Application Development Scientist

About the Opportunity

Eastman is seeking an experienced Application Development Scientist to support the Coatings business within its Technology organization in India. This role will focus on the development, formulation, testing, optimization, and commercialization of innovative ink and packaging solutions for film- and paper-based flexible packaging applications.
India is a dynamic and rapidly evolving market for specialty chemicals, packaging, printing, and sustainable materials. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with leading customers, printers, converters, packaging manufacturers, and brand owners while contributing to the growth of advanced packaging solutions in India and, where appropriate, broader regional markets.
This is a customer-facing, technically influential role that combines laboratory development, application engineering, technical service, market insight, and business collaboration. It offers meaningful opportunities to grow as a subject matter expert, customer-facing technical leader, and contributor to new product and business development initiatives.

Role Description

The Application Development Scientist will provide technical leadership in ink formulation, printing processes, packaging substrates, coatings, converting operations, and sustainable barrier technologies. The individual will develop and implement solutions that address customer requirements related to performance, regulatory compliance, product safety, cost, manufacturability, and sustainability.
The role will collaborate closely with Technology, Marketing, Sales, Business Development, Regulatory, Technical Service, and other internal teams. External collaboration will include customers, printers, converters, packaging manufacturers, brand owners, and other participants across the packaging value chain. Knowledge of solvent-based ink systems, paper-based packaging, flexible packaging structures, and sustainable packaging technologies will be highly valuable.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership in ink properties, formulation design, raw materials, printing processes, packaging substrates, converting operations, performance testing, and application requirements.
• Lead customer-facing projects involving the design, development, optimization, scale-up, and commercialization of ink materials and formulations.
• Develop and optimize film- and paper-based flexible packaging solutions, including multilayer structures incorporating paper substrates, coatings, inks, adhesives, and sustainable barrier materials.
• Apply knowledge of inkjet, flexographic and gravure printing, lamination, metallization, coating, filling, and sealing processes to resolve technical challenges and improve packaging performance.
• Characterize paper and polymeric substrates, coatings, barrier properties, print performance, adhesion, durability, chemical resistance, appearance, and other critical packaging attributes.
• Design and execute laboratory experiments, establish performance testing programs, interpret results, and provide data-driven recommendations.
• Develop and maintain packaging and ink specifications, test methods, technical reports, product documentation, and regulatory or compliance-related information.
• Engage customers and the broader packaging value chain to understand unmet needs, identify opportunities, and prioritize development activities aligned with business strategy.
• Communicate technical value propositions clearly and credibly and influence customer decision makers to adopt new ink and packaging solutions.
• Provide technical support during customer trials, plant evaluations, troubleshooting activities, and product commercialization.
• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, competitive developments, customer requirements, and regulatory changes related to inks, flexible packaging, paper substrates, sustainability, and product safety.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Sales, Business Development, Regulatory, and Technical Service teams to translate customer needs into commercially viable solutions and deliver new business growth.

Key Responsibilities - Continued

• Support the protection of Eastman’s intellectual property through accurate technical documentation, invention disclosures, and collaboration with appropriate internal functions.
• Promote safe laboratory practices and comply with all applicable Eastman environmental, health, safety, quality, regulatory, and business conduct requirements.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Paper Science, or a related technical discipline.
• Approximately five to ten years of relevant experience in inks, coatings, packaging materials, printing, converting, or related application development.
• Demonstrated experience developing, formulating, testing, optimizing, or commercializing ink or coating systems.=
• Strong understanding of raw materials, formulation principles, substrate interactions, application processes, and performance evaluation.
• Experience in a laboratory or technical development environment, including experimental design, data analysis, technical reporting, and troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with sustainable packaging technologies, including bio-based materials, recyclable structures, compostable materials, and sustainable barrier solutions.
• Knowledge of packaging regulations, food-contact requirements, product safety expectations, and relevant industry compliance practices.
• Experience working directly with customers, printers, converters, brand owners, packaging manufacturers, or other industry stakeholders is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to identify market opportunities and translate technical insights into new product or business development initiatives.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, as needed, to support customer projects, technical trials, industry events, and business activities.

Core Competencies

The ideal candidate will be a technically strong and commercially oriented application development professional who can move effectively between laboratory experimentation, customer engagement, plant trials, and strategic business discussions. Success in this position will require curiosity, sound scientific judgment, structured problem-solving, project leadership, and the ability to translate complex technical challenges into practical customer solutions.
The candidate should demonstrate strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, together with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional and multicultural teams. A strong commitment to safety, integrity, collaboration, customer focus, inclusion, and continuous learning is essential. The candidate should be comfortable working independently, managing multiple priorities, and influencing outcomes without direct authority.

Growth and Development Opportunities

This role provides an opportunity to build deep expertise in specialty chemicals and packaging applications while working at the intersection of research and development, customer innovation, and commercial growth. The successful candidate may develop along several career paths, including technical subject matter expertise, customer-facing application development, technical service, innovation leadership, product development, or broader business and market development roles.
The position will also provide exposure to customers, strategic projects, cross-functional teams, global technology platforms, and emerging sustainable packaging technologies.