Research Specialist (Tool Design)
3M Health Information Systems
Job Description:
Research Specialist (Tool Design)
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 Research Specialist (Tool Design) 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:
- Leading the research and development of innovative injection mold designs and tooling approaches that enable new product concepts, advanced materials, and emerging manufacturing methods.
- Implementing best practices and new technologies in mold design, rapid prototyping, and tooling fabrication to accelerate design validation, reduce development cycles, evaluate mold performance, part quality, and manufacturability during early product development phases.
- Determining optimal mold construction methods, gating and cooling strategies, and material selections through simulation, data analysis, and empirical testing.
- Supporting cross-functional R&D initiatives by providing technical expertise in polymer behavior, mold flow analysis, and design for manufacturability (DFM).
- Supporting new product introduction by guiding teams through prototype-to-production transitions, and tooling qualification activities.
Your Skills and Expertise
To set you up for success in this role from day one, 3M requires (at a minimum) the following qualifications:
- Associates degree or higher (completed and verified prior to start) from an accredited institution.
- 15 year(s) of molding/design for manufacturing (DFM) industry experience in a private, public, government or military environment
Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include:
- Degree focused in plastics, tooling, or engineering from an accredited institution
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering field from an accredited institution
- Proficiency in tool making, tool design, and machining
- Experience in mechanical design for products, including design of complex components, assemblies, and mechanisms
- Proficient in applying mechanical design principles to ensure structural integrity, dimensional accuracy, and manufacturability of product components
- Expertise in CAD part/product design
- Experience in plastic molding simulation (e.g. Moldflow or Moldex3D)
- Collaborative and technically curious innovator who advances plastic molding research through exploration of new materials, processes, and technologies
- Competence in Microsoft Office Tools (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Work location:
- Work location: Woodbury, MN
This role follows an on-site working model, requiring the employee to work at least four days a week at the 3M Center in Woodbury
- Travel: May include up to 10% 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).
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 11/25/2025 To 12/25/2025 Or until filledAll 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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