Senior Application Engineer

3M is seeking a Senior Application Engineer to support automotive OEM and Tier customers across Western & Southwest United States.

The Senior Application Engineer will provide technical application expertise, customer-facing engineering support, and solution development for 3M automotive technologies used in vehicle design, manufacturing, assembly, repair, and performance applications.

Key responsibilities include:

• Establishing yourself as the 3M technical lead to automotive key account customers in West Coast and Southwest United States.
• Engaging with OEMs & Tier suppliers to understand requirements and recommend suitable solutions.
• Visiting customer production facilities to support in-line assessments and identify 3M solution needs as well as advise on best application practices.
• Coordinating test validation activities to ensure approvals are achieved, meeting customer timelines.
• Understanding customers' technology roadmaps, upcoming design needs and challenges, effectively communicating those insights to the Product Development team for new product introduction proposals.
• Providing hands-on technical guidance, troubleshooting, and performance analysis for customers.
• Actively seeking out new business opportunities while engaging with customers.
• Lead internal cross-functional teams to drive and support actions relating to high-impact customer needs.
• Travel regularly across Western and Southwest United States to support customer engagements.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in engineering or science.
• Four (4) years of experience providing technical support for vehicle applications with automotive OEMs, Tier suppliers, or in automotive manufacturing environments.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience in an engineering, application engineering, technical service, product development, manufacturing, or customer-facing technical role.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and validation requirements.
• Ability to travel within the assigned territory, including customer site visits across Western/Southwest United States.
• Experience with automotive materials, adhesives, tapes, films, abrasives, coatings, sealants, surface protection, bonding, masking, thermal management, acoustic solutions, or related technologies.
• Familiarity with automotive product development cycles, platform launches, validation processes, and supplier qualification requirements.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes such as assembly, paint, body-in-white, trim, battery/electrification systems, repair, or component production.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot technical issues in customer production or application environments.
• Experience supporting both OEM and Tier customer accounts.
• Ability to work independently in a field-based role while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple customer priorities and technical initiatives.
• Proficiency with CRM systems, technical documentation, and standard business software tools.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and presenting skills.

The expected compensation range for this position is $124,127 - $151,710, which includes base pay plus variable incentive pay, if eligible.

Benefits include Medical, Dental & Vision, Health Savings Accounts, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Voluntary Benefits, Paid Absences, and Retirement Benefits.