Spec Mfg Technology Automation

Choosing where to start and grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life. At 3M, you’ll collaborate with curious, creative 3Mers across global locations, technologies, and products.

About the role

As an Automation Manufacturing Technology Specialist, you will provide technical leadership for packaging automation, end-of-line systems, and automated material handling across manufacturing sites. This role focuses on developing and deploying automation solutions, equipment improvements, and process standards that improve safety, quality, productivity, labor efficiency, changeover efficiency, flow, and equipment reliability. You will also help build long-term organizational capability by developing standards, applying lessons learned, supporting supplier development, and replicating best practices across sites.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for packaging automation, end-of-line systems, and automated material handling across manufacturing sites, supporting both current project needs and long-term capability development.
• Provide technical leadership and direction for packaging automation initiatives, helping project teams evaluate technical options through data-driven analysis, engineering judgment, and calculated risk assessment.
• Define and review technical requirements, equipment specifications, process scope, layouts, throughput requirements, and acceptance criteria for new or upgraded packaging automation systems.
• Direct project teams technically across automation, controls, robotics, vision systems, safety, product handling, case handling, labeling, palletizing, and process integration.
• Lead or support the development of automation solutions such as case erectors, product feeding/loading, robotic pick-and-place, conveyors, case sealing, labeling, vision inspection, palletizing, and automated material movement.
• Define and support interfaces between packaging automation and end-of-line automation, including AGV/AMR integration, automated material movement, pallet flow, and warehouse connectivity.
• Partner with controls, logistics, warehouse, and operations teams to ensure packaging automation solutions are designed with future AGV/AMR integration and autonomous material handling in mind.
• Partner with plants to identify opportunities to improve safety, ergonomics, quality, labor productivity, waste, capacity, changeover time, flow, and equipment reliability.
• Work with suppliers to develop, challenge, and validate machine concepts, layouts, automation approaches, throughput assumptions, and technical proposals.
• Participate in and provide technical direction during design reviews, FAT, installation, commissioning, SAT, startup, and production ramp-up.
• Develop and apply standards, best practices, lessons learned, and technical guidelines for packaging automation and end-of-line systems.
• Collaborate with controls, mechanical, EHS, quality, operations, maintenance, supply chain, and project engineering teams to ensure robust and scalable solutions.
• Identify technical risks early and drive mitigation plans to reduce design gaps, rework, late-stage changes, startup delays, cost increases, and performance shortfalls.
• Evaluate equipment flexibility for different SKUs, box sizes, product formats, packaging materials, changeovers, and future growth needs.
• Support business cases, CAPEX planning, project roadmaps, and prioritization by providing technical input, feasibility assessment, cost/benefit evaluation, and risk analysis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Control and Automation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related engineering discipline (completed and verified prior to start).
• Ten (10) years of engineering experience, preferably in manufacturing, project, converting, automation, or equipment design in a private, public, government, or military environment.
• Three (3) years of experience with packaging automation, end-of-line systems, robotics, material handling, or manufacturing equipment projects.
• Five (5) years of experience with machine automation, mechanical systems, product handling, case handling, conveyor systems, robotic automation, machine safety, and process integration.

Skills

• Working knowledge of industrial automation systems, including PLCs, HMIs, servo drives, VFDs, robotics, vision systems, safety systems, sensors, and industrial networks.
• Experience managing capital projects (CAPEX), including scope definition, business case support, supplier engagement, execution planning, and project delivery.
• Demonstrated experience leading equipment projects from concept through design, FAT, installation, SAT, startup, and production ramp-up.
• Strong understanding of machine safety requirements, including guarding, EHS expectations, risk assessments, safety validation, LOTO, operator access, and maintenance access.
• Ability to work with external equipment suppliers, challenge technical solutions, and drive alignment on requirements, standards, throughput, and acceptance criteria.
• Strong project execution mindset, including scope control, risk management, timeline management, stakeholder alignment, issue resolution, and startup readiness.
• Hands-on, boots-on-the-ground engineering mindset, with strong responsiveness and the ability to quickly troubleshoot issues, align stakeholders, and drive practical solutions during FAT, installation, startup, and production ramp-up.
• Ability to influence plant teams, suppliers, and cross-functional partners without direct authority.

Additional qualifications

• Master's degree in engineering from an accredited institution.
• Twelve (12) years of engineering experience, preferably in manufacturing, project, converting, automation, or equipment design in a private, public, government, or military environment.

Schedule

This role follows an on-site working model, requiring the employee to work at least four days a week at the 3M Center in Maplewood, MN. Travel may include up to 25-50% domestic/international. Relocation may be authorized.

Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).