Optical Product Development Specialist

3M

  • Date Posted:

    4/25/2025

  • Remote Work Level:

    Hybrid Remote

  • Location:

    Hybrid Remote in Maplewood, MN

  • Job Type:

    Employee

  • Job Schedule:

    Full-Time

  • Career Level:

    Experienced

  • Travel Required:

    No specification

  • Education Level:

    Bachelor's/Undergraduate Degree

  • Salary:

    $141,150 - $172,517 Annually

  • Categories:

    ITSoftware EngineerGovernmentProgramming

  • Benefits:

    Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Retirement Savings, Disability, Paid Holidays, Paid Time Off, Career Development

About the Role

Title: Optical Product Development Specialist ∞ (Maplewood, MN)

Location: Maplewood United States

Full time

Job Description:

Job Description:

Job Title

Optical 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(n) optical 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:

  • Lead the development of innovative optical films and adhesives tailored for the display and electronics product platform. Your work will directly contribute to the advancement of cutting-edge display technologies.
  • Design and analysis of optical systems to optimize performance and meet customer requirements having access to the breadth of 3M's core technologies (multilayer optical films, microreplication, optical molding, optical adhesives, vapor deposition and coatings, and more)
  • Engage with industry-leading display customers to understand their needs and collaborate on the design of optical components for next-generation displays - particularly in the areas of augmented/virtual/mixed reality displays, emissive displays including OLED and microLED, and miniLED backlit LCD displays.
  • Develop prototypes of new optical film concepts and rigorously evaluate their performance.
  • Play a key role in the commercialization process, including the development, scale-up, and launch of new products.
  • Work closely with materials and process development experts across 3M to leverage their knowledge and expertise.

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 a science or engineering discipline (completed and verified prior to start) from an accredited institution
  • Minimum five years of combined experience in one or more of the following areas, Product Commercialization, New Technology Development, New Product Development, Applied Research and/or Research Laboratory in a private, public, government or military environment

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

  • Possess expertise equivalent to that which would be obtained in a PhD degree or higher in Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics or related discipline
  • Strong understanding of optical principles including polarization and interference and their application in current display systems and components
  • Experience in optical system design, prototyping, and characterization to evaluate product performance.
  • Proficiency in optical simulation software such as LightTools, Zemax, SPEOS, or equivalent to model and analyze optical systems.
  • Familiarity with programming languages such as Python, Matlab, or equivalent to automate tasks and analyze data.
  • Data analysis skills, including statistical analysis and the ability to interpret complex data sets.
  • Strong problem-solving skills to identify and address technical challenges during product development.
  • Commitment to continuous learning and staying updated with the latest advancements in optics and materials science.

Work location:

  • Hybrid
  • Maplewood, MN, USA

Travel: May include up to 10% international

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

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.).

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.

 

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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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