Propulsion Systems Engineer, Engine Cycle & Fluid Systems

ABOUT ASTROBASE SPACE TECHNOLOGIES

Astrobase is a pioneering spacetech startup founded by prominent Senior ISRO scientists and IIT Bombay alumni with over 20 years of experience in designing, manufacturing, testing and flying advanced Cryogenic Launch Vehicles. Driven by a vision to make India a Space tech powerhouse, we are developing innovative launch vehicles that will transform space exploration. At Astrobase, you’ll be part of a team creating history in the Indian space industry. Our goal is to become the first private space company from India to land on the moon economically. Our Propulsion team is looking for experienced and passionate professionals who have designed and hot-fired preburners or gas generators.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own the engine P&ID: propellant, cooling, purge, pressurisation, ignition, bleed and instrumentation circuits, with valve functions and failure states.
• Build and maintain the steady-state power balance of the fuel-rich and oxidiser-rich preburner–turbopump loops; close the pressure schedule and allocate pressure drop to each component.
• Map the operating envelope: throttle range, mixture-ratio excursions, pump inlet NPSP margins, and stage-interface pressures and temperatures.
• Model start, shutdown, chill-down, priming and waterhammer transients; set valve timing and sequence constraints with the controls team.
• Run sensitivity and Monte Carlo studies on component scatter and engine-to-engine variation; size calibration and trim orifices.
• Write requirement specifications for pumps, turbines, preburners, valves, lines and heat exchangers, and the engine-to-stage and engine-to-stand ICDs.
• Issue pre-test predictions and redlines; correlate the model with water, LN2 and hot-fire data and keep a model-validity record.
• Run cycle trades for each engine iteration and record each decision with the analysis behind it.

DESIRED QUALIFICATION

• B.E./B.Tech/M.E./M.Tech in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• Min. 5+ years in liquid rocket engine system analysis or propulsion fluid-system design.
• Has built a pump-fed engine cycle model (gas-generator, staged-combustion, expander or electric-pump) and correlated it with test data.
• Turbopump power matching, pump and turbine maps, and real-fluid behaviour of LOX and methane near saturation.
• Cycle and fluid-network tools: NPSS, ROCETS, EcosimPro/ESPSS or GFSSP; NASA CEA.
• Python or MATLAB for analysis and test-data reduction.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATION

• Transient start and shutdown models on hardware that was later fired.
• Staged-combustion experience, especially oxidiser-rich preburner circuits.
• Cryogenic line chill-down, two-phase flow and geysering analysis.
• Model verification and credibility practice per NASA-STD-7009B (Standard for Models and Simulations); NASA SP-125 design methods.
• Has set test objectives and instrumentation for a component or engine test.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Salary: ₹24–36 LPA fixed CTC, variable pay based on experience and role fitment.
• Attractive early-stage stock options (ESOPs).
• Group health insurance: employee, spouse, children and parents.
• Insurance: term-life and personal-accident cover.
• Work environment: Challenging, stimulating, research-driven work solving rocket problems every day with a great team. We have a good time, and unlimited coffee.

WHY WORK WITH US?

At Astrobase, we believe in the power of human ingenuity and collaboration to push the boundaries of space exploration. As a team member, you’ll be:

1. Creating History: Join us in developing cutting-edge launch vehicles, playing a pivotal role in transforming space access and shaping the future of space exploration.

2. Collaborating with Experts: Work alongside ISRO scientists and industry veterans with decades of experience in designing India’s iconic space missions like Chandrayaan 3

3. Growth Opportunities: As Astrobase scales, you’ll have the chance to take on leadership roles and be part of an expanding organization driving change in the Indian space sector.

4. Pioneering Space Technology: Your contributions will not only impact Astrobase but also influence the global space ecosystem. Be part of something larger than yourself.

Astrobase is an equal-opportunity employer; we hire on skills, merit and experience. Apply with your CV and a short note on combustion hardware you have designed, built or tested.