Application Engineering Specialist - Adhesives

3M · Minnesota

Level: Engineer
Team: Manufacturing
Base pay: $146k–$178k
Travel: 15%
Degree: Required
Industry: Industrial
Posted: Yesterday

The role in 30 seconds

An engineer-level 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: Automation, EHS / safety
Base pay: $146k–$178k
Day to day: about 15% travel

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

How this role compares

Against 33 other live manufacturing postings in Minnesota.

Base pay: About 46% above similar roles
Experience asked: Not stated

Skills these teams ask for most

Tooling 53%
Team leadership 44%
Lean 44%
Root cause 29%
✓ New product launch 26%
✓ EHS / safety 24%

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

Stands out: this posting asks for Automation, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

At a glance

Training program

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 on the team. 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

The Industrial Adhesives & Tapes Division is seeking an Application Engineering

Specialist to support the growth and execution of 3M’s global Adhesives business by helping bring new products, insights, and customer solutions to market. Work includes engaging with customers and field sales to provide technical expertise including; gaining customer specific needs/opportunities/insights,

performing product and application characterization, application development, and creating technical information. The role requires strong collaboration with product development, product engineering, and marketing and will be heavily focused on New Product Introduction programs.

Key Responsibilities

◆Lead voice of customer efforts to support new product development programs.
◆Identify and communicate future market trends and product needs for the adhesives business.
◆Support liquid adhesive dispensing and spray automation.
◆Creating new application demonstration tools.
◆Training customers, sales reps, and international colleagues.

Your Skills and Expertise

To set you up for success in this role from day one, 3M is looking for candidates who must have the following

qualifications

✓Bachelor’s degree or higher (completed and verified prior to start)
✓Two (2) years of Application Engineering experience in a private, public, government or military environment
✓Four (4) years laboratory environment experience in a private, public, government or military environment

Additional

that could help you succeed even further in this role include

◆Bachelor’s degree or higher in Polymer/Plastics Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline from an accredited institution
◆Two (2) plus year experience working with adhesives
◆Proficient in adhesive test methods and quality systems
◆Experience in adhesive dispensing/automation equipment
◆Excellent organizational skills
◆Strong problem solving / troubleshooting skills
◆Strong people skills and ability to influence, collaborate, and work with cross-functional team
◆Self-directed and internally motivated with proven leadership skills

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 in

Show full description ↓

Job Description

Application Engineering Specialist - Adhesives

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.

Work location

•This role follows an on-site working model, requiring the employee to work at least four days a week in Maplewood, MN

Travel: May include up to 15% domestic/international

Relocation: Not 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 10/22/2026 To 11/21/2026 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.