Research Scientist - Surface Treatment

Manastu Space; Navi Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Manastu Space seeks a Scientist / Materials Scientist to lead research on surface treatment chemistry, corrosion science, and materials compatibility for hydrogen peroxide-based propellants. You will design and execute experiments on passivation, electropolishing, oxide layer engineering, and surface modification of stainless steels and aluminium alloys for aerospace propulsion.

The role is hands-on R&D, involving failure analysis and data integrity, collaborating with design, propellant,

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science / related field is essential.
• Strong expertise in surface treatment, passivation, corrosion mitigation, or chemical compatibility studies.
• Familiarity with ASTM, AMS, MIL specs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute research on surface treatment processes including passivation and electropolishing.
• Develop and validate surface engineering processes for aerospace materials to achieve stable, non-reactive surfaces.
• Conduct root-cause analysis of material failures and develop corrective actions.
• Prepare technical reports and process specifications with high traceability and data integrity.
• Collaborate with design, propellant, manufacturing, quality, and testing teams to translate findings into engineering solutions.

Skills

Surface treatment

Passivation

Corrosion science

Material compatibility

Electropolishing

Oxide layer engineering

Surface modification

AMS/ASTM familiarity

Education

PhD in Metallurgical Engineering / Materials Science

Tools

SEM

XPS

EIS

Potentiodynamic polarization

Job description

Role Objective

• Lead scientific research and experimental development on metallic and non-metallic materials to improve material compatibility with hydrogen peroxide-based propellants.
• This role will focus on understanding, developing, executing, and optimizing surface treatment and passivation processes on metallic materials to enhance corrosion resistance, chemical.
• Stability, and material performance in demanding aerospace propulsion environments.

Role Overview

• We are looking for a highly skilled and motivated Scientist / Materials Scientist with strong expertise in surface treatment chemistry, corrosion science, and materials compatibility. The ideal candidate will have deep technical knowledge of chemical passivation, electropolishing, oxide layer engineering, and surface modification processes for metallic materials such as stainless steels, aluminium alloy, and other high-performance engineering materials.
• This is a hands-on R&D role involving experimental design, process development, materials evaluation, failure analysis, and technical problem-solving to support aerospace propulsion applications.
• The role demands a strong foundation in surface chemistry of materials, electrochemistry, corrosion mechanisms, reaction chemistry, and surface characterization, along with familiarity with relevant ASTM, AMS, and MIL specifications.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and execute fundamental and applied research on surface treatment processes, including metal passivation, electropolishing, and surface chemistry modification in the view of interaction of surface with hydrogen peroxide-based propellants.
• Design, develop, optimize, and validate surface engineering processes for stainless steel, aluminium alloys, and other aerospace materials to achieve chemically stable, contamination resistant non-reactive surfaces.
• Investigate the interaction between treated surfaces and oxidizing propellants/process chemicals with a focus on catalytic decomposition pathways and surface driven decomposition kinetics, and establish methods to improve material performance and storage stability.
• Plan and execute complex experimental programs to understand surface chemistry, corrosion behaviour, reaction pathways, and degradation mechanisms under realistic operating conditions.
• Conduct root cause analysis of material failures, compatibility issues, contamination, and surface treatment non-conformances, and define scientifically grounded corrective actions.
• Develop and standardize lab-scale and process-scale surface treatment methodologies for aerospace applications.
• Prepare technical reports, research documentation, process specifications, and test summaries with high standards of traceability and data integrity
• Collaborate with design, propellant, manufacturing, quality, and testing teams to translate scientific findings into engineering solutions
• Lead the selection and qualification of materials, coatings, and surface treatment systems for components operating in chemically aggressive propulsion environments.
• Support cross-functional teams with technically justified material choices based on testing, failure analysis, and applicable aerospace standards
• Assess suitability considering manufacturability, fabrication constraints, and component-level design requirements

Experience & Background

• Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science / Materials Engineering, Surface Engineering, Corrosion Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related discipline from a recognized university / institute is essential. Candidates with 0-3 years of relevant experience are preferred.
• Strong expertise in surface treatment, passivation, corrosion mitigation, or chemical compatibility studies
• Solid understanding of reaction kinetics, corrosion science, and electrochemical processing
• Experience with SEM, XPS, EIS, Potentiodynamic polarization and related surface characterization tools
• Candidate should be capable to work in timeline driven, result oriented and fast paced environment
• Familiarity with relevant industry and aerospace standards/specifications such as ASTM, AMS, and MIL-SPEC

Ideal Candidate Profile

We are looking for someone who is:

• Deeply interested in materials science, surface chemistry, and aerospace applications
• Strong in scientific reasoning, experimentation, and technical problem-solving
• Able to interpret complex experimental data and convert findings into actionable process improvements
• Comfortable working in a timeline-driven, high-accountability, fast-paced R&D environment
• Detail-oriented, with a strong commitment to documentation, quality, and data integrity
• Capable of writing technical reports, specifications, and research summaries
• An effective communicator who can present technical findings to cross-functional teams
• Self-driven, collaborative, and capable of managing multiple parallel research activities

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

Disclaimer: This job posting has been aggregated from external source. Role details, content, and availability are subject to change. Applicants are advised to confirm the latest information directly on the company website before applying.