Ardhan Research Labs (ARL) is pioneering indigenous turbo-ramjet propulsion technology and hypersonic aerial platforms to transform India's aerospace and defense capabilities. We are developing breakthrough technologies like turbo-ramjet engine, high-speed UAV platform, and dedicated trainers and test beds for high speed aircrafts. To achieve, reusable, hypersonic flight from ground to Mach 5 without external lift-off vehicles.
Opportunity
We are seeking an exceptional Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officerwith investment who will bring both technical leadership and investment to accelerate our mission. This is a rare opportunity to co-build a deep-tech aerospace company from the ground up, leading the development of technologies that will define India's hypersonic capabilities for decades to come.
What We are Building
We're building critical dual-use technologies that support India's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative while addressing urgent defense needs in SEAD/DEAD operations, precision strikes, ISR, and force multiplication through attritable platforms.
What You will Lead
Technical Leadership: One of more of the following domains with Propulsion Systems Development, Aircraft Design and Development, and Additive Manufacturing as being critical.
Cross-System Integration & Interface Ownership: This is the CTO's most critical function: ensuring that highly specialized, disparate systems communicate and operate synergistically, guaranteeing overall mission success and safety.
Strategic Technical Governance & Scaling: This function requires the CTO to translate deep technical insight into executive strategy, manage organizational risk, and ensure the company can meet future manufacturing and product goals.
- Industrialization & Compliance: Architect and Govern the large-scale Additive Manufacturing (AM) system workflow from digital twins to final assembly, ensuring high yield (99.9%), cost reduction targets (60%), and AS9100 compliance.
- Scalability & Roadmap: Develop the comprehensive technical roadmap for scaling the entire platform integration and manufacturing process from initial demonstrators to full production aircraft.
Core Domain Mastery & Leadership: This function is critical for establishing technical credibility and providing the ultimate, hands-on, deep-dive support when a core system encounters a critical failure or roadblock.
- Domain Veto Power & Validation: Apply decades of hands-on expertise in the core discipline (e.g., Propulsion) to perform high-level design reviews, validate complex algorithms, and serve as the final technical arbiter to resolve intractable problems (e.g., direct the validation strategy for the turbo-ramjet transition algorithms).
- Technical Team Leadership: Recruit, mentor, and lead the technical executive team (Heads of Propulsion, AM, Airframe, and Avionics), fostering a culture of rigorous engineering, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration.
Technical Strategy & Roadmap
- Define product roadmap from Pathfinder through Commercial Programs (3-10 year horizon)
- Establish technology development priorities balancing performance, cost, and schedule.
- Lead IP strategy development and patent filing.
- Drive Make in India sourcing strategy
- Position technology portfolio for dual-use applications (defense and civilian).
- Assess emerging technologies for potential integration (advanced materials, AI/ML, new propulsion concepts).
Fundraising & Investor Relations
- Active participation in all fundraising activities from Pre-seed through Series B rounds
- Present technical vision and roadmap to venture capital, strategic investors, and defense funds
- Articulate technology differentiation, competitive advantages, and IP moat to investors
- Translate complex aerospace engineering into compelling business value propositions
- Support due diligence processes with technical data, risk assessments, and milestone planning
- Participate in pitch presentations, investor meetings, and board presentations
- Help structure technical milestones and development timelines for investment tranches
- Provide credibility and technical validation during fundraising processes
- Target: Secure 15-25 crore in Seed/Series A within 18-24 months, 50-100 crore Series B by Year 3.
Team Development
- Recruit and lead engineering teams across propulsion, structures, avionics, manufacturing, and testing
- Establish design review processes and engineering best practices
- Create engineering culture focused on rapid prototyping, testing, and iteration
- Mentor junior engineers and foster technical excellence
- Build performance management systems aligned with program milestones
Infrastructure & Operations
- Establish engine testing facilities with instrumentation and data acquisition.
- Set up design and simulation infrastructure (CFD/FEA workstations, HPC cluster).
- Implement product lifecycle management (PLM) and configuration management systems.
- Ensure lab safety, compliance, and operational efficiency.
