TS/AD Technical Leader
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.
Responsibilities
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 Injection-Molded applications for Cosmetic Packaging and Durables. You will build and sustain deep technical relationships across the value chain – including OEMs, brand owners, molders, 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 / injection molding expertise. This role is located onsite at our Kingsport, TN headquarters.
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.
Job Duties/Responsibilities:
- Lead launch-phase projects and technical initiatives to enable market activation and campaigns, including validations and qualifications through field trials.
- Engage proactively with value‑chain customers (e.g. converter, OEMs, brands etc.) to drive solution adoptions while identifying application drivers, unmet needs, and new business opportunities; maintain strong relationship with existing customers industry contacts to enhance collaboration.
- Support opportunity management processes that prioritize, track, and drive opportunities to align with business strategy (new business, protect, & grow opportunities); uses consultative selling skills to effectively communicate & capture value to execute commercialization.
- Collaborate closely with Sales, Marketing, R&D, Product Management, and Manufacturing to translate customer needs in durable and cosmetic packaging applications into differentiated polymer and application solutions.
- Serve as the technical authority on injection molding processes and guide junior team members to provide world‑class technical support for high‑complexity issues, ensuring timely resolution and sustained customer satisfaction; lead troubleshooting including failure analysis, process optimization and implementation support.
- Design, execute, and interpret application and validation trials (bench, pilot, and field) and translate results into scalable recommendations and specification changes.
- Conduct customer training, seminars and conference presentations to demonstrate value propositions technically by educating the industry on polymer science and deepening relationships with key accounts.
- Translate customer feedback and market trends into prioritized development opportunities; partner with R&D to advance concepts.
- Develop and maintain technical documentation and tools — including test methods, failure‑mode playbooks, technical reports, publications, and application guides — to institutionalize knowledge and accelerate response times.
- Mentor and coach Technology and Business colleagues to raise technical capability across the organization; share learnings and best practices through internal training sessions.
- Represent Eastman externally at customer meetings and visits, technical audits, and industry forums and conferences; support commercial negotiations with technical evidence.
Qualifications
Education Requirements:
- 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.
Experience Requirements:
- Expertise: Strong technical knowledge and business understanding of polymer and plastics relevant industry; experience in Cosmetic Packaging and Durables applications, as well as downstream connections and experience are highly preferred.
- Extensive injection molding expertise supporting commercial products—preferably in cosmetic packaging, closures, durable consumer goods, or medical/lifestyle packaging.
- 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.
Other Information:
- 25% travel is required for this position
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.
Nearest Major Market: Asheville
Nearest Secondary Market: Knoxville
Job Segment:
R&D Engineer, Chemical Engineer, R&D, Application Developer, Engineering, Research, Technology