Precision Controls 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.
Job Description:
Job Title
Precision Controls 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.
The Impact You’ll Make in this Role
As a Manufacturing Technology Precision Controls Engineer, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative people around the world. You will help design and deliver ultra-precision manufacturing systems where motion performance is measured in nanometers. This role combines advanced control theory, precision engineering, automation, and hands-on equipment deployment to solve complex manufacturing challenges. Here, you will make an impact by:
Developing, deploying, and supporting advanced control solutions for ultra-precision manufacturing systems with nanometer-level performance requirements.
Applying engineering rigor to identify, quantify, and mitigate sources of positioning error that affect machine accuracy, repeatability, and overall system performance.
Creating and implementing strategies for error compensation, motion optimization, servo tuning, and precision system validation.
Translating application requirements into robust control architectures, system specifications, and machine performance targets.
Managing technical requirements, cost estimates, schedules, and project deliverables to support successful delivery of capital equipment projects.
Collaborating with cross-functional teams, including mechanical, electrical, software, manufacturing, and process engineering, to design and deploy high performance automation systems.
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, completed and verified prior to start, in Engineering or a Physical Science (completed and verified prior to start)
Six (6) years of experience in a private, public, government, or military environment in one or more of the following areas: mechatronics, precision engineering, industrial automation, motion control, robotics
Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include:
Master’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution.
Five or more years of experience designing, developing, commissioning, or deploying advanced motion control systems for manufacturing applications.
Experience with precision engineering concepts such as error budgeting, ultra-precision metrology, geometric error compensation, dynamic error reduction, or machine calibration.
Familiarity with linear motors, high-resolution encoders, air bearings, hydrostatic bearings, ultra-low-friction bearing systems, and high-speed servo control.
Experience with CNC or advanced motion control platforms such as Delta Tau, Newport, Physik Instrumente, Polaris, Aerotech, or similar systems.
Experience with electrical system design and documentation using tools such as EPLAN, AutoCAD Electrical, or similar electrical design software.
Experience with embedded software, machine control, or automation software development using technologies such as C/C++, .NET/C#, Structured Text, TwinCAT, LabVIEW, or similar platforms.
Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex electromechanical systems and drive technical issues to resolution in a production or equipment-development environment.
Work location:
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 35% domestic/international
Relocation: May be authorized
Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).
Responsibilities of this position may include direct and/or indirect physical or logical access to information, systems, technologies subjected to the regulations/compliance with U.S. Export Control Laws.
U.S. Export Control laws and U.S. Government Department of Defense contracts and sub-contracts impose certain restrictions on companies and their ability to share export-controlled and other technology and services with certain "non-U.S. persons" (persons who are not U.S. citizens or nationals, lawful permanent residents of the U.S., refugees, "Temporary Residents" (granted Amnesty or Special Agricultural Worker provisions), or persons granted asylum.
To comply with these laws, 3M must help assess candidates' U.S. person status.
The questions asked in this application are intended to assess this and will be used for evaluation purposes only. Failure to provide the necessary information in this regard will result in our inability to consider you further for this particular position.
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.
Applicable to US Applicants Only: The expected compensation range for this position is $145,676 - $178,049, 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:
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 09/08/2026 To 10/08/2026 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.
