Propellant Research Chemist/Engineer

Propellant Research Chemist/ Engineer

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

Lead engineering development and implementation of liquid propellant systems to enable safe, reliable, and long-duration storage and operation of hydrogen peroxide–based propulsion systems.

The role is responsible for translating propellant chemistry, decomposition behaviour, and material compatibility constraints into robust engineering designs, operating envelopes, and system-level solutions required for flight-qualified propulsion hardware.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Propellant Research Chemist/ Engineer to join our growing aerospace organization facility in Navi Mumbai, with strong expertise in liquid propellant systems, propellant handling, and propulsion hardware integration.

This role focuses on implementing and controlling the system-level behaviour of liquid propellants under real engineering constraints, including storage, transfer, and propulsion system operation.

You will work at the intersection of propulsion engineering, chemistry, and materials, ensuring that propellant formulations are safely and effectively integrated into reliable, flight-ready propulsion systems.

Key Responsibilities

1. Formulate and optimize liquid propellant systems targeting key performance metrics and properties.

2. Evaluate and implement propellant stabilization strategies, including selection of stabilizers, optimization of their combinations and concentrations, ensuring material compatibility, and enabling long-term performance in operational environments

3. Conduct literature-driven investigations and use DoE methodologies to design, plan, and execute structured experiments, efficiently generating high-quality data for system optimization and qualification

4. Design and execute accelerated aging and real-time storage studies to establish propellant shelf life and ensure stability under varied environmental conditions

5. Analyse decomposition and thermal runaway mechanisms to identify failure modes, define safe operating envelopes, and implement engineering and administrative controls to prevent uncontrolled reactions

6. Model propellant behaviour using analytical or experimental data to predict stability trends and ensure reliable long-term propellant performance

7.Conduct chemical hazard assessments for new formulations and processes like HAZOP, FMEA, and compatibility screening

8. Develop, standardize, and maintain SOPs for propellant handling, system operation, testing, storage, and emergency response

9.     Prepare comprehensive technical reports covering experimental design, results, analysis, and conclusions, and translate these into clear presentations for project reviews, program updates, and safety briefings

Experience & Background

· Master's degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field

· Candidates with 0–2 years of experience and hands-on familiarity with reactive fluids, oxidizers, organic solvents, and hazardous chemicals across laboratory and system-level operations will be preferred.

· Strong ownership mindset, structured problem-solving, and consistent high-quality execution, with the ability to research, propose ideas, and incorporate feedback

· Strong understanding of liquid propellant behaviour including oxidizer chemistry decomposition kinetics, surface catalysis, thermal effects, and stabilization principles

· Demonstrates the ability to rapidly learn, adapt, and apply new concepts in fluid systems, propulsion, and reactive chemical environments

· Experience in system-level testing, validation, and engineering implementation of propulsion or fluid systems will be an advantage

· Familiarity with hazard analysis methodologies such as HAZOP and FMEA, with the ability to identify and mitigate risks

· Experience with data analysis and modelling tools such as Python, MATLAB, Origin or equivalent

Ideal Candidate Profile

· Strong chemistry fundamentals with engineering mind and hands-on experience, preferably in chemical propulsion, fluid systems, or reactive chemical handling

· Ability to translate chemical and material constraints into robust engineering systems and operating procedures

· Demonstrates the ability to design safe and reliable propellant systems and solve system-level challenges related to stability, compatibility, and safety

· Ability to work in a fast-paced, result-oriented environment and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams

What we offer

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive health insurance

High ownership and visibility, with direct access to leadership

Support for learning, conferences, and research exposure

Subsidized lunch plan

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