Product Development & Innovation Associate
Posted Apr 3, 2026
As a Product Developer at 3M, you will play a crucial role in the development, engineering, and localization of nonwoven, coated, and portable bonded abrasive products. Your responsibilities will include:
-
Applying materials science, chemistry, and process engineering principles to optimize performance, cost, quality, and manufacturability. - Leading formulation development, process optimization, and product robustness activities. - Working hands-on with wet chemistry, coating, curing, and web handling equipment. - Addressing performance attributes such as cut rate, life, heat management, and surface finish. - Optimizing wheel properties including strength, safety, cut performance, and operator comfort. - Troubleshooting quality, yield, and performance issues using root-cause analysis and data-driven methods. Qualifications required for this role include:
-
Master's or PhD in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Polymer Science, or related technical discipline. - 7-10 years of experience in R&D, product development, or product engineering within abrasives or related materials industries. - Demonstrated experience in nonwoven, coated, and/or portable bonded abrasives product development. - Hands-on experience with wet chemistry, formulation development, and pilot/manufacturing equipment. - Experience with stage-gate commercialization processes. - Proven ability to support manufacturing scale-up and quality consistency. - Experience generating patents or IP disclosures. - Knowledge of abrasive product safety standards and testing methods. - Experience localizing products for cost-sensitive or emerging markets. - Demonstrated leadership in cross-functional or global project teams. At 3M, we are committed to innovation, diverse thinking, and taking risks on new ideas. You will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with global, area, and India R&D, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and marketing teams to deliver differentiated abrasive solutions aligned with customer needs and regional market requirements. Join us in applying your talent in bold ways that matter. As a Product Developer at 3M, you will play a crucial role in the development, engineering, and localization of nonwoven, coated, and portable bonded abrasive products. Your responsibilities will include: