Product Development Specialist

Job Description:

Product Development Specialist

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 Product Development 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:

• Serving as the technical lead for product development and commercialization projects within the CBG Home Improvement Tapes and Masking Systems portfolio, guiding programs from consumer need and technical concept through launch and lifecycle support.
• Leading cross-functional product development teams to design, develop, and commercialize innovative tapes, masking systems, films, adhesives, and related Home Improvement products, leveraging consumer insights and market trends to deliver differentiated solutions.
• Determining technical strategies, development plans, and risk mitigation approaches by applying expertise in materials science, product engineering, manufacturing processes, and Consumer Packaged Goods product development.
• Implementing robust experimentation, lab and customer testing, and data-driven decision-making to validate product performance, manufacturability, quality, regulatory compliance, and consumer acceptance.
• Supporting commercialization activities, including scale-up, process validation, supplier qualification, manufacturing readiness, and resolution of technical challenges throughout the product lifecycle.
• Providing technical leadership for New Product Introduction programs, partnering with Marketing, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and external partners to deliver consumer-focused innovations that achieve business growth objectives.

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 engineering, materials science, chemistry, physics, or a related technical discipline. (completed and verified prior to start)

• Five (5) years of experience in product development, product engineering, materials development, process development, or technical commercialization in a private, public, government or military environment

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

• Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Material Science Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, or other related technical degree from an accredited institution

• Ten (10) years of product development, product engineering, materials development, process development, or technical commercialization in a private, public, government or military environment including consumer packaged goods
• Experience developing and commercializing Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), home improvement products, or other high-volume consumer-facing products, including the use of consumer insights to guide technical decisions.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional product development teams from concept through commercialization in a fast-paced consumer products environment.
• Experience in applying consumer insights, voice-of-customer research, market analytic, statistical analysis, designed experiments, product testing, and risk-management tools to guide product design and technical decision-making.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and commercialization requirements associated with high-volume consumer products.
• Strong project management, technical leadership, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across functions and organizational levels.

Work location: This role follows an on-site working model, requiring the employee to work five days a week at the 3M Center in Maplewood, MN.

Travel: May include up to 20%

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 $164,612 - $201,193, 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 10/13/2026 To 11/12/2026 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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