R&D Automation Controls Specialist

Reposted Yesterday
Be an Early Applicant
Maplewood, MN
In-Office
141K-173K Annually
Mid level
Automotive • Hardware • Other • Energy • Industrial
The Role
Develop and integrate automation technologies within R&D laboratories, including instrument integration and programming for various automation protocols.
Summary Generated by Built In

Job Description:

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

The person hired for the position of Advanced Research Specialist will develop and integrate automation technologies within our R&D laboratories. This will include instrument integration through Internet of Things (IoT) connectors to both on-prem and cloud services, programming of PLCs, Robotics, HMIs and various edge compute devices and industrial protocols.  This work will create new opportunities for 3M to enhance how we develop new products and customer solutions while advancing 3M’s unique, high-performance materials. At 3M, we take a systems approach to developing real-world solutions for many businesses and markets, including electronics, transportation, worker safety, industrial materials like adhesives and tapes, novel processes for manufacturing and industrial automation, and many more.

As an R&D Automation Controls Specialist, 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: 

  • Leveraging expertise to identify, develop and drive new technologies enabling new product development, providing new growth opportunities in addition to supporting existing 3M products and businesses.
  • Work with global teams to implement impactful materials and chemistry solutions through automation, software, firmware and hardware in 3M’s diverse markets
  • File patent applications, publish, and present at appropriate conferences
  • Collaborate with research teams in corporate research and in business labs to build capabilities, applications and solutions to solve emerging challenges
  • Work closely with internal and external stakeholders to lead customer insight-driven processes to identify new opportunities for 3M.
  • Applying advanced controls and automation experience to develop and integrate instruments, test systems, data collection, machine & computer vision, applied mathematics, artificial intelligence, controls & algorithms, and potentially cloud-based skills: e.g. AWS, Databricks, Plotly Dash, SQL, etc

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 of Science degree in a science or engineering discipline (completed and verified prior to start)
  • Three (3) years of experience in developing and applying software-based automation technologies in a private, public, government or military environment
  • Three (3) years of combined experience in programming PLCs, Robotics and/or Python

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

  • Ph.D. degree in STEM related discipline from an accredited university
  • 6 years of experience in developing and applying automation technologies
  • Demonstrated experience leading teams to identify new opportunities and carrying through to solutions
  • Excellent problem-solving and communication skills, with a track record of scientific excellence through publications/presentations

Work location:

  • On site in Maplewood MN

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.

Applicable to US Applicants Only:The expected compensation range for this position is $141,150 - $172,517, 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 09/04/2025 To 10/04/2025 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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Please access the linked document by clicking here, select the country where you are applying for employment, and review. Before submitting your application, you will be asked to confirm your agreement with the terms.

Top Skills

AWS
Databricks
Internet Of Things
Plc Programming
Plotly Dash
Python
Robotics
SQL
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The Company
64,670 Employees
Year Founded: 1902

What We Do

3M operates as a diversified technology company, manufacturing more than 55,000 products, including adhesives, laminates, and many more.

3M touches virtually every part of your life. Our people and technology make the impossible, possible. Every day we apply our science to enhance people’s lives. This is 3M Science. Applied to Life.™

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