Chemical Process Engineer Jobs in Tennessee
Chemical Process Engineer jobs in Tennessee are consistently active, with demand concentrated in petrochemical processing, specialty chemicals, polymer manufacturing, and advanced materials production across entry-level through senior process roles. Nashville, Kingsport, and Memphis anchor most of the hiring, with established employers like Eastman Chemical, LyondellBasell, and Tennessee Valley Authority maintaining long-term chemical engineering workforces in the state. Process safety, reaction engineering, and continuous improvement specialties draw the most consistent interest from Tennessee hiring managers. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 6+ Chemical Process Engineer jobs
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.
Description
This position requires a systems thinker with strong engineering, manufacturing, and project leadership capabilities. The professional will be responsible for developing and executing scale-up strategies that enable successful implementation of new products, process technologies, and manufacturing opportunities across Eastman businesses.
The R&D Chemical Process Engineer serves as a technical and execution leader responsible for integrating activities across product development, manufacturing, engineering, quality, supply chain, procurement, and internal or external manufacturing partners to support successful scale-up and implementation efforts.
Projects may vary in scope from incremental process improvements to new products, manufacturing technologies, asset expansions, and toll manufacturing opportunities.
The individual will provide leadership in manufacturing readiness, technology transfer, trial execution, implementation planning, and tolling readiness while helping strengthen Eastman's overall scale-up capability. The role is expected to influence decisions across organizational boundaries and serve as a trusted resource for scale-up strategy and execution without direct authority over project team members.
This position is located on-site at our Kingsport, TN headquarters.
Responsibilities
- Ensure safety, environmental, quality, regulatory, and operational considerations are incorporated into scale-up planning.
- Develop both internal and external toll manufacturing readiness and scale-up plans for new products, technologies, and manufacturing opportunities by applying engineering fundamentals and practical manufacturing knowledge and maintaining integrates scale-up plans, critical paths, readiness assessments, and implementation timelines.
- Assess manufacturing readiness and execution risks with scaling up products and technologies by identifying technical, operational, supply chain, quality, and organizational risks and gaps that could impact successful implementation.
- Develop mitigation strategies and drive resolution of barriers to implementation.
- Lead technology transfer efforts between laboratory, pilot, demonstration, tollers, and commercial manufacturing environments.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders, tollers, suppliers, and external manufacturing partners.
- Coordinate and support cross-functional resources and activities required for successful trial, qualification, startup, or manufacturing readiness execution.
- Lead planning and execution of laboratory, pilot, demonstration, manufacturing, and qualification trials supporting scale-up objectives by defining trial objectives, success criteria, decision frameworks, and data collection requirements.
- Capture and communicate key learnings throughout the scale-up process to improve future implementation efforts.
- Develop recommendations that enable effective decision-making under uncertainty while balancing technical rigor, practicality, cost, schedule, and risk.
- Communicate project status, risks, key decisions, and recommendations to leadership and project teams.
- Contribute to the development and deployment of scale-up best practices, readiness frameworks, implementation methodologies, and project leadership capabilities;
- Proactively mentor less experienced scale-up leads;
- Support continuous improvement of Eastman’s scale up processes through lessons learned, technical documentation, and organizational knowledge sharing.
Qualifications
Education
- BS in Chemical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
- Minimum of 10 years of relevant industrial experience.
- Demonstrated experience in manufacturing, process development, process engineering, technology implementation, scale-up, project leadership, or related technical roles.
- Experience leading cross-functional technical projects.
- Strong interpersonal, facilitation, influence, and communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and effectively across organizational boundaries.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in ambiguous environments.
- Six Sigma Green Belt with knowledge of project management and risk management methodologies strongly preferred
- Experience planning and executing pilot, demonstration, startup, or qualification campaigns either internally and/or at a toll manufacturer.
- Experience working with external suppliers, tollers, or customers.
- Experience supporting manufacturing startup and operational readiness activities.
- Experience working across multiple businesses, functions, or global organizations.
Success in this role requires strong technical judgment, practical manufacturing perspective, project leadership skills, and the ability to identify and mitigate scale-up risks while navigating complex technical and organizational environments.
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.
- Base pay plus performance-based incentive opportunities that let you share in our success.
- 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.
- 401(k) with a company match—plus an additional annual retirement contribution from Eastman to accelerate your long-term savings.
- Eleven paid holidays, one personal day, paid time off, and paid vacation to recharge, celebrate, or handle life’s moments.
- 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.
Nearest Major Market: Asheville
Nearest Secondary Market: Knoxville
Job Segment: R&D Engineer, R&D, Process Engineer, Chemical Research, Supply Chain, Engineering, Research, Operations
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.
Description
This position requires a systems thinker with strong engineering, manufacturing, and project leadership capabilities. The professional will be responsible for developing and executing scale-up strategies that enable successful implementation of new products, process technologies, and manufacturing opportunities across Eastman businesses.
The R&D Chemical Process Engineer serves as a technical and execution leader responsible for integrating activities across product development, manufacturing, engineering, quality, supply chain, procurement, and internal or external manufacturing partners to support successful scale-up and implementation efforts.
Projects may vary in scope from incremental process improvements to new products, manufacturing technologies, asset expansions, and toll manufacturing opportunities.
The individual will provide leadership in manufacturing readiness, technology transfer, trial execution, implementation planning, and tolling readiness while helping strengthen Eastman's overall scale-up capability. The role is expected to influence decisions across organizational boundaries and serve as a trusted resource for scale-up strategy and execution without direct authority over project team members.
This position is located on-site at our Kingsport, TN headquarters.
Responsibilities
- Ensure safety, environmental, quality, regulatory, and operational considerations are incorporated into scale-up planning.
