Technical Leader - Plastics

Eastman•Kingsport, TN

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Technical Leader serves as the primary technical authority supporting global and regional business strategies for Eastman's Specialty Plastics business, with a strong focus on injection molded durable goods applications. This role is responsible for driving technology adoption, enabling commercialization, supporting strategic growth initiatives, and delivering world-class technical service and development across the value chain. The leader develops and maintains deep technical relationships with downstream customers and industry partners while collaborating closely with Sales, Marketing, Product Management, R&D, Manufacturing, and Quality organizations. Through advanced expertise in polymer science, injection molding, application development, and commercialization, this role helps accelerate innovation, protect existing business, and identify new growth opportunities that strengthen Eastman's market position. This role is located onsite at our Kingsport, TN headquarters.

Requirements

B.S. with 15+ years of relevant industry experience.
Extensive experience with injection molding processes, processing optimization, and commercialization of molded products.
Demonstrated expertise in polymers, plastics, material selection, and application development within commercial markets.
Experience with Design of Experiments (DOE), structured problem solving, root cause analysis, and technical troubleshooting methodologies.

Nice To Haves

PhD or Master’s degree and 10+ years industry experience strongly preferred.
Degree must be in Materials Science or Engineering, Polymer Science and/or Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or a closely related field.
Durable goods application experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the technical leader for injection molded durable goods applications within the Specialty Plastics business.
Support execution of global and regional business strategies through application-focused technology leadership and customer engagement.
Develop and maintain deep technical relationships across the value-chain customers and industry influencers.
Partner with commercial teams to position Eastman's technologies and differentiate product offerings through application expertise and technical value creation.
Identify emerging market trends, unmet customer needs, and technology opportunities to drive future business growth.
Engage proactively with customers to drive solution adoption and accelerate commercialization opportunities.
Support opportunity management processes by prioritizing, tracking, and advancing new business, growth, and protect opportunities.
Utilize consultative selling and value-based communication techniques to effectively demonstrate technical and commercial benefits.
Translate customer requirements into actionable development activities that enable business growth and market expansion.
Serve as the subject matter expert in injection molding processes and polymer application development.
Lead resolution of complex technical challenges involving product performance, processing, application failures, and customer concerns.
Conduct root cause investigations, failure analyses, process optimization activities, and implementation support to ensure sustainable solutions.
Design, execute, and interpret laboratory, pilot, and field validation trials to support product adoption and commercialization.
Translate technical findings into scalable recommendations, specifications, and best practices that improve customer success.
Represent Eastman as a senior technical expert during customer visits, audits, technical reviews, and commercialization discussions.
Deliver customer training programs, technical seminars, conference presentations, and industry workshops.
Develop and maintain strong external networks that enhance Eastman's technical reputation and market influence.