Turbine Design Engineer – Rocket Turbopumps

Astrobase Space Technologies Pvt. Ltd.; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Astrobase Space Technologies Pvt. Ltd. in Bengaluru is seeking a Turbine Design Engineer to own the turbine that drives our liquid rocket engine turbopumps. You will ensure power delivery, withstand hot-gas operation, and drive design improvements through testing.

The role requires 2–5 years in turbine design, strong fundamentals in compressible flow and thermodynamics, and hands-on CFD/FEA experience. Collaboration with CFD/FEA, pump engineers and test teams is essential for success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master’s degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering.
• 2–5 years in turbine design (gas or steam turbines, turbopumps).
• Strong fundamentals in compressible flow, thermodynamics and turbine aerodynamics.
• CFD and FEA for turbine components, including blade vibration and thermal-structural analysis.
• Python or MATLAB for analysis and test data correlation.
• CAD and GD&T skills to take a design change from idea to released drawing.

Responsibilities

• Design the turbine inlet manifold, nozzles, rotor blades and exhaust for power and efficiency.
• Perform meanline design and performance prediction for impulse, reaction and partial-admission stages.
• Maintain turbine performance maps and pump–turbine power matching across the operating range.
• Provide inputs to CFD and FEA for the gas path, blade and disk stresses, thermal loads and blade vibration.
• Define turbine tip clearances and hot-gas seals, and assess turbine axial thrust with the pump and rotor engineers.
• Correlate test data with predictions, find root causes of gaps and drive design improvements.
• Present the turbine design at the PDR, TDR and VDR, close out review actions and get clearance, including release for manufacturing.
• Support cold-flow, spin and hot-fire test campaigns at test sites, including setup, data review and post-test inspection.

Skills

Turbine design

CFD/FEA

Meanline design

Data analysis

Test data correlation

Education

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

Tools

Python

MATLAB

CAD

GD&T

Job description

ABOUT ASTROBASE SPACE TECHNOLOGIES

Astrobase is a pioneering spacetech startup founded by prominent Senior ISRO scientists and IIT Bombay alumni with over 20 years of experience in designing, manufacturing, testing and flying advanced Cryogenic Launch Vehicles. Driven by a vision to make India a Space tech powerhouse, we are developing innovative launch vehicles that will transform space exploration. At Astrobase, you’ll be part of a team creating history in the Indian space industry. Our goal is to become the first private space company from India to land on the moon economically.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As Turbine Design Engineer, you will own the turbine that drives our liquid rocket engine turbopumps. You will make sure it delivers the power the pumps need, survives hot-gas operation and improves with every test.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Design the turbine inlet manifold, nozzles, rotor blades and exhaust for power and efficiency.
2. Perform meanline design and performance prediction for impulse, reaction and partial-admission stages.
3. Maintain turbine performance maps and pump–turbine power matching across the operating range.
4. Provide inputs to CFD and FEA for the gas path, blade and disk stresses, thermal loads and blade vibration.
5. Define turbine tip clearances and hot-gas seals, and assess turbine axial thrust with the pump and rotor engineers.
6. Correlate test data (pressures, temperatures, speed, power, efficiency) with predictions, find root causes of gaps and drive design improvements.
7. Present the turbine design at the PDR, TDR and VDR, close out review actions and get clearance, including release for manufacturing.
8. Support cold-flow, spin and hot-fire test campaigns at test sites, including setup, data review and post-test inspection.

REQUIREMENTS

1. B.E./B.Tech or M.E./M.Tech in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering.
2. 2–5 years in turbine design (gas or steam turbines, turbochargers or turbopumps).
3. Strong fundamentals in compressible flow, thermodynamics and turbine aerodynamics.
4. Understanding of CFD and FEA for turbine components, including blade vibration and thermal-structural analysis, enough to define inputs and review results.
5. Python or MATLAB for analysis and test data correlation.
6. CAD and GD&T skills to take a design change from idea to released drawing.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This role is part of the Turbomachinery Department. It is mainly office-based design work, with occasional travel to the factory and test facility for testing.

WHY WORK WITH US?

• 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.
• Collaborating with Experts: Work alongside ISRO scientists and industry veterans with decades of experience in designing India’s iconic space missions like Chandrayaan 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.
• Pioneering Space Technology: Your contributions will not only impact Astrobase but also influence the global space ecosystem. Be part of something larger than yourself.