Quality Engineer
3M · South Dakota
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Quality
- Base pay
- $124k–$152k
- Travel
- 10%
- Degree
- Required
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level quality role at 3M (industrial) in South Dakota. 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
- Lean, Six Sigma, SPC, CAPA, ISO 9001, IATF 16949
- Base pay
- $124k–$152k
- Day to day
- about 10% travel · relocation help
- Openings
- 2 with this title at this site
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 26, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in South Dakota: typical posted base $124k–$152k. This one lists $124k–$152k.
Median of the low and high ends of 3 live postings that list pay, out of 3 quality engineer openings in South Dakota, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
South Dakota plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 1239 other live quality postings in the US.
- Base pay
- About 22% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $95k–$132k, from 473 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Root cause 68%
- FMEA 40%
- Supplier quality 39%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 37%
- ✓ Six Sigma 35%
- ✓ Lean 34%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for EHS / safety, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
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 Quality team at 3M
We found 1 person at this company and state: 1 in this kind of role, plus 1 likely hiring manager. 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 Tim → (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?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- The posting says about 10% 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.
Quality Engineer at 3M in other locations
3M lists this title in 3 places. Pick the plant you can get to.
Full description from 3MAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
The Impact You’ll Make in this Role
As a Quality Engineer , 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:
- ◆Assuring compliance to internal procedures and external customer
requirements
and regulations
- ✓Representing the customer, evaluating customer complaints and issues, samples and trends, and determining the necessary action plans
- ✓Leading Corrective Action Prevention Action (CAPA), Risk Management, Quality at the Source and Customer Quality Index initiatives and deployment
- ✓Assisting deployment of Statistical Process Control (SPC) methodology to control Key Process Indicators (KPI)
- ✓Using statistical techniques to create sampling plans and execute data analysis.
- ✓Developing new test methods and execute test method validations for new and existing products
- ✓Participating in internal/external quality system and process audits
- ✓Providing change management oversight from the quality function to ensure adequate training and/or qualification of changes to assigned products and processes
- ✓Providing support to process engineering team
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, engineering, math, or technical discipline (completed and verified prior to start) from an accredited institution
- ✓Two (2) years of experience in engineering, quality, or other technical role in a private, public, government or military environment
Additional
that could help you succeed even further in this role include
- ◆Statistical knowledge and Lean Six Sigma familiarity
- ◆ISO 13485, IATF-16949, AS9100, or ISO 9001 audit experience
- ◆Previous quality experience in a medical device or drug manufacturing environment
- ◆Experience deploying industry specific quality system
requirements
beyond ISO9001 (e.g. NIOSH, CSA, ANSI etc.)
- ✓Test method development and validation 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 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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Carefully read these Terms of Use before using this website. Your access to and use of this website and application for a job at 3M are conditioned on your acceptance and compliance
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Job Description
Job Description
Quality 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.
Work location
- •Aberdeen, SD On-site
Travel: May include up to 10% domestic
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 10/28/2026 To 11/27/2026 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.