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Plant Engineering Maintenance Engineer

3M · Prairie du Chien, WI · $98,964–$120,957 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 4, 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 a plant project you managed for timeline, budget, construction and people. What went off plan, and how did you recover?

What they are checking: Whether they can keep a project on track and handle surprises without losing control of cost or schedule.

How do you keep project teams, staff, owners and outside contractors informed without drowning them in updates?

What they are checking: Whether they communicate the right information to each audience at the right time.

Tell me about a time a contractor's work did not meet expectations. How did you resolve it?

What they are checking: Whether they hold vendors accountable clearly and fairly while keeping the work moving.

Tell me about a time you had to hold someone accountable to a safety or environmental requirement they thought was excessive.

What they are checking: Whether they explain the reason behind rules and enforce them without backing down.

What would you do

You find a contractor working without the right hot work permit. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they stop unsafe work immediately regardless of schedule or contract pressure.

A project owner keeps adding scope midway through. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they manage scope changes formally and protect budget and schedule honestly.

About the work

You'll manage and audit the site contractor management program. What do you check when a contractor shows up to work on site?

What they are checking: Whether they know contractor safety qualification, orientation, permits and oversight requirements.

Which codes and regulations come up most in your plant engineering projects, and how do you stay current?

What they are checking: Whether they know relevant electrical, building, fire and OSHA requirements and keep learning.

How do you plan a project in an operating plant so production disruption is minimal?

What they are checking: Whether they coordinate shutdowns, tie-ins and safety with operations instead of working around them.

How do you build a budget estimate for a facility project when designs are not final?

What they are checking: Whether they use contingency and staged estimates and communicate the uncertainty.

How do you close out a project so maintenance can actually support what you built?

What they are checking: Whether they hand over drawings, spares and training rather than leaving maintenance to figure it out.

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The full job description

As published by 3M.

Job Description: Job Description Job Title Plant Engineering Maintenance 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 wide 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 Maintenance Engineer in the Plant Engineering Department, 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: • Coordinating project timelines, budgets, construction activity, and personnel to successfully complete assigned projects • Managing and auditing the execution of the site contractor management program • Maintaining effective communication with project teams, staff, project owners, and managing outside contractors • Establishing accountability through the understanding of codes and regulations to ensure compliance with all applicable safety, health and environmental standards • Outlining a comprehensive and analytical approach to predict, prevent, eliminate or reduce production equipment failures • Analyzing data (failure, cost, uptime, etc.) using appropriate reliability analysis tools to develop and implement improvement plans for production equipment to improve reliability, uptime, and product quality. • Providing leadership support for Maintenance Conscious Engineering strategies • Managing programs such as mechanical integrity, state regulations and others for the facility equipment and systems. • Lead Root Cause Analysis teams, Kaizen/TPM events and problem-solving sessions. Your Skills and Expertise To set you up for success in this role from day one, 3M requires (at a minimum) the following qualifications: • High School Diploma or higher (completed and verified prior to start) and Six (6) years of Engineering or Project Management experience working with equipment reliability in a private, public, government, or military environment OR • Bachelor's Degree or higher (completed and verified prior to start) and Three (3) years of Engineering or Project Management experience working with equipment reliability in a private, public, government, or military environment Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include: • Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering from an accredited university • Plant Maintenance and Reliability Engineering experience with reliability analysis, predictive maintenance (PdM), and preventative maintenance (PM) • One (1) year of experience with Contractor Management • High level of understanding and ability to use analytical tools and troubleshooting • Strong computer skills, including but not limited to MS Office, Statistical Tools, SAMS, MS Project • Good communication skills (oral, written, and presentation) with the ability to communicate across all levels Work location: • Work location: Prairie du Chien, WI • Travel: May include up to 5% domestic • 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 $98,964 - $120,957, 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 09/04/2026 To 10/04/2026 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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