Plastics Processing 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 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 . Description

Our experts are pioneering the shift to circular materials. Right. Now. We’re revolutionizing our materials to give them an infinite life and richer purpose using our two Advanced Circular Recycling technologies—carbon renewal and polyester renewal. This takes passionate problem-solving, world-class technologies, and a willingness to advocate for smart legislation.    The time to act—and advocate—is now. Our goal is to transform tomorrow by revolutionizing the materials that shape it today.     Help us create a more circular economy.   This position is for a development engineer reporting to the GL of Mixed Plastics Processing (MPP) Development. This position is an owner of process development for MPP and is responsible for qualifying new feedstocks and technologies, supporting process growth and stewardship. This person will work closely with procurement to understand the market and qualify new materials. In addition, they will work very closely with manufacturing to ensure feedstocks can be handled safely and processed efficiently into the Methanolysis process.  Responsibilities

•    Qualification of feedstocks through 3rd party processing and through Eastman equipment •    Close partnership with manufacturing on qualification trials and training of operations personnel on new or existing best practices •    Partnering with internal stakeholders to drive improvement or technology demonstration projects •    Point of contact for sourcing to partner with on questions from suppliers  •    Ownership and management of experiments and trials on manufacturing assets •    Work with feedstock technical leaders to understand and implement new screening protocols  •    Identify opportunities and improve processes to enable robustness of Eastman assets and any pre-processing operations •    Justifying, scoping, project management, and execution management for Capital Projects •    Awareness of external technologies and capabilities to enable broader feedstock portfolio •    Manage trials of new technologies at 3rd party facilities   Note:  Eastman will not accept applicants for this offered position who require visa sponsorship,  including those whose status is F-1 visa OPT who subsequently would require ongoing visa sponsorship. Qualifications

•    Mechanical Engineering degree highly preferred; other engineer degrees will be considered •    1+ years of direct manufacturing support preferred •    2+ years of experience required •    Ability to make decisions with limited information •    Demonstrated project management skills •    High level of adaptability •    Comfortable with giving external presentations •    Ability to engage with external parties, suppliers, customers, etc. •    Must be a self-starter with a focus on results. Ability to lead and drive challenging projects forward despite uncertainties •    Confident in working within a matrixed environment with multiple