Job Description

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 13,000 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2025 revenue of approximately $8.8 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. For more information, visit  www.eastman.com

As the Technical Service / Application Development (TS/AD) Technical Leader, you will serve as the primary technical lead supporting regional and global strategic marketing initiatives for Eastman’s Specialty Plastics business, with a strong focus on extruded and thermoformed applications for Medical, Consumer Packaging Goods and Diversified markets You will build and sustain deep technical relationships across the value chain – including OEMs, brand owners, extruders, thermoformers, converters etc. – to execute market-driven innovation launch, protect current business and identify growth opportunities. This role requires strong technical competencies on both applications’ understanding, as well as process expertise. This role is located onsite at our Kingsport, TN headquarters.

This role requires strong technical competencies in extrusion and thermoforming processes, polymer behavior, application performance, and regulatory or end use requirements relevant to medical, consumer packaging and diversified markets. The role combines deep application expertise with strong process knowledge to enable successful commercialization and customer adoption.

Responsibilities include leading launch-phase customer projects, engaging with value chain customers, influencing internal and external key stakeholders, delivering world class technical support and on-site consultation, collaborate with cross-function team (including sales, marketing, R&D, product management, quality etc.), conducting customer seminars and conference presentations, as well as translating customer insights into actionable development or commercialization opportunities that help achieve business growth goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead launch-phase projects and technical initiatives to enable market activation and campaigns, including validations and qualifications through field trials for extrusion and thermoforming applications in medical, consumer packaging goods and diversified markets.
• Engage proactively with value‑chain customers (e.g., brand owners, OEMs, extruders, thermoformers, and converters) to drive solution adoption while identifying application drivers, unmet needs, and new business opportunities; build and maintain strong technical relationships with key customers and industry partners.
• Support opportunity management processes that prioritize, track, and advance new, protect, and grow opportunities in alignment with business strategy; apply consultative selling skills to communicate technical value propositions, quantify benefits, and support effective commercialization.
• Collaborate closely with Sales, Marketing, R&D, Product Management, Manufacturing, and Quality to translate customer requirements in medical, consumer packaging goods and diversified applications into differentiated polymer solutions, optimized processing windows, and robust application value propositions.
• Serve as the technical authority on extrusion and thermoforming processes, guiding junior team members in delivering world‑class technical support for complex customer challenges; lead troubleshooting efforts including failure analysis, process optimization, tooling interaction, and scale‑up support to ensure timely resolution and sustained customer satisfaction.
• Design, execute, and interpret application and validation trials for extrusion and thermoforming processes (e.g., sheet and film extrusion, multilayer or specialty structures, thermoforming and post‑forming operations), translating results into scalable processing recommendations, material selection guidance, and specification inputs suitable for relevant applications.
• Provide technical leadership on regulatory‑ and performance‑driven requirements, including cleanliness, part integrity, consistency, and functional performance expectations commonly associated with medical, and consumer packaging goods and diversified applications.
• Conduct customer training sessions, technical seminars, and conference presentations to demonstrate technical value propositions, educate customers on polymer science and processing behavior, and strengthen Eastman’s technical credibility within medical, consumer packaging and diversified markets.
• Translate customer feedback, field learnings, and market trends into prioritized development and innovation opportunities; partner closely with R&D to advance material, process, or application concepts toward commercialization.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve technical documentation and tools, including extrusion and thermoforming process guides, troubleshooting playbooks, test methods, technical reports, application data packages, and best‑practice guidelines to institutionalize knowledge and accelerate response times.
• Mentor and coach Technology and Business colleagues to elevate technical capability across the organization; share learnings, case studies, and best practices through internal training sessions and cross‑functional forums.
• Represent Eastman externally at customer meetings, on‑site trials, technical audits, and industry forums or conferences; support commercial discussions and negotiations by providing strong technical evidence and application expertise.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. degree with 10+ years of experience or Master’s degree with 20+ years of experience in the industry. Degree in materials science or engineering, polymer science or engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, physics, or a related field is required.
• Expertise: Strong technical knowledge and business understanding of the relevant polymer and plastics industry; experience in Medical, Consumer Packaging Goods and Diversified applications, as well as downstream connections and experience are highly preferred.
• Extensive extrusion and thermoforming processes expertise supporting commercial products.
• Understanding of structure-property and processing relationships of thermoplastic polymers, and familiarity with design of experiment (DOE), problem-solving methodologies are preferred.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with customers and internal teams. Ability to build effective working relationships with customers.

Benefits

Your total rewards go far beyond a competitive salary. When you join Eastman, you gain access to an exceptional suite of programs designed to protect your health, grow your wealth, and fuel your career.

Compensation & Incentives
• Base pay plus performance-based incentive opportunities that let you share in our success.

Health & Wellness
• Comprehensive medical, prescription-drug, and dental coverage—paired with a Health Savings Account option to help you save tax-free dollars for care today or in the future.
• A robust menu of voluntary benefits—including vision, optional life, critical-illness protection, and more—so you can tailor coverage to fit your life.
• Holistic wellness support: financial-planning tools, family-building assistance (adoption, pregnancy, and fertility resources), parental leave, and confidential Employee Assistance Program counseling.

Retirement & Financial Strategies
• 401(k) with a company match—plus an additional annual retirement contribution from Eastman to accelerate your long-term savings.

Time Away
• Eleven paid holidays, one personal day, paid time off, and paid vacation to recharge, celebrate, or handle life’s moments.

Growth & Development
• Access to mentorship, learning resources, and leadership programs that empower you to thrive in your current role and chart the next steps in your career.

At Eastman, we invest in the whole you—so you can bring your best self to work every day and build a future you’re proud of.

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 engaged workplace, where everyone can contribute to their fullest potential each day.