Application Engineering Manager - Aerospace & Defense

3M is hiring an Application Engineering Manager - Aerospace & Defense. It pays $188k-$230k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on 3M.

Level's read on this job

On Level's scale, this role is Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
Tools and skills the posting cites include application engineering, product development and team management.
Level classifies it as a lead role.
Level lists 788 other open roles at 3M.

AI in this role

Lead a global team of application engineers supporting Aerospace and Defense accounts and translating customer needs into solutions.

application-engineeringproduct-developmentteam-managementaerospace

Job Description:

Application Engineering Manager – Aerospace & Defense

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 vraiety 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 an Application Engineering Manager, 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 and developing a global team of Application Engineers supporting key Aerospace & Defense accounts and growth initiatives
Fostering a customer-centric approach to translating customer needs, market insights, and emerging trends into differentiated 3M solutions
Building and strengthening technical relationships across customer organizations
Supporting the team in delivering the technical components of product spec-in
Managing prioritized projects and leading initiatives that accelerate customer value and/or improve internal operations
Collaborating internally with Vertical, Platform, TEGL, and CRL teams on technology, product, and capability development
Mentoring and developing Application Engineers while driving accountability for customer satisfaction, technical excellence, and business results

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)

Five (5) years of product development, new product commercialization, application engineering, or management of a team in these roles – translating customer needs into technical product performance criteria in a private, public, government or military environment

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

Ten (10) years of product development, commercialization, application engineering, or other similar role – or management of a team in these roles – translating customer needs into technical product performance criteria in a private, public, government or military environment
Comprehensive knowledge of aerospace industry materials, technologies, processes, and specifications
Technical management experience, and more specifically, experience leading a team of application engineers
Demonstrated ability to navigate complex problems and identify innovative solutions
Project management experience

Work location:

This role has on-site working model, with the employee working at least four days a week in the office at 3M Center, located in Maplewood, MN.

Travel: May include up to 15% domestic/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 assistant on 3M.com/careers.

Applicable to US Applicants Only:The expected compensation range for this position is $188,251 - $230,084, 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 09/29/2026 To 10/29/2026 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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How we rate this

Application Engineering Manager - Aerospace & Defense at 3M rates 0 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Little AI. AI is not part of the work.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Application Engineering Manager - Aerospace & Defense is an open job at 3M.
Level rates this role AI Level 1 of 4: Little AI.
The listed salary is $188k-$230k a year.
The role is based in US, Minnesota, Maplewood.
The job was posted on September 29, 2026.
Seniority: lead.
Applications are handled by 3M. Apply on 3M

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

Application EngineeringProduct DevelopmentTeam ManagementAerospace

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where application engineering was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where product development was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where team management was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where aerospace was part of your work. What did you do?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Application Engineering, Product Development, Team Management, and Aerospace. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.

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