Backend Software Engineer

Backend Software Engineer

As a Backend Software Engineer in the Corporate Research Digital Platforms (CRDP) group you will design, build, and support backend services that power data, analytics, and AI‑enabled applications used across R&D enterprise teams. You will work as part of an agile, cross‑functional team to deliver secure, scalable, and production‑ready backend solutions integrated with modern cloud and data platforms.

• Design, build, and maintain scalable backend services supporting data, analytics, and AI/ML workflows
• Develop secure, production‑grade APIs exposing analytical datasets and model outputs to internal applications
• Build and maintain data ingestion and processing pipelines in partnership with data engineering teams
• Implement analysis‑ready data models for statistical modeling, machine learning, and AI applications
• Integrate backend services with cloud and data platforms, including Databricks and Delta Lake
• Apply authentication, authorization, and access controls to protect trade secret and IP‑sensitive data
• Support MVP‑to‑scale transitions by improving reliability, monitoring, and operational readiness
• Collaborate with data scientists, materials scientists, frontend engineers, and product teams
• Instrument services with logging, telemetry, and performance monitoring
• Contribute to backend standards, documentation, and best practices within the team
• Provide peer guidance and technical support to team members as needed
• Stay current with emerging technologies and contribute ideas for continuous improvement of our backend services

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science or Engineering from an accredited institution
• 6+ years of professional backend software engineering experience delivering production systems
• 4+ years of experience designing, building, and operating production‑grade RESTful APIs using a modern programming language (e.g., Python, JavaScript, Type Script)
• 3+ years of experience deploying and operating backend services on a major cloud platform (AWS preferred) using modern Dev Ops and CI/CD practices

• Familiarity with the Databricks ecosystem (Delta Lake, Jobs, SQL endpoints, Unity Catalog)
• Experience supporting analytics, data science, or AI/ML‑heavy applications
• Exposure to data governance, lineage, or metadata management concepts
• Experience working in regulated, R&D, or IP‑sensitive environments
• Familiarity with observability tools for metrics, tracing, and logging
• Experience supporting pilot or MVP solutions that evolve into production systems
• Excellent interpersonal, collaborative, team‑building, and communication skills to ensure effective collaborations with matrixed teams
• Strong problem‑solving skills and experience working in cross‑functional, agile teams
• Demonstrated experience implementing authentication, authorization, and role‑based access control in backend systems
• Proven experience integrating backend services with cloud data platforms (Databricks & AWS preferred)

This role follows an on‑site working model, requiring the employee to work at least four days a week at the 3M Center in Maplewood, MN. Travel may include up to 10% domestic. Relocation assistance is not authorized. Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B).

3M offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, disability, life insurance, retirement, paid absences, and related 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.