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
To coordinate engineer team working on the overall support to manufacturing. This may include safety and environmental compliance, process troubleshooting, process optimization, yield improvements, quality improvement and capacity improvement.
Key Accountabilities
- Monitor process performance and key performance indicators (KPIs); identify deviations and implement corrective actions to optimize yield and capacity.
- Investigate production failures and lead root-cause analysis (RCA) to develop and implement corrective and preventive actions and follow through to closure.
- Lead or support multidisciplinary improvement projects (process, product, ESH or equipment) define scope, priority, manage execution and report results. Drive cost, quality and sustainability improvements (waste reduction, energy efficiency).
- Create, update, and maintain process documentation including FMEAs, control plans, standard operating conditions, work instructions, product formulations, and risk assessments.
- Conduct process audits to ensure compliance with procedures and identify improvement opportunities.
- Lead introduction of new processes, products and technologies: plan pilots, validating process capability, transfer to production and update documentation.
- Provide technical training and coaching to production line staff on proper production practices and basic quality assessment techniques.
- Assist or handle customer complaints.
- Mentor junior engineers and share best practices with operations. Expected to promote a team environment that welcomes employee input and values each individual employee and their contribution to the team.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in a relevant engineering or technical field.
- Minimum 5 years of work experience in a process-related role; experience in extrusion or polymer industries is strongly preferred. Some management or supervisory experience is a plus.
- Solid understanding of process control fundamentals, process equipment, and material flow.
- Able to read and interpret P&IDs, piping layouts, instrumentation diagrams, and basic mechanical drawings.
- Resourceful and self-driven with a strong sense of commitment to delivering work in better-than-expected quality and time.
- Able to multi-task and hands-on in carrying out responsibilities independently with minimal supervision; owns problems end-to-end rather than handing them off.
- Proficient with core quality and risk tools such as FMEA and control plans.
- Prioritize improvements by impact and ease of implementation.
- Prepare clear, concise reports with recommended actions and expected outcomes.
- Confident communicator in both spoken and written English.
- Knowledge of quality management systems such as ISO 9001 and IATF 16949.
- Experience with continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, 8D, Kaizen) and ability to lead full scale improvement projects.
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.
