Job Description:
Lead Mechanical Engineer
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)
- Ten (10) years of experience or more in Mechanical Design/Development in a private, public, government or military environment
- Five (5) years of leadership/supervisory experience
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).
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 04/24/2026 To 05/24/2026 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.
