Coating Technology Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

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
We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Extrusion Coatings Specialist with over 10 years of experience in the development and launch of extrusion coating product solutions with a focus on extrusion application processes, customer trial & production support, and market activation. This role demands deep technical knowledge of polymer science, extrusion processes, web coatings technologies, combined with strategic leadership to drive innovation, customer adoption, and commercial success. The successful candidate will serve as a subject matter expert, collaborating closely with R&D, marketing, sales teams, and customers to deliver high-performance, sustainable coatings solutions for paper-based packaging that meets regulatory and market requirements. This position reports within Eastman's technology organization and provides support for our Coatings business organization. The position reports through the Group Leader - Americas Technical Service and is part of a global team.
Key Responsibilities:
• Serve as the technical specialist for extrusion coating applications, supporting customers with technical guidance and problem-solving during trial execution and production scale-up
• Work with customers and internal capabilities to design, coordinate, and execute customer trials and scale-up activities for new materials and formulations from conception through completion
• Engage with downstream value chain partners including coaters and converters to understand application requirements and drive successful product implementation
• Apply deep understanding of web coating formulation and manufacturing processes to assist customers in optimizing their coated products
• Troubleshoot coating performance issues and recommend solutions to improve product quality and process efficiency
• Partner with global operations planner / product management to coordinate materials logistics for trials and ensure timely availability of required samples and raw materials
• Partner with marketing and business development teams to deliver new business growth
• Thought-partner with internal applications development on new formulation and product development to serve customer unmet needs
• Collaborate with internal testing capabilities to validate performance of products and benchmark materials in customer applications
• Develop technical literature and resources to support customer implementation and product understanding
• Serve as a technical expert on extrusion coating formulations and processes for customer inquiries
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with customers to understand their needs and ensure successful product implementation
• Support quality, health, and safety initiatives as they relate to formulation, material safety, and technical data sheets
• Attend trade shows and technical conferences to maintain knowledge of market trends and customer needs
• Travel to customers to discover needs, execute trials, provide production support, and ensure successful implementation
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including R&D, marketing, sales, manufacturing, product management and operations to support customer successessful
Qualifications
Experience and Education:
• A bachelor's degree in polymer science, paper science, coatings, packaging, materials science, physics, or a plastics-related field
• 10+ years of relevant technical experience in extrusion, web coating, and coated product testing
• A track record of successfully supporting customers through technical trials and production implementation
OR
• A Master's or PhD degree in polymer science, paper science, coatings, packaging, materials science, physics, or a plastics-related field
• 7+ years of experience in extrusion coating for web-based applications or related technical customer support roles
Other Qualifications:
• Must have excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with customers and cross-functional teams
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 50% is required
• Experience designing and executing customer trials and troubleshooting coating processes
• Experience managing project logistics and coordinating with operations teams
• Experience engaging with downstream value chain partners including coaters and converters
• Experience with paper-based substrates and extrusion coatings processes is preferred
• Experience with bio-based polymers and knowledge of process tuning and line conversion from petro-based polymers is preferred
• Working knowledge of polymer science and coating formulation is preferred
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple customer projects simultaneously
• Self-motivated and able to work both independently and as a team member with both internal and external partners
Tags: #LI-Remote
The base salary range for this position is $104,000 to $143,000.
At Eastman, we are committed to transparency and integrity in our compensation practices. Eastman includes salary ranges in some job postings to provide clear compensation information and to be compliant with state laws that require disclosure. Not all postings display ranges due to factors like location, market conditions, or position specifics. Compensation is based on qualifications and experience. Candidates are encouraged to discuss their salary questions during the interview process.
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.