Propulsion Systems Engineer, Engine Cycle & Fluid Systems

Astrobase Space Technologies Pvt. Ltd.; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 2,400,000 - 3,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options: ESOPs

Group health insurance

Term-life & personal-accident cover

Challenging, research-driven work

Unlimited coffee

Job summary

Astrobase Space Technologies Pvt. Ltd. in Bengaluru is seeking a senior propulsion engineer to own engine P&ID, balance preburner-turbopump loops, and model start/shutdown transients.

You will develop and verify models using NPSS/GFSSP and correlate with test data, contributing to stage propulsion design and verification. The role requires 5+ years in liquid rocket engine analysis and a strong background in Python/MATLAB for data reduction and analysis.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering required.
• 5+ years in liquid rocket engine system analysis or propulsion fluid design.
• Experience with pump-fed engine cycle models and test-data correlation.

Responsibilities

• Own engine P&ID including propellant, cooling, purge and instrumentation.
• Maintain steady-state power balance of preburner-turbopump loops.
• Map operating envelope: throttle, mixture ratio, pressures and temps.
• Model start/shutdown/chill-down and valve timing with controls team.
• Run sensitivity studies and document model validity.
• Write specs for pumps, turbines, preburners, valves and heat exchangers.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

Team leadership

Education

B.E./B.Tech/M.E./M.Tech in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

NPSS

ROCETS

EcosimPro/ESPSS

GFSSP

NASA CEA

Job description

Full-Time

ABOUT ASTROBASE SPACE TECHNOLOGIES

Astrobase Space Technologies is an early-stage Bengaluru company building a two-stage orbital launch vehicle. Our engine is a LOX-methane full-flow staged-combustion engine. The Astrobase Propulsion team is looking for experienced and passionate professionals who can own the vehicle's stage fluid and propulsion systems from design to flight.

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.

BASIC 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 SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• 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?

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.