Technical Program Manager Jobs in Minnesota
Technical Program Manager jobs in Minnesota concentrate heavily in enterprise technology, medical devices, financial services, and defense systems, with demand at every level from associate program manager to senior director of technical programs. The Twin Cities metro anchors most of the hiring, with additional activity in Rochester and Bloomington, where companies like Medtronic, Target, and General Dynamics Information Technology maintain large engineering and product organizations. Cloud infrastructure, Agile transformation, and hardware-software integration programs are the sub-areas drawing the most consistent demand from Minnesota employers. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Job Description:
Job Title: Technical Program Manager
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 the Technical Program Manager for EBO, you will drive the technical and operational success of new product introduction (NPI) and sustaining programs from development through hyperscale volume production. You will lead and align a cross-functional team of engineers-including Product Engineering, Supplier Quality Engineering, Test Engineering, and DFx-to ensure contract manufacturers are fully prepared to meet production readiness and scale requirements.
You will serve as the primary technical escalation point for issues related to ferrule production processes, driving root cause analysis and resolution to keep programs on schedule and quality targets intact. Your ability to manage complexity, anticipate risk, and coordinate across engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain functions will directly enable seamless transitions from NPI into mass production-ensuring 3M continues to deliver reliable, high-quality products at scale.
Key Responsibilities
- Technical lead for manufacturing operations at Vendor(s)
- Drive contract manufacturer preparation for pre-production builds
- Serve as the primary technical authority and escalation point for all issues related to ferrule production processes, driving deep root cause analysis and hands-on problem-solving to ensure effective, permanent closure.
- Provide technical leadership and direction to a cross-functional team of engineers (Product Engineering, Supplier Quality Engineering, Test Engineering, DFx, and others) throughout new product introduction (NPI) and sustaining production phases.
- Own the technical readiness assessment of contract manufacturers, ensuring processes, tooling, and quality systems are fully capable of supporting hyperscale volume production.
- Drive technical decision-making on process design, yield improvement, and manufacturability, partnering closely with DFx and process engineering to optimize production outcomes.
- Lead technical deep-dives and root cause investigations for critical production issues, ensuring corrective and preventive actions are technically sound and sustainable at scale.
- Guide engineering teams in resolving complex, cross-disciplinary technical challenges spanning product design, process engineering, and manufacturing execution.
- Evaluate new process technologies, equipment, and methods to improve ferrule production quality, throughput, and cost-efficiency.
- Collaborate with contract manufacturers' technical teams to troubleshoot production issues on-site or remotely, ensuring rapid and effective resolution.
- Ensure technical solutions align with 3M quality standards, reliability requirements, and applicable regulatory guidelines.
- Communicate technical risks, findings, and recommendations clearly to engineering leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to support informed decision-making.
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers on the team, fostering strong problem-solving capability and technical rigor.
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 (completed and verified prior to start)
- Seven (7) years of combined experience in product engineering, process engineering, manufacturing engineering, or technical program management within a hardware/optics manufacturing environment.
- Five (5) years of demonstrated experience leading or directly supporting new product introduction (NPI) programs from development through mass production.
- Five (5) years of hands-on experience with root cause analysis and corrective action processes (e.g., 8D, DMAIC, fishbone/Ishikawa analysis) in a manufacturing or production environment.
- Three (3) years of experience working directly with contract manufacturers (CMs) or external manufacturing partners on process qualification, technical issue resolution, or production ramp activities.
Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include:
- Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing Engineering, or related technical field.
- Experience with fiber optic components, connectors, or ferrule manufacturing processes specifically.
- Background in high-volume, hyperscale, or precision manufacturing environments (e.g., semiconductor, optics, electronics, or medical device manufacturing).
- Familiarity with Design for Excellence (DFx) principles, including Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Test (DFT).
- Experience with statistical process control (SPC), process capability analysis (Cpk/Ppk), and yield improvement methodologies.
- Working knowledge of quality systems and standards such as ISO 9001, IATF 16949, or similar.
- Experience with PLM, MES, or quality management software systems (e.g., Windchill, SAP QM, Minitab).
