, and emerging trends into differentiated 3M solutions
◆Building and strengthening technical relationships across customer organizations
◆Supporting the team in delivering the technical components of product spec-in
◆Managing prioritized projects and leading initiatives that accelerate customer value and/or improve internal operations
◆Collaborating internally with Vertical, Platform, TEGL, and CRL teams on technology, product, and capability development
◆Mentoring and developing Application Engineers while driving accountability for customer satisfaction, technical excellence, and business results

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)
✓Five (5) years of product development, new product commercialization, application engineering, or management of a team in these roles – translating customer needs into technical product performance criteria in a private, public, government or military environment

Additional

that could help you succeed even further in this role include

◆Ten (10) years of product development, commercialization, application engineering, or other similar role – or management of a team in these roles – translating customer needs into technical product performance criteria in a private, public, government or military environment
◆Comprehensive knowledge of aerospace industry materials, technologies, processes, and specifications
◆Technical management experience, and more specifically, experience leading a team of application engineers
◆Demonstrated ability to navigate complex problems and identify innovative solutions
◆Project management experience

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

Show full description ↓

Job Description

Application Engineering Manager – Aerospace & Defense

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 vraiety 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.

Work location

•This role has on-site working model, with the employee working at least four days a week in the office at 3M Center, located in Maplewood, MN.

Travel: May include up to 15% 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.

Chat with Max

For assistance with searching through our current job openings or for more information about all things 3M, visit Max, our virtual recruiting assistant on 3M.com/careers.

Good Faith Posting Date Range 09/29/2026 To 10/29/2026 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.