Process Improvement Chemical Engineer
Eastman · Kingsport, TN
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Lean / CI
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Chemicals
- Posted
- 26 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level continuous improvement role at Eastman (chemicals) in Kingsport, TN.
- They ask for
- 3+ years · degree required
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Continuous Improvement roles in the US: typical posted base $105k–$150k.
Median of the low and high ends of 141 live postings that list pay, out of 367 continuous improvement openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Tennessee plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 9 other live lean / ci postings in Tennessee.
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 4+)
Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Lean 60%
- Six Sigma 60%
- ✓ Team leadership 60%
- Kaizen 50%
- 5S 40%
- Black Belt 30%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Lean / CI team at Eastman
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is CI run from the plant floor or from a corporate OpEx group?
- Which metrics does leadership actually watch: OEE, scrap, cost per unit?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Eastman in Kingsport
1 other open role at this site.
- Packaging Engineer · Manufacturing
Full description from EastmanAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Troubleshoot daily operational issues - interface with operations and maintenance personnel as problems are addressed.
- ◆Develop and execute process improvement projects to improve manufacturing processes.
- ◆Serve as division representative for capital project execution.
- ◆Develop methods and strategies to scale up new products and processes from lab to pilot to manufacturing scales.
- ◆Develop technical expertise in pilot and manufacturing processes to identify opportunities to improve safety, cost position, quality, and/or capacity.
- ◆Propose and execute production trials and tests on lab, pilot, and manufacturing scales. Utilize design of experiment methodology where applicable.
- ◆Provide project leadership and develop lab, pilot plant, and manufacturing trials and experiments.
- ◆Provide timely communications to management and project stakeholders by communicating project needs, value, priorities, and decisions to ensure project success.
Qualifications
- ✓Required Degree: BS in Chemical Engineering
- ✓3+ years' experience related to piloting and manufacturing process development or process improvement.
- ✓Commitment to high level of safety and environmental awareness.
- ✓Experience in pilot plant support and scaling small-scale processes to plant-scale equipment (preferred)
- ✓Exhibit good leadership attitudes and behaviors.
- ✓Must be a self-starter with a focus on results. Ability to lead and drive challenging projects forward despite uncertainties.
- ✓Comfortable challenging peers and supervision to develop creative solutions.
- ✓Proven ability to engage well with technicians/operators, peers, and management.
- ✓Excellent written, listening, and verbal communication skills.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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 .
This position is for an experienced Chemical Engineer to support manufacturing, pilot plant, and lab scale process improvement and scale-up within Technology.
Please 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.
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.
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 is committed to creating a powerfully engaged workplace, where everyone can contribute to their fullest potential each day.