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Chemical Manufacturing Engineer - Cordova, IL*

3M · Cordova, IL · $124,127–$151,710 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 21, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about an SOP you wrote or improved. How did you make sure operators would actually follow it?

What they are checking: Whether they write procedures with operator input that match how work is truly done.

Tell me about a waste reduction project you led. What did you change and what did it save?

What they are checking: Whether they can find and cut waste with measurable environmental and cost results.

How do you work with cross-functional teams to improve cost, service and quality at once?

What they are checking: Whether they can lead tradeoffs across functions instead of improving one metric at others' expense.

How do you build trust with operators as a newer engineer in a chemical plant?

What they are checking: Whether they learn from operators and earn credibility on the floor.

What would you do

A batch is running hotter than usual, and the operator wants to keep going. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they treat abnormal conditions as possible process safety events and act conservatively.

Production wants a quick fix to hit a ship date, but you think it skips a safety review. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they hold the line on process safety under schedule pressure.

About the work

You'd lead PSM activities on assigned products in Cordova. Which elements of Process Safety Management have you owned, and how?

What they are checking: Whether they have real experience with PHAs, MOC, mechanical integrity and operating procedures.

Walk me through how you'd handle a management of change for a small process tweak operators want.

What they are checking: Whether they respect MOC even for small changes, since small changes cause serious incidents.

How do you maintain a material balance, and what does it tell you when it doesn't close?

What they are checking: Whether they use mass balance to detect losses, leaks, measurement errors or emissions.

What would you look at first if yield on one product dropped five percent?

What they are checking: Whether they troubleshoot with raw materials, process data and equipment in a structured way.

How do you prepare for and participate in a process hazard analysis?

What they are checking: Whether they understand HAZOP or what-if methods and their role in identifying hazards.

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The full job description

As published by 3M.

Job Description: Job Title Chemical Manufacturing Engineer 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 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 Chemical Manufacturing 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: • Working with cross functional teams to make improvements to product cost, service, and quality. • Improving productivity through continuous improvement activities. • Writing, maintaining, and improving production standard operating procedures. • Ensuring process safety and compliance by leading PSM activities on all assigned products, maintaining material balances, and leading waste reduction projects. 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 Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Industrial Engineering (completed and verified prior to start) • Two (2) year of engineering experience in a private, public, government or military environment. Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include: • Three (3) years of Engineering Experience in a private, public, government or military environment. • Experience as a Chemical Engineer in a Chemical based Manufacturing facility • Experience with Reactor Systems • Experience with Distributed Control Systems (DCS) Work location: Cordova, Illinois Travel: May include up to 5% 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). Responsibilities of this position may include direct and/or indirect physical or logical access to information, systems, technologies subjected to the regulations/compliance with U.S. Export Control Laws. U.S. Export Control laws and U.S. Government Department of Defense contracts and sub-contracts impose certain restrictions on companies and their ability to share export-controlled and other technology and services with certain "non-U.S. persons" (persons who are not U.S. citizens or nationals, lawful permanent residents of the U.S., refugees, "Temporary Residents" (granted Amnesty or Special Agricultural Worker provisions), or persons granted asylum. To comply with these laws, 3M must help assess candidates' U.S. person status. The questions asked in this application are intended to assess this and will be used for evaluation purposes only. Failure to provide the necessary information in this regard will result in our inability to consider you further for this particular position. 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 $124,127 - $151,710, 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 08/21/2026 To 09/20/2026 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. 3M Global Terms of Use and Privacy Statement Carefully read these Terms of Use before using this website. Your access to and use of this website and application for a job at 3M are conditioned on your acceptance and compliance with these terms. Please click on the following links and select the country where you are applying for employment to review the applicable Terms of Use (link here) and Privacy Policy (link here) . Before submitting your application, you will be asked to confirm your agreement with the terms.

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