Design Engineer - Fluids and Thermals

About Manastu

Manastu Space is a Space Safety and Logistics company focused on making space safe, sustainable, and accessible. We develop technologies to address critical challenges such as space debris mitigation and green propulsion, enabling safer satellite operations, and long-term sustainability of the space ecosystem.

Our work sits at the intersection of advanced engineering, applied research, and mission-critical systems, requiring deep technical capability and long-term thinking.

Website: https://www.manastuspace.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/manastu-space/

Email: [Confidential Information]

Role Objective

To support the development of spacecraft propulsion systems by performing fluid flow and thermal simulations of propulsion components, enabling data-driven design decisions and improving system performance, reliability, and test readiness.

The role focuses on simulation-driven engineering analysis of thruster subsystems, working closely with design and system engineering teams to validate concepts and predict operational behavior under various conditions.

Role Overview

The Design Engineer will primarily be responsible for CFD and thermal simulations of propulsion hardware, including thrusters, injectors, catalyst beds, combustion chambers, and propellant feed systems.

This role supports the thruster design team by providing analytical insights into fluid flow, pressure drop, heat transfer, and thermal loads. While the engineer contributes significantly to performance evaluation and optimization, they are not responsible for the end-to-end design ownership of the thruster.

The engineer will work in a cross-functional environment involving propulsion design, testing, materials, and system engineering teams, contributing to both development and qualification activities.

Why This Role is Critical for Us

Developing reliable propulsion systems requires a deep understanding of fluid flow behavior and thermal loads inside thrusters and feed systems. Simulation-driven analysis allows the team to:

Predict thermal limits of propulsion hardware

Identify flow distribution issues in injectors and catalyst beds

Evaluate pressure losses in feed systems

Support design optimization before manufacturing

Reduce development risk by correlating simulations with test results

This role provides the analytical backbone that enables faster iteration and informed design decisions during propulsion system development.

Key Responsibilities

Fluid Flow Simulation

Perform CFD analysis of propulsion components such as injectors, catalyst beds, combustion chambers, and nozzles.

Analyze flow distribution, pressure drop, and velocity fields within thruster hardware and propellant feed systems.

Thermal Analysis

Conduct steady-state and transient thermal simulations of propulsion components.

Evaluate temperature distribution, heat flux, and structural thermal loads within thrusters and associated subsystems.

Assess thermal effects on materials and component durability.

System-Level Flow Analysis

Model propellant flow through valves, feedlines, filters, and injectors.

Support system engineers in evaluating pressure budgets and flow stability.

Design Support

Work closely with thruster design engineers to:

o Evaluate design changes

o Conduct simulation-driven trade studies

o Support performance optimization

Test Campaign Support

Support propulsion test campaigns by:

o Predicting thermal loads and operating conditions

o Comparing simulation predictions with test data

o Updating models based on experimental results

Documentation & Reporting

Prepare simulation reports and analysis documentation for design reviews.

Maintain clear traceability between simulation results and design decisions.

Experience & Background

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field

3 years of experience in CFD and thermal analysis

Experience using simulation tools such as:

o ANSYS Fluent / CFX

o ANSYS Mechanical / Thermal

Strong understanding of:

o Fluid dynamics

o Heat transfer

o Compressible flows

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is an engineer who enjoys deep technical analysis and simulation-driven engineering. They should be someone who:

Is comfortable working with complex fluid and thermal physics

Can translate simulation results into practical engineering insights

Works effectively in a collaborative engineering environment

Has a strong interest in space propulsion and rocket systems

Exposure to propulsion systems, combustion modeling, or experimental validation is a strong advantage.

What Success Looks Like in this role Success in this role will be measured by the ability to:

Deliver accurate and reliable simulation models for propulsion components

Provide insights that improve thruster performance and reliability

Identify potential flow or thermal issues early in the design phase

Effectively correlate simulation predictions with experimental test data

Enable the propulsion team to make faster and more confident engineering decisions

If you are motivated by building enduring technical institutions and solving complex hiring challenges at scale, we would like to hear from you ([HIDDEN TEXT]).