Investment & Fundraising
- Participate in fundraising discussions with strategic and financial investors
- Present technical roadmap to potential partners and customers
- Support business development efforts with technical expertise
- Contribute to board-level strategic decisions
Value beyond Capitals
We're seeking a partner who brings:
- Deep technical expertise in aerospace propulsion, hypersonic systems, or advanced manufacturing
- Network within defense/aerospace ecosystem (DRDO, IAF, industry, investors)
- Credibility to attract follow-on investment and strategic partnerships
- Active participation in fundraising with ability to articulate technical vision to investors
- Commitment to building long-term, not just financial returns
Required Qualifications
Essential Technical Background
- Education: Degreein Aerospace engineering or related field from a recognized institution.
- Experience: 10-15+ years in aerospace propulsion, hypersonic systems, or advanced aircraft development.
- Deep Expertise in one or more areas
- Combined Cycle Propulsion Systems (mandatory)
- Supersonic/hypersonic aerodynamics
- High-temperature materials and thermal management
- Aerospace structures and composites
- Propulsion-airframe integration
Technical Skills
- Advanced knowledge of gas dynamics, combustion, and heat transfer
- Proficiency with CFD/FEA tools (ANSYS, GASP, or equivalent)
- Experience with engine testing and instrumentation
- Understanding of flight control systems and avionics integration
- Familiarity with additive manufacturing for aerospace applications
Investment Capability
- Ability to commit 30 lakhs - 1 crore investment for 10 to 15% Equity.
- Understanding of startup equity structures and long-term value creation
- Comfort with entrepreneurial risk and uncertainty
Highly Desirable
- Prior experience with DRDO, HAL, Boeing or defense contractors
- Track record of successful technology commercialization
- Existing relationships with Indian Armed Forces or defense procurement
- International experience with hypersonic programs (US, Europe, Japan)
- Publications in top aerospace journals or patents in propulsion systems
- Experience with MTCR compliance and defense export regulations
- Network of aerospace engineers who could join as team members
What We Offer
Equity & Upside
- Co-Founder Equity: 10 to 15% stake with standard vesting
- Long-term Value: Building IP portfolio worth hundreds of crores
- Protective Provisions: Standard co-founder protections
Impact & Mission
- National Importance: Enabling India's hypersonic capabilities and defense autonomy
- Technology Leadership: Working on problems that challenge top global aerospace companies
- Dual-Use Applications: Defense platforms that transition to commercial aviation
- Team Building: Assembling India's premier hypersonic propulsion team
Work Environment
- Technical Autonomy: Freedom to make engineering decisions and take calculated risks
- Rapid Iteration: Building at speed of digital tools with 1214-month prototype cycles
- Cutting-Edge Facilities: Access to AstraForge additive manufacturing and testing infrastructure
- Collaborative Culture: Working directly with founder and small, high-caliber team
Why is this the Right Time
Market Timing
- Defense Modernization: India's defense budget increasing with focus on indigenous tech
- Hypersonic Race: Global competition in hypersonic weapons and platforms accelerating
- Atmanirbhar Bharat: Government prioritizing domestic aerospace and defense manufacturing
- Dual-Use Opportunity: Technologies applicable to both defense and emerging civilian supersonic/hypersonic transport
Competitive Position
- No Direct Competition: No other Indian organization developing complete turbo-ramjet systems for reusable platforms
- First-Mover Advantage: Establishing capabilities 5-10 years ahead of potential competitors
- Cost Leadership: AstraForge manufacturing enables 60% cost reduction vs traditional methods
Our Values & Culture
- Technical Excellence: We obsess over getting the physics and engineering right. No shortcuts on safety or performance, but we embrace rapid iteration and learning from failures.
- Mission-Driven: We're building for India's defense autonomy and technological leadership, not just commercial success. Impact and nation-building are core to our identity.
- Bias for Action: We move fast, make decisions with imperfect information, and course-correct quickly. The speed of execution is our competitive advantage.
- Transparency & Collaboration: As co-founders, we'll debate ideas intensely but commit fully once decisions are made. Open communication and mutual respect are non-negotiable.
- Long-Term Thinking: We're building technology and IP that will compound over decades. Short-term setbacks are expected; persistence and resilience are essential.
Contact & Next Steps
Ready to co-build India's hypersonic future
Primary Contact: Vaibhav Bhatnagar, Founder
Email: [Confidential Information]
