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

The Applications Development Scientist will win new and existing markets and applications for Eastman’s portfolio of biodegradable polymers within Eastman's Biodegradables Technology Division in Kingsport, Tennessee. Biodegradables Technology develops, grows and matures new innovation growth platforms for existing Eastman business unit adoption. Our customers serve numerous markets, including the food service and food packaging, and use conversion technologies such as profile extrusion, foamed sheet extrusion, thermoforming, and injection molding. 

Responsibilities

 

Become a core member of a market segment team; Participate in, align with, and influence the strategy of the market segment team  Support market-facing Stage-Gate Projects and serve as the technical lead for SSOs and Stage-Gate projects  Become a technical expert in a market space and its applications (including understanding competitive products and common manufacturing methods)  Identify & document industry and customer-specific unmet needs and product fitness for use criteria  Convert voice of customer into CTQs which drives product selection and development  Define market specific unmet needs / deficiencies  Design and execute experiments aimed at developing applications for specific industries  Promote customer trials and evaluations  Develop technical information for customer engagement  Have a deep understanding of structure - property, and processing relationships of thermoplastic polymers  Protect intellectual property through patent applications   Communicate results through effective written documentation and oral presentations internally and externally  Lead and participate in multi-disciplinary teams  Work in a fast-paced, results-oriented team environment, developing new technologies that provide solutions to customers' needs  Qualifications

 

Preferred: Ph.D. or Master’s degree  Required: Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science or Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field from an accredited college or university; marketing or other business-related field may also be considered with extensive industry experience.  Required: five or more years of industry experience   Required: experience (>5 years) in injection molding, foamed extrusion or thermoforming, or profile extrusion  Required: understanding of structure/property and processing relationships of polymers  Required: excellent written and verbal communication skills  Required: 10-25% travel   Required: demonstrated creativity and ability to solve challenging, complex problems in a fast-paced environment  Preferred: skilled at customer relationship development  Preferred: successful translation of voice of the customer into product and market needs  Preferred: experience with cellulose esters and/or compounded products 

 

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