- Develop both internal and external toll manufacturing readiness and scale-up plans for new products, technologies, and manufacturing opportunities by applying engineering fundamentals and practical manufacturing knowledge and maintaining integrates scale-up plans, critical paths, readiness assessments, and implementation timelines.
- Assess manufacturing readiness and execution risks with scaling up products and technologies by identifying technical, operational, supply chain, quality, and organizational risks and gaps that could impact successful implementation.
- Develop mitigation strategies and drive resolution of barriers to implementation.
- Lead technology transfer efforts between laboratory, pilot, demonstration, tollers, and commercial manufacturing environments.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders, tollers, suppliers, and external manufacturing partners.
- Coordinate and support cross-functional resources and activities required for successful trial, qualification, startup, or manufacturing readiness execution.
- Lead planning and execution of laboratory, pilot, demonstration, manufacturing, and qualification trials supporting scale-up objectives by defining trial objectives, success criteria, decision frameworks, and data collection requirements.
- Capture and communicate key learnings throughout the scale-up process to improve future implementation efforts.
- Develop recommendations that enable effective decision-making under uncertainty while balancing technical rigor, practicality, cost, schedule, and risk.
- Communicate project status, risks, key decisions, and recommendations to leadership and project teams.
- Contribute to the development and deployment of scale-up best practices, readiness frameworks, implementation methodologies, and project leadership capabilities;
- Proactively mentor less experienced scale-up leads;
- Support continuous improvement of Eastman’s scale up processes through lessons learned, technical documentation, and organizational knowledge sharing.
Qualifications
Education
- BS in Chemical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
- Minimum of 10 years of relevant industrial experience.
- Demonstrated experience in manufacturing, process development, process engineering, technology implementation, scale-up, project leadership, or related technical roles.
- Experience leading cross-functional technical projects.
- Strong interpersonal, facilitation, influence, and communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and effectively across organizational boundaries.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in ambiguous environments.
- Six Sigma Green Belt with knowledge of project management and risk management methodologies strongly preferred
- Experience planning and executing pilot, demonstration, startup, or qualification campaigns either internally and/or at a toll manufacturer.
- Experience working with external suppliers, tollers, or customers.
- Experience supporting manufacturing startup and operational readiness activities.
- Experience working across multiple businesses, functions, or global organizations.
Success in this role requires strong technical judgment, practical manufacturing perspective, project leadership skills, and the ability to identify and mitigate scale-up risks while navigating complex technical and organizational environments.
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.
- Base pay plus performance-based incentive opportunities that let you share in our success.
- 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.
- 401(k) with a company match—plus an additional annual retirement contribution from Eastman to accelerate your long-term savings.
- Eleven paid holidays, one personal day, paid time off, and paid vacation to recharge, celebrate, or handle life’s moments.
- 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.
Nearest Major Market: Asheville
Nearest Secondary Market: Knoxville
Job Segment: R&D Engineer, R&D, Process Engineer, Chemical Research, Supply Chain, Engineering, Research, Operations
See All 6 Chemical Process Engineer Jobs in Tennessee
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Find JobsChemical Process Engineer Jobs by City in Tennessee
Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Chemical Process Engineer Job Market in Tennessee
A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Chemicals & Materials
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Tennessee Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in chemical process engineer jobs across Tennessee.
- Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or a closely related engineering discipline required
- Professional Engineer license from the Tennessee State Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners preferred for senior roles
- Hands-on experience with process simulation software such as Aspen Plus or HYSYS
- Demonstrated knowledge of process safety management and OSHA PSM compliance standards
- Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies including Six Sigma or Lean manufacturing
- Experience with batch or continuous chemical manufacturing operations in an industrial plant environment
Chemical Process Engineer Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a chemical process engineer in Tennessee?
You start with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from an ABET-accredited program, which is the baseline requirement for nearly all Tennessee employers. For roles carrying professional responsibility or signing authority, licensure through the Tennessee State Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners is the recognized path, beginning with the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and progressing to the Professional Engineer credential. Many Tennessee employers in specialty chemicals and manufacturing hire new graduates into structured development programs before PE licensure.
Which companies hire chemical process engineers in Tennessee?
Employers hiring chemical process engineers in Tennessee right now include Eastman Chemical, Parsons, and BAE Systems USA, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Tennessee's concentration of specialty chemical and polymer manufacturers, particularly in the Kingsport and Memphis corridors, means demand is driven by large integrated production sites rather than scattered small firms.
Which Tennessee cities have the most chemical process engineer jobs?
Kingsport, Nashville, and Oak Ridge have the most chemical process engineer openings in Tennessee. Kingsport's hiring is anchored by Eastman Chemical's large integrated complex, Nashville draws broader industrial and consulting demand as the state's commercial center, and Memphis benefits from its logistics-linked chemical distribution and manufacturing base along the Mississippi River corridor.
Are there remote chemical process engineer jobs in Tennessee?
Yes, but they're rare. Chemical process engineering is fundamentally a plant-floor role involving equipment oversight, process troubleshooting, and safety management that cannot be performed remotely. About 50% of chemical process engineer openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those positions are almost exclusively in process design, modeling, or technical consulting rather than operations or manufacturing.
How can I get hired as a chemical process engineer in Tennessee with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a cooperative education placement or new-graduate role at one of Tennessee's large chemical manufacturers, with Eastman Chemical's rotational engineering program in Kingsport being one of the most established options in the state. Adjacent roles such as process technician, quality engineer, or manufacturing engineer at Tennessee chemical or polymer plants also transition well into process engineering. Completing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam before graduation gives candidates a measurable edge over peers who wait.
Where can I find and apply to chemical process engineer jobs in Tennessee?
You can find and apply to chemical process engineer jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring in the state. Find roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly to each one.
See All 6 Chemical Process Engineer Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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