Principal Chemical Engineer

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 and diverse company, Eastman employs approximately 14,000 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2023 revenue of approximately $9.2 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. For more information, visit  www.eastman.com .

Description

This position will require a systems thinker with strong unit operations understanding. The professional will be responsible for evaluating early process concepts through conceptual flow sheet design using laboratory data, analogous processes and engineering fundamentals. Good judgement will be required to determine if the conceptual process is reasonable and to determine if it is economically viable. Projects will vary in scope from evaluating small process improvements to brand new chemistries and process technologies. The ability to apply fundamental principles to solve problems, develop concepts, and scale-up processes to the commercial scale (at least on paper) will be needed.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and compare multiple synthesis routes, manufacturing scales, and multiple asset options.
• Complete techno-economic evaluations of a variety of processes and chemistries.
• Have a safety focus during evaluations, highlighting concerns and extra capital that may be required to mitigate potential safety events.
• Communicate clearly with project teams and management about model results and recommendations both verbally and in writing.
• Actively participate in multifunctional project teams to guide new product development and decision making throughout the product development cycle.
• Apply engineering and scientific fundamentals to existing and new areas of interest.
• Document discoveries in technical reports and potentially contribute to invention disclosures.
• This role is primarily in the office, however guiding and learning from laboratory efforts is also part of the role expectations.
• Generate techno-economic tools that are user friendly and enable decision making.
• Leverage expertise and fundamental knowledge to deliver insights to product teams in the face of uncertainty.
  
  

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering or an MS/BS with 5+ years of experience,
• Experience in a manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Fundamental knowledge of chemical engineering principles.
• Ability to work in a team.
• Ability to work independently.
• Skilled at technoeconomic evaluation and optimization modeling.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Broad interests and willingness to take on relatively undefined challenges.
• Considered as a plus: experience with Aspen Cost Estimator, LCA, Excel, VBA, Python, GAMS and other chemical engineering and economic modeling tools.
  
  

A strong candidate should be curious, creative and analytical; to ask critical questions, generate multiple flowsheets/process options and critically assess data.

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, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law.

Eastman is committed to creating a powerfully diverse workforce and a broadly inclusive workplace, where everyone can contribute to their fullest potential each day.