- Proven ability to mentor and develop junior engineers or technical team members.
- Strong communication skills with experience presenting technical findings to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Experience working in a global, matrixed organization with cross-time-zone collaboration.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional, technical teams (engineering, quality, manufacturing) to resolve complex production issues.
- Hands-on experience with root cause analysis and corrective action processes (e.g., 8D, DMAIC, fishbone/Ishikawa analysis) in a manufacturing or production environment.
- Experience working directly with contract manufacturers (CMs) or external manufacturing partners on process qualification, technical issue resolution, or production ramp activities.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional, technical teams (engineering, quality, manufacturing) to resolve complex production issues.
- Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally (as required) to support contract manufacturer sites, up to approximately 25% of the time.
Work location:
- Work location: This role has an on-site working model, with the employee working at least four days a week in the office at 3M Center located in Maplewood, MN or at the 3M Center in Austin, Tx.
- Travel: May include up to 25% both domestic and 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).
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.
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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 $250,253 - $305,864, 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 09/11/2026 To 10/11/2026 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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See All 10 Technical Program Manager Jobs in Minnesota
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Find JobsTechnical Program Manager Jobs by City in Minnesota
Where Minnesota roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Technical Program Manager Job Market in Minnesota
A snapshot from current Minnesota openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Staffing & Recruiting
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Minnesota Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in technical program manager jobs across Minnesota.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related technical discipline required
- Five or more years managing cross-functional technical programs from initiation through delivery
- Demonstrated experience with Agile, Scrum, or SAFe frameworks across engineering teams
- PMP or SAFe certification strongly preferred by most Minnesota enterprise and government employers
- Proficiency with program tracking tools such as Jira, Confluence, or Microsoft Azure DevOps
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for executive stakeholder reporting and alignment
Technical Program Manager Jobs in Minnesota: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a technical program manager in Minnesota?
Minnesota does not require a state-issued license to work as a technical program manager. Most employers here expect a bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or information systems, combined with hands-on experience leading complex technical projects. Earning a Project Management Professional certification or a SAFe Agilist credential significantly strengthens your candidacy with Minnesota's large enterprise employers in medical devices, financial services, and defense contracting.
How much do technical program managers make in Minnesota?
Technical program managers in Minnesota earn a median of about $176,380 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $110,830 for the lowest 10% to over $277,490 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire technical program managers in Minnesota?
Employers hiring technical program managers in Minnesota right now include 3M, Benchmark, and Medtronic, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Minnesota's deep concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters and global medical device companies means demand for experienced program managers remains consistent throughout the year.
Which Minnesota cities have the most technical program manager jobs?
Edina, Eagan, and Fridley are the cities with the most technical program manager openings in Minnesota. The Twin Cities metro drives the majority of demand because it is home to the largest concentration of corporate headquarters, healthcare systems, and defense technology contractors in the state, while Rochester and Bloomington add meaningful volume through anchor employers like Mayo Clinic and large federal contracting offices.
Are there remote technical program manager jobs in Minnesota?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 75% of technical program manager openings tied to Minnesota are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how much of the coordination and planning work happens through digital tools rather than on a physical site. Program management phases like roadmap planning, stakeholder reporting, and cross-team alignment are the most commonly offered as fully remote arrangements by Minnesota employers.
How can I get hired as a technical program manager in Minnesota with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving laterally from a technical role such as software developer, systems analyst, or QA engineer into a junior program coordinator or associate project manager position. Large Minnesota employers like Medtronic, UnitedHealth Group, and Cargill regularly post associate program manager and rotational technology leadership openings that are designed for candidates with strong technical foundations but limited formal program management experience. Earning a CAPM or Certified Scrum Master credential before applying gives your application a concrete edge in competitive applicant pools.
Where can I find and apply to technical program manager jobs in Minnesota?
You can find and apply to technical program manager jobs in Minnesota on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the state. Search the roles that match your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 10 Technical Program Manager Jobs in Minnesota
Find roles in Minnesota that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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