Process Development Engineer

Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company's innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally inclusive company, Eastman employs approximately 14,000 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2024 revenue of approximately $9.4 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. For more information, visit www.eastman.com.

Description

This position is for an experienced scientist to support process development, scaleup, and process improvement of Eastman's Biodegradables portfolio.

This position will report through the Corporate Innovation Division in Technology.

Responsibilities

Develop methods and strategies to scale up products and processes from lab to pilot to manufacturing scales.

Develop technical expertise in pilot and commercial scale processes to identify and recommend opportunities to improve safety, cost position, quality, and/or capacity.

Propose and execute production trials and tests on lab, pilot, and manufacturing scales. Utilize design of experiment methodology where applicable.

Partner with colleagues as part of cross-functional teams including manufacturing, marketing, sales, product, HSES, and other functions to drive process improvement projects, commercialization of new products, and business initiatives as well as the development of capital projects to enable these

Provide project leadership and develop lab, pilot plant, and manufacturing trials and experiments.

Provide timely communications to management and project stakeholders by communicating project needs, value, priorities, and decisions to ensure project success.

Qualifications

+ BS in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Related Field with 5+ years experience in pilot- and/or commercial-scale polymer processes required.

Ph.D. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Related Field with 1+ years of experience in pilot- and/or commercial-scale polymer processes preferred.

Commitment to high level of safety and environmental awareness

+ Must exhibit Eastman behaviors

+ Must be a self-starter with a focus on results

Ability to lead and drive challenging projects forward to a decision despite uncertainties

+ Strong problem-solving skills

+ Excellent written, listening, and verbal communication skills

+ Open to travel as needed, up to 15%

+ Experience in pilot plant support and scaling small-scale processes to plant-scale equipment related to compounding and/or blending of plastic products

+ Experience with cellulose esters

Ability to translate functional partner needs to manufacturing-enabled options to achieve results

+ Track record of engaging with cross-functional partners to define and evaluate ways to achieve production-linked business results

Eastman Chemical Company is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, pregnancy, veteran status or any other protected classes as designated by law.

Eastman is committed to creating a powerfully diverse workforce and a broadly inclusive workplace, where everyone can contribute to their fullest potential each day.