3MLead Mechanical Engineer
Job Description:
Lead Mechanical 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
The Lead Mechanical Engineer position demands a highly experienced individual with a strong background in mechanical design and development, particularly in SCBA or comparable products. The role emphasizes leadership, collaboration, and innovation, with a focus on meeting rigorous quality, safety, and regulatory standards.
As a Lead Mechanical Engineer, 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:
- The Lead Mechanical Engineer will report to the Mechanical Engineering Manager for SCBA and will be responsible for the design and development of mechanical components and sub-systems of SCBA.
- The role involves leading other mechanical engineers through all phases of New Product Development, ensuring timely delivery while meeting product cost targets and reliability requirements.
- Collaboration with other engineers, lab technicians, and designers is crucial to ensure that product performance meets cost, safety, reliability, schedule, and regulatory requirements.
- Contributor in cross-functional teams during new product development, including design reviews, DFMEA’s, and regulatory submissions.
- The position requires isolating root causes and resolving mechanical issues using formal problem-solving techniques when necessary.
- A hands-on approach to testing, including proof-of-concept, design validation, and regulatory agency approval, is expected.
- The candidate will demonstrate real-time, transparent communication on project status against overall project timelines to management.
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 Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (completed and verified prior to start)
- Fifteen (15) years of experience in Mechanical Design/Development in a private, public, government or military environment
Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include:
- Experience with precision machined parts, injection-molded parts using high performance plastics, and other materials such as soft goods used in SCBA.
- Direct experience in the design, analysis, and troubleshooting of pneumatic or hydraulic systems.
- Proficiency with 3D solid modeling tools such as SolidWorks, Inventor, or CREO
- Ten (10) or more years of New Product Design experience in SCBA’s or equivalent products.
- Strong engineering design skills, including experience with design simulation (FEA/CFD/Moldflow), GD&T, and Statistical Analysis.
- The candidate should have a demonstrated passion for new product development within a collaborative environment, meeting all validation, documentation, and regulatory requirements.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills are essential for developing business relationships and engaging with people quickly.
Work location:
- 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 Monroe, NC.
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).
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.
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 10/14/2025 To 11/13/2025 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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